How to look after your hair extensions?
Have you got hair extensions and you want to keep them in perfect condition? We’re going to give you the best tips to learn how to wash and brush them.
Hair extensions have become a quick option if we want to give extra length or volume to our hair. Hair extensions are no longer just something that were used by hairdressers to create special, fantasy hairstyles, but nowadays they have become a fashion accessory for hairstyles.
As is the case of all accessories though, they do need special care. We are therefore going to give you some tips to quash any doubts you might have about hair extensions if you still haven’t decided which ones to choose, so that you can keep them looking good and stylish for longer.
Types of extensions
Semi-permanent
Keratin fusion. These are the most popular and widely used, since they are the strongest type. They are attached by bonding them near to the roots. A downside though is that when they eventually fall off, some remains of the keratin bonding can remain on the original hair.
Sew-in. This type of extension is attached to the original hair using a braid and a type of membrane that is fixed to the end of the extension and then sewn in. This technique is common among women with very curly hair.
Clip-in. These extensions are secured using some special small clips for hair. It is a simple technique that does not damage our hair, but we do need to adjust their position as our hair grows by clipping them in higher up.
Temporary extensions
Clip-on. These extensions are easier to attach, since a hairpin is used to hold them in place. Therefore, we can fit them and remove them whenever we want without damaging our hair or undergoing any special process. They are usually used for special hairstyles on one-off occasions. They are not very practical for everyday use though.
How to wash hair extensions?
We should wash semi-permanent extensions 2 or 3 times a week, whereas we only need to wash temporary extensions once a week.
Before washing them, we must make sure we untangle them properly.
After wetting our hair, we apply shampoo as normal and then wash our hair very gently, making sure we don’t knot or tangle it. We recommend using repairing shampoo and lukewarm water so as not to damage our hair.
We then need to rinse our hair and the extensions properly to get rid of any shampoo remains.
Try to avoid brushing your extensions while they are still wet so as not to break them.
It is best to allow them to dry naturally, but if we do need to use a hairdryer, it is best to use a moderate temperature without placing the dryer too close to our hair. When it is dry, we can use our other implements to get our style right.
After drying it, we should apply some hair serum or oil from the middle to the ends to prevent the ends from frizzing.
How to brush hair with extensions?
Hair extensions require pampering, which is why it is important not to use aggressive products and to brush them regularly to avoid them knotting and tangling.
We should choose a brush with natural bristles or soft bristles without ball-tips.
We should divide our hair into sections to avoid bigger knots and having to tug hard, and we should always start at the ends and work upwards before making a full stroke.
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