You spend money on hair extensions in the hopes that you will be able to enjoy them for longer than a couple of days. If anything, they’re more of an investment for you. Though, sometimes various things require more dedicated care than others to ensure their longevity.
As with your natural hair, there are a couple of routines and things you can do to your hair extensions to maintain the quality and enjoy your locks for a long time. Here are a couple of tips to help you get the most out of your money and your extensions.
1. Brush The Extensions And Avoid Tangles
This might go without saying but hair extensions are still hair, meaning they still need to be brushed. With real, human hair extensions or synthetic ones, brushing through them is an important part of the upkeep.
It’s a good idea to brush them before you shampoo them, to ensure there are no tangles. Additionally, leaving the extensions wet for too long can cause bad tangling, which quickly results in matted locks. Matted extensions typically will not last as long.
If you ensure that they are tangle-free most of the time, their quality and lifespan will continue to impress you.
2. Don’t Pull, Tug, Or Add Unnecessary Pressure
Hair extensions are, understandably, somewhat fragile. They attach to the strands of your hair and when pulled too hard they can easily come out. This means that you need to take extra care when brushing, washing, and styling your hair.
Regardless of whether you have clip-ins, tape-ins, or any other kind of hair extensions, the fact that they’re not your real hair means that you should be more delicate if you want them to remain attached.
3. Make An Extra Effort When You Sleep
Sleeping can be a very restless activity for many people and because of this, it’s important to make the effort to properly keep your hair positioned in a way that won’t add any damage.
The best way to do this is to tie your hair in a very loose, low side ponytail before going to sleep. Alternatively, you can loosely braid your hair to the side.
Additionally, to avoid morning frizz on those extensions and natural locks, invest in a silk pillowcase or silk bonnet. This material helps to keep everything smooth and helps you to avoid aggressive morning-detangling, ultimately extending the life of your hair.
Both of these options will help with the hair care that’s recommended to guarantee the long-lasting effect you desire.
4. Take Note When Applying Conditioner
The thing to remember when it comes to washing your hair and extensions is to apply your conditioner from the nape of the neck (where you would tie your hair in a low ponytail). No conditioner is needed on the roots or where the extensions are attached to your natural hair.
It’s suggested that you should let the conditioner sit for a couple of minutes before combing through and rinsing. Additionally, you can apply leave-in conditioner to the tips of your hair. This will keep them incredibly silky and soft to the touch.
5. Pick the Right Shampoos
Generally, the recommendations for washing hair extensions is to simply integrate the into your natural hair routine. However, as with your natural locks, overwashing your hair extensions can cause damage. Scale back how often you wash your hair. Natural oils will then have a chance to nourish your hair and help it shine, and you can save some money on that expensive hair care routine.
In turn, to preserve the quality of your hair and extensions, there are certain types of shampoo that you should be using. Pick nourishing and hydrating options, anything that contains argon oil and keratin are good for strengthening hair and increasing wear, over time.
Hair extensions are a fun way to change your hairstyle without breaking the bank. If you are thinking about investing in some, remember to keep these tips in mind. Your hair extensions will last much longer and your purse will thank you for it!
