Okay, so first things first, let\u2019s take a look at your hair washing routine. While it is true that your extensions can be treated just as you would do so your natural locks, there are a few things that you need to remember on your next hair wash day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to the\u00a0shampoo\u00a0and\u00a0conditioner\u00a0that you use to wash your hair, we would always strongly recommend investing in the products that your hair extension technician recommends, such as\u00a0Beauty Works. Each hair extension type, whether you opt for\u00a0micro rings\u00a0that use small, silicone lined copper rings or\u00a0pre-taped wefts, comes alongside different requirements to ensure that the bonds remain secure. They also need to include the right ingredients to not only keep your extensions in good condition but also allow your natural hair to continue growing healthily. This means avoiding products that contain ingredients such as sulfates and alcohol, which are known for stripping your hair of its natural oils and in turn, making your extensions more likely to get matted. You can find more information on the shampoo and conditioner ingredients that you should always avoid on\u00a0Pure Natural Cosmetics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once you are stocked up with the right products, you\u2019ll then be free to wash your hair without having to worry about how the shampoo and conditioner may react against your extensions. We\u2019d recommend, if possible, washing your hair in the shower, allowing the water to flow down your hair. While it may be easier to flip your hair over the bath to clean quickly, this does make the extensions more prone to tangling, meaning that you\u2019ll have to spend ages afterward brushing out knots. When washing, always ensure that you focus your shampoo on the roots to remove excess oil and conditioner on the ends to keep them nourished. Putting conditioner anywhere near your roots may cause the extensions to begin slipping down your hair, making them last far less long. Also, try to use warm water rather than scorching hot as this, again, will strip the natural oils from both your hair and scalp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now that you\u2019re a pro at washing your extensions, its time to move onto drying. Although it may be tempting to head off to bed with your hair slightly damp, we cannot stress enough the importance of thoroughly drying your locks before going to bed. Never sleeping with wet hair is a rule of thumb when it comes to caring for your extensions. Trust us; we have seen so many clients in the past coming back for their maintenance appointments with tangled and matted roots or extensions that have fallen out, simply down to not following this advice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Your hair is at its weakest when it is wet, which means that the tossing and turning while you sleep can take its toll on both your natural locks and extensions. It also means that when you wake up in the morning, you\u2019ll have serious bedhead which forces you to spend what feels like an eternity detangling. Even when taking extra care to brush out knots, you will be putting the bonds under immense pressure, pulling at your scalp and loosening the bonds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re yet to invest in a good quality hairdryer, then we suggest heading over to\u00a0Expert Reviews\u00a0for a guide to the best-rated options for this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although we briefly mentioned it in the tip above, we thought that we most definitely needed to include a section dedicated to extension brushing etiquette.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, just like when you brush your natural hair a little too harshly, and you see strands begin to fall out, your extensions will start to become loose if you fail to take care. It is inevitable that your extensions will experience some tangling, but it\u2019s how you tackle it that counts. Firstly, you need to invest in a quality brush \u2013 we suggest taking a look at the range available on\u00a0Beauty Works\u00a0(they\u2019re practice and cute!). Then, you need to follow the sequence of starting to brush at the ends of your hair before working your way up. This method will cause the least strain on your hair, extensions and scalp, keeping them all healthy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to how many times you brush a day, as long as you are gentle, the more, the better. However, if you\u2019re looking for a precise recommendation, we\u2019d always say first thing in the morning, before you go to bed, before washing and after washing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Girls, are we right in saying that greasy hair is everyone\u2019s biggest pain? But, while it can be super frustrating waking up to oily roots, it does mean that your hair is being fed with a constant supply of natural oils, keeping it nourished even if you have more of a laid-back haircare routine. However, as your extensions are only bonded to the root, it does mean that, unfortunately, they do not receive any of these natural oils. So, to keep them filled with moisture, super smooth and to maintain that gorgeous shine, you should always schedule a weekly\u00a0conditioning treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are so many different ways that you can do a deep\u00a0conditioning treatmenton your extensions, and as long as you do not apply it near to the root, you can use any products that you wish. Natural products are always a sought-after option because not only are they affordable, but they also guarantee complete hydration.\u00a0Argan oil,\u00a0coconut oil\u00a0and macadamia oil are all perfect for keeping your hair smooth and shiny. Alternatively, if you\u2019re looking to get a little more creative and try your hand at making your own hair mask, there are hundreds of great recipes out there to experiment with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just like your natural locks, hair extensions become damaged when you overuse heat on them. As all of our extensions, whether they\u2019re\u00a0micro ring\u00a0or\u00a0tape-in, are made using 100% human hair, they can become brittle and split ends will accumulate. This means that no matter how many conditioning treatments you apply, once the extensions are damaged, you may have no choice but to replace the hair. However, luckily, there are many different ways that you can keep heat damage at a minimum. Here are our top tips:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although there is no way of stopping yourself from tossing and turning throughout the night, there are a few handy ways that you can avoid waking up to a bird\u2019s nest of hair the following morning. In keeping knotting at a minimum, you won\u2019t have to put as much pressure on both your roots and extension bonds while trying to brush them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the best ways to keep your extensions under control overnight is to tie them back very loosely before going to bed. If you\u2019re looking for a quick and easy solution, putting your hair in a low ponytail with a\u00a0silk scrunchie\u00a0or\u00a0spiral hairband\u00a0is perfect. Alternatively, while it may take a little practice, a loose French braid is another excellent way to prevent tangling and even better, you\u2019ll wake up with beautiful beach waves. Take a look at\u00a0Real Simple\u00a0for a super easy French braid tutorial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Last, but most definitely not least, you must ensure that you take the time to separate your bonds each day. While this may sound super tedious and time-consuming, it actually only takes a few minutes and if you do it daily, will take even less time. You won\u2019t need any tools to do this; simply use your fingers to feel each of the bonds and check that none have started to become tangled. If they have, carefully try to separate them \u2013 you might sometimes need a small brush or comb to do this. In ensuring that bonds are always separated, you can stop the<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Do Hair Extensions Require A Lot Of Maintenance?