15 ways to care for your hair extensions

Woman is long hair extensions and is wearing a pink blouse.

Why is it important to take care of your extensions? 

Now that you’ve made this worthy splurge, it’s time to talk proper care. To ensure a long-lived look, it’s essential to get the maintenance rituals for your hair extensions down pat. Below, here are the dos and don’ts when it comes to preserving these luxe hairdo additions.

  • Always brush from ends first and work your way up to the bond area.
  • Loop brushes or soft bristle brushes are best for your hair, as they don’t pull on your natural hair. Avoid hard plastic brushes. Always brush hair before bed and first thing in the morning. Frequent brushing during the day will limit tangling. Ask us about our preferred brushes specifically designed for use with extensions. We suggest you brush about 5 times a day.
  • Separate your bonds daily by running your fingers across your scalp.
  • Lather shampoo at scalp and gently work your way to the ends. The fewer times you wash, the longer the hair will last. Ideally 1-2 times a week to wash. Try to avoid conditioner on the bond area as it can weaken the bond overtime. Be sure to use a sulfate-free shampoo and avoid the overuse of purple shampoo touching the bonds, as it could break the bonds down as well. Ask your stylist to direct you to the home care products best for your hair. We suggest the Luminous Colour collection from Maria Nila or the NeuMoisture products from Neuma. 
  • Never go to sleep with damp or wet extensions. Ensure the bond area is dry, as your natural hair is more elastic when wet.
  • Use a satin pillowcase for sleeping to guard against matting. 
  • It’s not recommended to air dry but if you do, dry the bond area and let the ends air dry. If the bond area stays wet, there’s more risk of matting or tangling.
  • Treat extensions regularly with Argan oil treatment for your ends or for smoothing your mid-shaft to ends, just like you would your hair but avoid the bonds. Your hair extensions need hydration, we suggest the True Soft from Maria Nila or Argan Oil from Neuma.
  • Straighteners and curling irons can be used as normal but avoiding the bonds.
  • Avoid oil based products on the bonds. You can use hair spray, dry shampoo and leave in conditioner. We love the Instant Fix and Blowout Mist from Neuma for all your styling needs. 
  • Extensions should be tied back and braided when sleeping to prevent unnecessary pulling and tugging.
  • It is critical for you to attend your maintenance appointments. Going without can cause tangling and damage to your hair.
  • Touch ups for your hair should be every 8 to 10 weeks. Make sure to book ahead to maintain a strict schedule, which will lengthen the life of your extensions and keep them looking beautiful.
  • Never attempt to remove them yourself.
  • Consider your lifestyle when you choose a method for your extensions. Do you love hot yoga? Are you willing to baby your hair a bit? Do you pull or twirl your hair? Do you love to wear hats? This is all relevant information to share during your consult, so your stylist can pick the correct extension method for your life. 

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