When it comes to refreshing your look and adding a new touch of style to your hair, there are few things that can do the trick as effectively as a good set of hair extensions. With the growing popularity of extensions for everyday use, not just for special occasions, they’re more accessible than ever.
However, if you want to make sure they stay looking fabulous for as long as possible, you’re going to need to show them a little more care than you do for your natural hair. Here is some advice for caring for your hair extensions that you should follow.
What Are Hair Extensions?
Hair extensions are, as the name implies, artificial hair accessories that can add as much volume and length to your hair as you need. There are multiple types of hair extensions, including clip-ins, tape-ins, and micro loop extensions that have become more popular over the past few years. The different types of integration all come with their own advantages when it comes to maintenance, and hair extensions can come in all manners of textures and colors to help you achieve the look you want.
How Long Do Hair Extensions Last?
If you want to get your money’s worth out of a hair extension treatment, then you want to make them last as long as possible. How long they last depends on a few things, with the method of integration being the most important.
Both tape-in and sew-in hair extensions typically last anywhere from 4 to 8 weeks, for instance, while clip-in extensions last from 3 to 6 months, and micro loops last from between 3 and 4 months. Regardless of the kind of extension, you can help them last longer by showing them the proper care that they need.
Know What Products to Avoid
In order to help your extensions last as long as possible, you need to consider how they are affected by your routine hair treatments. When it comes to the hair products you use, you should first avoid any sticky products or products that might otherwise clog the extensions, as hair enhanced by these products needs to be washed more often, which wears away at the extensions.
You should also try to use sulfate-free and alcohol-free products as much as possible. These products strip away the natural oils from your hair, which is not just bad for your head but causes the extensions to pull free more easily, too.
Be Sure to Brush Well
Not brushing properly not only leads to tangles that cause your extensions to come out more easily. It also leads to your extension bonds getting tangled up with the roots of your hair, which can damage your real hair, as well.
As such, it’s important to brush carefully, using a decent brush with no balls on the bristle ends, clips to keep hair out of the way when you’re brushing a section, and a detangler spray to avoid any problems. If you have curly hair, you should brush before washing, when it’s conditioned, and after washing. If you have straight hair, brush in the morning, before going to bed, before washing, and when it’s conditioned. Thorough, regular, and cautious brushing is key.
Try Not to Wash Too Much
If you’re used to washing your hair every day, you should avoid doing the same with your extensions. More regular washing increases the secretion of sebum, which makes the scalp greasier. As your roots get greasier, the bonds keeping your extensions in place will start to wear away. You should wash your hair if you’re getting any buildup of sticky or clumpy products but, as mentioned above, you should avoid using these where possible.
Avoid Extreme Heat
In many cases, keeping your extensions healthy is all about limiting the factors that can weaken their bonds. If you’re using a flat iron or curling iron, then you should use a heat-protective spray ahead of time to stop the high temperatures from affecting where your roots meet the extensions.
Try to keep the heat settings on your irons at reasonable temperatures, aiming for a low or medium heat setting if possible. Additionally, don’t use heat on your hair every day; limit it as much as possible. It’s easier than you might think to accidentally burn your hair extensions, which will ruin them.
With the tips above, your hair extensions should last a lot longer and look a lot more beautiful. If you want to learn more about how to get perfect looking extensions, book a consultation with Cualtzin Salon; they can help you nail the look you’re going for and help you understand how to give your hair the care it needs.