How to make hair extensions last longer
You’ve spent your hard earned money on the hair of your dreams… Now what?
How you care for your hair extensions makes or breaks your investment, and dictates how long you’ll be able to wear them before it’s time to splurge again.
Without further ado, here’s your list of habits and hair care routines to make your hair extensions last long as possible!
Believe it or not, the simple habit of hair brushing multiple times a day prevents most hair extension disasters. Start detangling by working your way up from the tip to the root, applying gentle pressure on your extensions to prevent tension and snagging.
Once hair is detangled and smooth, a pump or two of lightweight hair oil seals in shine and softness and prevents frizz. A high quality hair oil like LHC’s is essential to extending the lifetime of your extensions, as those strands no longer receive nutrients from the scalp to stay hydrated and glossy.
Prior to bed, applying a loose braid or bun with a silk scrunchy as well as a satin or silk bonnet preserves hair health. Additionally sleeping on a satin or silk pillowcase is in your hair’s best interest (as well as your skin’s), as cotton pulls moisture from hair follicles, and friction against rougher fabrics leads to strand breakage.
If we had our way, hair extension wash day would be an Olympic sport, but perfecting your routine can make this task much more enjoyable, and dare we say serene.
High quality shampoo and conditioner are the key to starting wash day on the right foot. Parabens and sulfates should be avoided at all costs to prevent drying out and weighing down hair.
As hair extensions lay so close to the scalp, most wearers will require a double cleanse to get truly clean. This is extremely important to the overall health of your natural hair, as clogged follicles result in shedding.
Gently double cleanse your hair, taking extra care to lather in between rows of extensions, clipping the upper sections of hair out of the way while washing if necessary.
Repeat until clean. A scalp exfoliating shampoo may be extremely helpful here for achieving a clean scalp.
Once clean, squeeze excess water from the hair and apply either a conditioner and/or conditioning masque (bonus points for the masque). Allow your conditioning treatment of choice to fully penetrate the strands for at least 5 minutes before rinsing. Avoid applying conditioner and masques to the base of your extensions, as this causes slipping.
We hate to be the bearers of bad news, but tight hairstyles must be worn sparingly with hair extensions, due to the additional weight of hair extensions increasing tension to your scalp. Loose braids, ponytails, buns, and carefully applied claw clips are all great alternatives.
When spending time in the sun, it’s vital to avoid sunscreens with avobenzone, which discolor hair extensions. Opting for a mineral, extension safe sunscreen like LHC’s will protect your hair and skin, while offering plenty of hydration benefits.
Prior to submerging your hair extensions in water, we recommend wetting your hair and applying a leave-in treatment or hair oil to prevent mineral and chemical absorption and potential discoloration.
Finally, one of the most important tips to preserving your extensions and your natural hair is to listen to your stylist! Each head requires different care, and hair extension wearers with fine or fast growing hair may require re-installations more often to prevent tension damage.
Your stylist knows best, and they’re looking out for your hair!
For any and all hair extension care needs, feel free to check out LHC’s lineup, formulated by stylists for hair extensions and endless good hair days to come.