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Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Extension Hair Care 101



I am finally back in Arizona with new color and extensions from my hairstylist Bria Carey. I get so many questions on my hair, and I hope this post will give you some insight on how to take care of your extensions. With having beaded extensions for over 8 years I have learned tons about how to care for them. Lets get started....

Products

You invested major money into getting your extensions, and now you have to keep on investing money into your products. You want to avoid products that have sulfates and alcohol since it will dry out your extensions faster. Here is some great products that are extension friendly

Luxury Shampoo and Conditioner - Pureology Nanoworks

Hydration Shampoo and Conditioner - Pureology Hydrate, Kerastase Nutritive Bain Satin, and Joico Silk Result


Heat Protector - Redken Heat Glide

Flat Iron - Chi

Blow Dryer - Chi

Extension Loop Brush here

Washing - How Many Times Per Week

Before having extensions I used to wash my hair every day. Looking back now I have no clue how I did that or even had the time to wash it everyday. Washing your hair everyday not only decreases hair color life, but dries out your precious ends. 

When you have extensions you have to say goodbye to washing your hair multiple times per week. Remember how you paid so much money to get these beautiful extensions placed in tour head? Do you want to ruin them already? Of course not.....

Your body makes natural oils that nourish your hair to keep it looking healthy. Since hair extensions are cut off from that supply over washing it will cause it to dry out, and break overtime. There is no set rule on how little you should wash your hair per week, but I currently do it only once a week. To get you through 7 days until your next wash try using a dry shampoo, and dry conditioner. 

Washing - How to Lather in the Shower

PAY ATTENTION CAREFULLY. DO NOT LATHER! By lathering all your hair around your head is going to cause your extensions to tangle, and possibly knot. True story: When I got my first set of extensions back in high school I lathered during the first wash, and a huge knot formed. The knot was so big that it needed to be CUT out. Ugh....

When you hop in the shower go under the shower head, and let the water drip down to wet the hair. Take your shampoo, and lather it in your hand. At the scalp carefully massage the shampoo in while avoiding your beads. Once your scalp is covered gently stroke the body of your hair vs scrubbing to avoid tangles. When rinsing, go under the head of the shower and allow to water to drip down to wash out the shampoo. I like to put my one side of head to the shower head to make sure it gets all the product out of my scalp, and then switch to my other side of my head. 

When it's time for conditioner I take the product, and place it through the center to my ends. Since my hair is thicker, I use globs of conditioner. I wait a couple minutes then wash it out. Since my wash comes once a week I then use a deep conditioner, and let it sit for 15 minutes as I shave my legs. 

Once you are done washing your hair and body in the shower make sure you squeeze all the excess water out of your hair. 

Drying Extensions

Once you have squeezed the excess water out of your hair take a towel to squeeze extra water out of the ends. I personally like my hair to air dry about 80% before I round brush it (I personally love the Moroccan Oil ceramic brush here). If you don't have the time to let it air dry take your blow dryer on a low setting, and dry your hair while using your hand to come through the hair. Once it's 80% dry take a round brush, and blow dry it out in sections. DON'T BRUSH IT UNTIL IT'S ALMOST DRY. If you take a brush to wet extensions, it could break the hair. 

Sleeping

Before going to bed try braiding your hair into two braids. This will prevent your extensions from getting tangled at night. Before I had extensions I used to put my hair in a messy bun on top of my head. By sleeping in a messy bun the tension of the elastic will actually damage the body of the hair.

What To Avoid

You want to avoid swimming too much in pools because the chlorine will dry out the hair.
Tight top knots will put tension through the body of the hair, and break it.
Bristle brushes.
Too much heat from styling tools on the hair. 

Pushing Them Up

About every 8 weeks I drive to Utah to go get my hair dyed, colored, and extensions pushed up. I would recommend you get your extensions pushed up every time you are going to salon so that it prevents your grown out hair to dread between the scalp and extension bead. 

I know this sounds like a lot of maintenance, but I promise it's so worth it. Not only do these tips keep your extensions beautiful, but improves your natural hair as well. If you have any other questions about extensions let me know :)








3 comments:

  1. It's easy to tell if you have healthy hair. There are signs such as does it have good shine? Is it thick or long?
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    Replies
    1. Healthy hair usually is more smooth, and doesn't have dullness to it. Also the ends don't flake off from split ends :)

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