Investing in a set of hair extensions can truly transform your appearance, giving thick, full hair where there wasn’t before. For this reason, this kind of treatment is becoming increasingly popular with women who have naturally thin and fine hair, and want to remedy that.
There are a number of different types of hair extensions available on the market, specifically including synthetic and human hair extensions. The latter is a very popular choice, as it gives the most natural looking finish and can be treated and styled just like a your natural head of hair – because it too is natural.
Although this type of treatment can look great, it is also a real investment of money, with the most upmarket salons offering the best treatments for hundreds of pounds. With this in mind, it is absolutely essential to look after your real human hair extensions in a very particular way to make sure that they last as long as possible.
It should be noted, however, that one of the top pieces of advice from salon owners and hairstylists is that any type of extensions – whether curly hair extensions or straight ones – should be seen to and replaced on a semi-regular basis. Damage will occur over time to the product, as well as to your own hair, and therefore expert treatment is strongly advised.
The first thing to bear in mind when looking after your extensions at home is that you will need to treat them better, and with greater care, than your own hair. This is for two main reasons, the first being that they do not benefit from the natural scalp oils that your own head of hair does, as they are not actually growing out of your scalp.
These natural oils are essential for keeping your hair nourished, so you will need to make sure that your extensions are even more nourished. This can be especially true of curly hair extensions, which can be prone to frizz and need to be moisturised intensively to stay in good condition.
These hair products have also been subjected to harsh treatment – including extensive heating, colouring and sanitising – before they were applied to your hair. For this reason, it is necessary to give them an extra level of treatment for them to last as long as possible.
What this means in practical terms is to use a very gentle shampoo on a regular basis, taking care to gently massage the product throughout your full head of hair. Rough treatment can not only mean that your extensions detach themselves more easily, but that hair can become matted too.
You should also use a deep conditioning treatment on a weekly basis to make sure that your extensions are thoroughly nourished. If you are unsure about which products to use, it is strongly advised to speak to your stylist, as they will be able to provide you with advice on what is best for your particular hair style and hair type.
As matting can be a real issue with extensions, make sure that you breakthroughs or brush your hair on a daily basis. This will help prevent breakages and tangling that can cause premature damage to your extensions. Avoiding matting is especially important in the case of curly hair extensions, which can become much more easily tangled.
You can use products on your hair to prevent this tangling, but check about the best ones to apply with your stylist first. It is best to avoid applying any detangling or moisturizing products near the roots, as this can cause your extensions to become slippery and therefore detach themselves from your head.
Finally, make sure that you sleep with your entire head of hair gently but securely braided, to avoid your hair knotting during the night. A breathable night cap can even be worn to stop your hair snagging overnight, causing damage to your beautiful extensions.
