Do you want to make your extensions last longer?
If you have spent any money on hair extensions and you know the kind I’m talking about. High quality hair extensions, you want to make sure those babies last like forever! but let me just say what I am telling you is good for extensions are also good to know for your natural hair as well. So don’t think this post is just for my extension guests. But back to you extension peeps looking to make that hair LAST! I’m going to be focusing on what to use or not use on that hair.
Cotton is not your friend
When you head to bed you need to make sure you avoid sleeping on cotton pillowcases. Cotton absorbs all the moisture from your hair and skin. So what should you use silk or satin pillowcases, sleep bonnets and scrunchies. Sleep bonnets are great if you are a Tasmanian devil when you sleep as well. Or your hair is to short to keep in a braid or bun on the top of your head.
Moisture! And more Moisture
Hair extensions go through a lot of processing before landing on your head. That process strips a lot of the cuticle layer of the natural hair. Not all of it BUT a lot of it. So it needs moisture to keep the extensions from drying out and becoming brittle so the rule is condition, hydrate and water need to be constant. Using a professional product like Kevin.Murphy’s Hydrate.Me shampoo and conditioner, Un.tangled leave-in and Hydrate.Me.Masque will ensure your adding back that moisture the hair needs
Avoid protein rich products
If your natural hair is damaged protein can be a lifesaving ingredient. But with hair extensions it zaps the hair of moisture to push in the protein then locks down the cuticle preventing moisture from entering. And moisture as said is the most important ingredient extensions need. So you need to avoid any shampoo and conditioners labeled repair or smoothing. And brands like Olaplex which have bond builders and which smooth down the cuticle layer locking out moisture as well. Now you are totally able to use these products on your natural hair. But you need to keep them off the extension hair.
oils
Daily use of a high quality hair oil like Kevin.Murphy’s Young.Again Treatment Oil is key. Either at night or before styling apply a pump or two of the oil and run it through your extensions mid-length to the ends. Of course its great for your hair as well so don’t skip it on your ends as well. Not all oils are the same. You need to ensure you are using a super lightweight oil not a serum. If it sits on the outside of the hair and is not quickly absorbed it can actually cause more issues with applying heat.
Frequent brushing
This may seem simple but by brushing your hair and extensions frequently will reduce tangles and breakage. Brush through your hair 3 to 4 times a day. BUT be sure to avoid the top of your hair extensions for hand-tied, tape-in and i-tip hair extensions. Especially with hand-tied extensions as it can unloop the hair and ruin your wefts.
This is your hit list for making sure your hair extensions last for the longest possible time. If you miss even one of these it can reduce the life span of your hair.
