EXTENSION CARE
Are you obsessed with your new hair?! I hope so! Please take the time to read through all the information on how to properly care and maintain for your extensions.
PRODUCT INVESTMENT
You just invested major money into your extensions, and now you have to keep on investing money into your products. Things to avoid are products that have sulfates and alcohol, it will dry out your extensions faster. Linked below are products we love that are all extension friendly!
WASHING - HOW MANY TIMES PER WEEK
In high school I washed my hair everyday and looking back I cringe! Washing your hair everyday not only decreases hair color life, but dries out your precious ends.
So if you wash your hair everyday and now have extensions you need to say goodbye to that. Remember how you just paid so much money to get these beautiful extensions placed in you head? Do you want to ruin them already? Of course you don’t.....
Your body makes natural oils that nourish your hair to keep it looking healthy. Since hair extensions are cut off from that supply over washing it will cause it to dry out, and break overtime. There is no set rule on how little you should wash but I currently do it only twice a week, sometimes once if I can push it. To get you through the 5-7 days until your next wash try using a dry shampoo, and dry conditioner.
Dry shampoo can dry your hair out so really only spray it at the roots. I prefer to do mine at bedtime so that it has time to fight the oils while I sleep. Dry conditioner you can use on your ends to keep them hydrated between shampoos. Hydration is key with extensions.
WASHING - HOW TO LATHER IN THE SHOWER
PAY ATTENTION CAREFULLY. DO NOT LATHER! By lathering all your hair around your head is going to cause your extensions to tangle, and possibly knot. You need to be gentle. No scrubbing the rows just gentle massage. If you feel the need to scrub the top of your head you can but not the extensions!
When you hop in the shower go under the shower head, and let the water drip down to wet the hair. Take your shampoo, and lather it in your hand. At the scalp carefully massage the shampoo in while avoiding your beads. Once your scalp is covered gently stroke the body of your hair vs scrubbing to avoid tangles. When rinsing, go under the head of the shower and allow to water to drip down to wash out the shampoo. And since you’re not washing as often I always shampoo twice. That way you really get all the buildup out. First shampoo I use a color safe clarifying shampoo and then second either my purple shampoo or a hydrating shampoo.
When it's time for conditioner I take the product, and place it through the center to my ends. Be generous and let it sit for the remainder of your shower. Since my wash comes once or twice a week I only use a deep conditioner. If you are scared conditioner will weigh your hair down, just put it through the mids and ends of your hair not on the top. But you need conditioner on your extensions!
Once you are done in the shower make sure you squeeze all the excess water out of your hair. And then gently dry with a towel. No vigorous rubbing with the towel. I wrap mine up while I finish drying off and then I let it down and sake my head like a dog to break it up. Using a towel to rough can damage your hair.
DRYING EXTENSIONS
I personally like my hair to air dry about 80% before I brush it. Use your soft bristle brush first to detangle and then continue drying with a round brush if you prefer. If you don't have the time to let it air dry take your blow dryer on a low setting, and dry your hair while using your hand to come through the hair. Once it's 80% dry take a brush, and blow dry it out in sections. DON'T BRUSH IT UNTIL IT'S ALMOST DRY. If you take a brush to wet extensions, it could break the hair.
SLEEPING
Before going to bed try braiding your hair into a loose braid. If you can’t braid try a low pony with a scrunci. This will prevent your extensions from getting tangled at night. Before I had extensions I used to put my hair in a messy bun on top of my head. By sleeping in a messy bun the tension of the elastic will actually damage the body of the hair.
WHAT TO AVOID
You want to avoid swimming too much in pools because the chlorine will dry out the hair.
Sunscreen! You Need to avoid any screen that has the ingredient Avobenzone (Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane) it will turn your extensions orange!
Tight top knots will put tension through the body of the hair, and break it.
Tough or bore bristle brushes.
Too much heat from styling tools on the hair.
Super strong hairsprays, avoid those on your extensions.
Sleeping with soaking wet hair. I’m not saying you can’t go to bed with damp hair but try to follow the 80 percent dry rule first. And still braid it to avoid tangles.
OTHER TIPS TO REMEMBER
Brush brush brush! You need to make sure that your hair is staying detangled. Brush before you go to bed, as soon as you wake up and throughout the day if you can. And if you have more than one row make sure you’re getting in between the rows. Also brush before you wash, it will help with detangling and blow drying after.
Extensions sometimes dont need as much purple shampoo. If you find your extensions are grabbing too much of the pigment dont put purple shampoo on them. Just shampoo the top of your head with purple and then when you rinse whatever washes over them will be enough.