Do you want your hair extensions to look as it was unboxed a few minutes ago? Well, you got to learn to love them and care for them like your own hair. You will need a strict care routine to keep them flawless and gorgeous for their whole lifespan. The aftercare routine is not that hard – it is as easy as washing them and styling them, but the correct way! 

Hair extensions are best to increase hair volume, length, and styling flexibility. And hair retailers will guarantee you all of these with virgin human hair. They will probably offer you the best hair extension from their store with gorgeous long locks. But as soon as you walk out of the store, it is all in your hand to take care and maintain them! You can implant these 5 habits at the comfort of home to keep your hair extensions just as you purchased! By learning these care routines, you can avoid frequent salon visits and maintain them on your own. 

‘’Your hair extension is YOUR hair’’

Care your hair extension your hair

Once the hair extension is in your hand, you should think and treat them just like your hair. With good care, they will pay back in time! If you have any big events coming up, a human hair extension will give your hair a gorgeous look. To get the look, you should be gentle with them. Even the simplest routine, like brushing hair, affects its health. ‘Treat your hair extensions like your own hair.

Habit 1: Wash your hair extensions the right way

Wash your hair extensions with warm water

The lifespan and look of a hair extension depend on how you wash it. Washing hair extensions at home require a proper procedure if you want them to last longer. The proper way doesn’t mean using expensive products or rocket science formulas! Follow these steps, and it is easy as pie!

• Detangling hair extensions

Human hair extensions are less likely to tangle than synthetic hair extensions. However, prolonged usage may lead to some knotted strands, so you will need to brush them with a wide-tooth comb. Also, ensure that all the tangles are eliminated because while washing, you may end with a lot more tangled strands. 

• Prepare a Bath for hair extensions

Fill the bucket or a sink with lukewarm water. Avoid using extremely cold and hot water for your extensions. The best approach to wash your hair extensions is with warm water. Cool water does not effectively wash dirt and oils, and boiling water destroys the natural color.

Then, pour a few drops of shampoo into the water and mix them around until the shampoo is evenly distributed. DO NOT use alcohol and sulfate-based shampoos because they will damage the strands and diminish your hair extension color.

• Squeeze out dirt and product build-up from your hair extensions

Squeeze out impurities from your hair extensions

Check your extensions for knotted tangles and remove them with a wide-tooth comb if there are any. First, dip the extensions in water and let them soak for about fifteen minutes. Then, to avoid tangling, do it weft by weft. Keep the top weft and clips as dry as possible because water may corrode your clips. With your hand, gently squeeze dirt, oils, and the product build-up from the strands. Instead of strangling the weft, twist it clockwise in a gentle twisting motion. Repeat the technique for all of the wefts, and then lay them out separately on a clean piece of cloth.

• Rinse your extensions

Rinse your extensions under the running faucet after you have squeezed enough to remove the impurities. Make sure the water in the faucet is cold to keep the extensions moist. Then, using a fresh towel, pat out any excess water and lay the extensions flat.

Step 5: Dry your extensions

• With a Microfiber Towel

If you have enough time, you will need a microfiber towel to dry your extensions. Please don’t use your everyday towel to dry the extensions because it will loosen the hair follicles and lead to shedding. 

First, lay down the extensions on a clean table. Then with a microfiber towel, gently pat out the excess water. When your hair is completely dry, apply hair oil to make the strands smooth and manageable.

• With a Blow-Dryer

If you need to dry your extensions quickly, use a blow dryer. However, before blow-drying, use a heat guard because heat is bad for human hair. In addition, set your blow dryer to the lowest heat setting. Finally, blow-dry your hair extensions from roots to ends.

Habit 2: Brush your hair extensions correctly

Detangle your hair extensions the correct way

Brushing your hair extensions is so much like brushing your real hair. But, if you do it rough hands way, the strands start to fall out. So, get a wide-tooth comb to brush your hair extension. First, brush your hair extensions at the end, followed by the mid-section and then the roots. 

ALERT: 

• Always brush towards the ends portion by portion, beginning from the ends!
• To avoid ripping the strands out of the brush, stroke it gently.
• If you have multiple wefts, brush them one by one and set them on the table individually.

Although we briefly covered brushing hair in Habit 1, we want to remind every fellow hair extension user, the importance of a proper brushing method.

Habit 3: Condition your extensions regularly

Moisturize your hair extensions with conditioner

Your hair gets the supply of natural oils from your scalp, keeping it healthy even if you have a more relaxed hair care routine. Unfortunately, your extensions are just attached to the root, so they do not acquire any natural oils. Therefore, you should always schedule a regular conditioning treatment to keep them moisturized, smooth, and that wonderful sheen. You can plan for a weekly conditioning treatment, assuming you are a regular user. Make it a habit to ensure you don’t forget to treat your hair extensions with the required oil supply.

Habit 4: Reduce heat damage 

Reduce using heat to your hair extension

Too much heat is a no-no for both your natural hair and hair extensions! The extreme heat destroys the strands. Exposure of a hundred percent human hair leads to brittleness and broken ends. If you want to increase hair volume by creating waves and curls, try some overnight heatless methods. No matter how much you care, you will have to buy a new hair extension if you forget to follow the heat etiquette.

Follow these three habits to reduce heat damage

• Apply heat guard before using a hot tool

When you are ready to wear a gorgeous hairstyle, remember to apply a heat protectant to your hair extension with a hot tool. Use Indique Hair Care Essential Heat Guard because they will protect your virgin human hair extension at all times. First, sprinkle water to dampen your hair extension, and then apply the product.  

• Dial down the temperature settings

Keep the temperature of hot tools as low as possible. You may require a certain heat to create the hairstyle you desire but go minimum as far as possible. Don’t scorch your hair extension with extreme heat – there are many ways to achieve tonnes of hairstyles with low temperatures.

• Give your hair extensions a break from the heat

Heat styling is not the only option to wear perfect hairstyles. There are many hairstyles that you can achieve without any heat! Though all the sleek might tempt you, wavy and curly hair stuffs trending on social media, but contain yourself. Your hair extensions will thank you! For a week, limit the frequency of using hot tools – a maximum of two times per week. 

Do you want to increase hair volume? Try hair volume powder rather than using a hot tool! There are many healthy ways to make your extension voluminous.

Habit 5: Remove the hair extensions when you go to bed

Of course, you can go to bed directly if you are wearing permanent hair extensions. We are highlighting this habit because the number of temporary hair extension users is very high globally. With clip-ins, tape-ins, or any temporary hair extension, it is crucial to remove them before bedtime. Suppose you sleep with hair extensions – the effects of tossing and turning while sleeping can destroy both your natural hair and extensions. You might wake up to messy, tangled hair! Then you will have to spend half of your precious morning hours detangling the knotted strands. 

Conclusion

Keep your hair extensions healthy, smooth and durable with these five habits. As you know, you don’t have to visit a hair salon now and then to maintain your hair extension. These are simple DIY habits that you can execute right away! So if you got one, start implementing these habits right now – it will benefit your hair extension and ultimately YOU!