The glamour hair extensions provide instantly elevates your look and is what makes them desirable. So, it’s reasonable to want to wear your hair extensions for as long as possible without sacrificing their quality. The good news is, you can! With the proper hair care, you can enjoy long-lasting hair extensions that retain their beauty.
Here’s everything you need to know about caring for your hair extensions to keep them looking good for a long time!
1. Wash Gently
Washing your hair extensions with gentle products ensures that your hair is properly cared for. Here’s how to clean your hair without causing damage:
Shampoo and Conditioner
· Shampoo: Use a sulfate-free shampoo (SLS free shampoo). Sulfates are known to strip hair of its natural oils, which can cause dryness and breakage. For extra care, use a nourishing shampoo, which both cleanses and conditions.
· Conditioner: Use a moisturizing conditioner to help keep your extensions soft and silky. For extra care, use a deep conditioning treatment to boost moisture and shine.
How Often Should You Wash
· Wigs: A wig install typically lasts from 2 to 4 weeks and should be washed after wearing. Depending on the styling and time worn, the wig may or may not have product buildup. A wig with low product buildup can be reinstalled without washing.
· Sew-ins: Sew-in extensions last from 6 to 8 weeks and should be washed weekly. Be sure to avoid adding excess oil to the roots which can weigh your hair down.
· Tape-ins: These extensions last 6 to 8 weeks and should be washed weekly. Avoid getting conditioner on the tape which could loosen the adhesive. Make sure you wash gently.
· Clip-ins: These extensions can last up to a year depending on their quality, how often it’s worn and how it’s stored.
2. Dry with Ease
How you dry your hair extensions will affect their appearance over time. Use minimal heat to dry your hair safely.
· Air drying: This is the best option for drying hair extensions. Air drying prevents heat damage and showcases the natural pattern of the hair extensions. Here are our top picks for hair extensions that are beautiful in their natural state:
· Blow Drying on Cool: This is a good option if you need your hair extensions to dry faster than by air drying
3. Heat Protected Styling
Being able to style our hair extensions is a big part of why we wear them, but to have longevity we have to make sure we’re protected when using heat. Being smart about how we use heat will keep us looking cool.
· Heatless styling: Using heatless styling on hair extensions is a great way to promote hair longevity. Eliminating heat prevents weakened hair stands that make extensions more susceptible to damage.
· Low heat: Use low heat or the least amount of heat possible to style hair. Temperatures over 300°F convert the keratin stands of your hair, which makes it lose elasticity.
· Heat protectant: When using hot tools, you should always use a heat protectant. The protectant serves as a barrier between your hair and the heat. Apply it before heat styling to prevent damage.
4. Protect During Activities
Our hair should be protected no matter what we’re doing, which is why we have to care for it when doing activities. Be mindful of how your hair will be affected by what you’re doing so you can plan ahead.
· Sleeping: Caring for your hair extensions when you sleep will ensure your hair is properly maintained. Use a silk scarf or bonnet to help lock in moisture and reduce breakage. This will also extend hairstyles and make hair more manageable.
· Working out: Hair extensions are pushed to the limit when working out, so extra care is needed. Be sure to tie your hair up or put it in a loose braid to keep it out of the way and prevent it from contacting sweat or dirt. Also, consider wearing a headband, preferably moisture-wicking, to remove sweat on the hairline.
· Traveling: Taking care of your hair extensions while you’re away takes a bit of thought on your part. Before your trip, consider what activities you’ll be doing that may require you to bring extra goodies. For example, if you’re going to swim pack the swimming cap right away!
5. Proper Hair Storage
To ensure our hair extensions are long-lasting, we have to take care of them even when we aren’t wearing them. Here’s how to take care of your hair when it’s being stored:
· Wig head: Storing wigs on a wig head is an easy way to keep your wig safe. The wig head keeps the wig’s shape and allows the hair to flow naturally. It’s especially useful and accessible if you wear wigs often but don’t sleep in them.
· Hanger: This is a great option for clip ins as it can fasten to the hanger making it a seamless storage option. It also makes it very accessible, which is helpful for someone who installs and removes them daily.
· Silk bag: Storing hair extensions in a silk bag is one of the safest ways to store hair. The silk bag ensures that the hair retains its moisture while preventing tangling and breakage. This is a great option for hair extensions that will be stored long-term. For an added layer of protection, take the silk bag your hair is in and place it in a plastic bin with a lid (preferably clear so you can see through it). At Hair And Silk, we send our customers a silk bag for their extensions.
Care For Your Extensions as Your Own Hair
With the proper attention and care, your hair extensions will look good for months to come. Take the time to treat your hair extensions with the same care you do your natural hair. Use these tips on washing, drying, styling, protecting and storing to make better hair decisions that will foster the longevity of your hair extensions. Keep in mind that the more effort you put in, the better off your hair will be. So enjoy the process and your long lasting hair!