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Before we get started, it\u2019s important to know that while your hair extensions can be low maintenance, that doesn\u2019t mean no maintenance. There are definitely things you\u2019ll want to include in your daily hair extension care routine that are going to help you keep your hair looking and feeling healthy, and prolong the life of your extensions. As an added bonus, the better you care for your hair extensions, the less damaged your natural hair is likely to be AND you may be able to go for a longer period of time in between your move-up appointments. In short, taking care of your hair extensions will require a hair care routine and does take some maintenance, but it doesn\u2019t have to be a lot, and you can still enjoy a more low maintenance hair care routine even with extensions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Limit How Often You Wash Your Hair <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n On that note, let\u2019s talk about washing your hair. If you\u2019ve ever wondered can I shower with hair extensions, or how often should I wash my hair when I have extensions, you are not alone. This is one of the most common questions people have about taking care of their hair extensions. When it comes to washing your extensions, this is where you want to be more low-maintenance. My recommendation is to wash your hair twice a week when you have extensions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you wash your hair more, you\u2019ll risk drying out your hair extensions. When your extensions are drier they can break easier, which can lead to more shedding and require you to replace your extensions more often. This is why I recommend just twice a week for washing your hair. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When you do wash your hair, I HIGHLY recommend double shampooing for optimal scalp health! Once you\u2019ve shampooed make sure to rinse your hair really well to ensure you don\u2019t leave any product residue in your hair. You\u2019ll also want to condition your hair. Conditioner should be used from mid shafts of your hair to the ends, never or only very little towards the root area or scalp. When you condition, focus on damaged or known dry areas of your hair. <\/p>\n\n\n\n And, as I mentioned, you can also brush your hair BEFORE you get it wet (not after!). Washing and conditioning are important pieces of hair extension care, but what<\/em> you use on your hair has an impact too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether you have extensions or not, the products you put in your hair make a difference in the health of your hair. That\u2019s why you\u2019ve likely heard of sulfate free shampoos or know about hair product build up in your hair. These things you know impact your natural hair also make a difference when you\u2019re trying to take care of your hair extensions. So what products should you be using (or avoiding) to keep your hair extensions healthy?<\/p>\n\n\n\n The main rule when it comes to hair care products for your extensions is to make sure you’re using products that keep your hair hydrated, rather than drying it out. As I mentioned earlier, dry hair extensions are more prone to breakage. So to avoid excess breakage, there are a few things you can do to help keep your hair hydrated when you’re choosing your hair care products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Why is sulfate free important for your hair extensions? Hair extensions are more prone to dry out than your own hair because they aren\u2019t being replenished with oil or nutrients like your natural hair is. This means anything that is likely to cause your extensions to dry out should be avoided. Sulfates can dry out your extensions, making them more prone to damage like breakage or shedding. So it\u2019s important to choose only sulfate free hair care products. If you are in a dry climate, like we are here in Bend and Central Oregon, choosing products that keep your extensions hydrated is even more important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Oil for your hair extensions is an important part of keeping them hydrated and preventing all the negative consequences of dry extensions. How much oil you use depends on the amount of hair and hair extensions you have, but start with less and you can always increase the amount you use. When you apply oil to your hair extensions apply from the mid-shaft to the ends of your hair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hair masks are another great product you can use to help keep your hair and extensions, fully hydrated. I recommend using a hair mask once or twice a month in place of your conditioner to get the maximum benefit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are heat styling your hair, be sure to use a heat and UV protectant before any heat styling. High heat can burn and discolor blonde extensions and this damage is unfortunately irreversible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can also use salon professional styling products like hair spray, texture spray, or dry shampoo with your hair extensions. If you do, I always say less is more! And if you are using heavier styling products, be sure to double shampoo to ensure you remove all products from your hair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I mentioned it a few times, but hair extensions are more prone to dry out, and styling with heat can just add to the dryness. If you want to keep your hair extensions looking healthy, avoid using heat to style your hair too often. If you\u2019re following the other recommendations in this hair extension care guide, you\u2019ll be washing your hair just a couple of times a week. This will reduce the need for you to blow dry your hair every day and you may find you don\u2019t need to redo your styling with hot tools every day either. Small touch-ups with heat tools are fine on days in between washing but don\u2019t forget to refresh with a new application of heat protectant each time to reactivate those benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I know it\u2019s not always realistic to avoid the heat tools altogether, but if you can reduce your use it\u2019ll do your hair extensions (and your natural hair) good. Air dry your hair as often as you can to avoid blow drying. Use natural styling methods (the braids at night), and if you choose to use heat styling tools, use the lowest temperature setting possible and always use a heat protectant. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 1. Wash Your Extensions Correctly Okay, so first things first, let\u2019s take a look at your hair washing routine. While it is true that your extensions can be treated just as you would do so your natural locks, there are a few things that you need to remember on your next hair wash day. When […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2232,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[77],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2323","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tips"],"blocksy_meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/haircode.no\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2323","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/haircode.no\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/haircode.no\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/haircode.no\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/haircode.no\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2323"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/haircode.no\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2323\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/haircode.no\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2232"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/haircode.no\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2323"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/haircode.no\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2323"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/haircode.no\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2323"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Hair Products Matter<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
USE SULFATE FREE HAIR PRODUCTS<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
USE OIL REGULARLY<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
OTHER STYLING PRODUCTS<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
USE EXCESSIVE HEAT STYLING<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n