Human Hair Extension Aftercare

Find all the items you need to help with your human hair extensions maintenance here; Aftercare 

We recommend the use of our own brand hair care products on all of our extensions and refuse the right for a refund if our products have not been used to maintain the hair correctly. Hair Extensions can last up to 3 months with continuous wear if applied and maintained correctly.

General

Prior to the installation of hair extensions always ensure your hair is washed preferably with a clarifying treatment or anti tap solution shampoo and no conditioner of any kind. This ensures all residues including oil and product build up are removed; these residues must be removed as this can prevent slippage and loss after installation. Your hair must be fully dried and free of any styling products as this will give the best base for application.

After installation of your hair we recommend our own brand of Aftercare products which have been formulated to restore the natural hair and at the same time condition the hair extensions, which results in optimum conditioning for both your natural hair and the 100% Human Hair Extensions. We do not recommend colouring, tinting or perming the extension hair as these types of products contain elements that can damage the extension hair and even though our extensions are 100% human hair, they are not receiving nutrients from the scalp like your own natural hair.

The more heat you use on the hair extension the shorter the life span of the hair, treat your extensions with the same respect as you would with you own natural hair, superior aftercare and regular maintenance will keep your hair feeling and looking great for longer.

After the installation of your hair extensions do not wash your hair for at least 2-3 days, use a dry shampoo such as "Batiste" on any oily root areas as this allows the bonds to fully harden, the longer you wait, the better it is for the longevity of the bonds. Tie your hair back in a loose ponytail or plait using a soft scrunchie for bed. Never wear your extensions for longer than 3 months continuously as during this time your hair will have grown by approx 1.5 inches, the roots of your hair often start to tangle together if you have not separated the bonds correctly and therefore it is not healthy for the hair if left.

The first thing you may notice after your hair extension installation is that for a few days your scalp may feel tender and sore, this is normal and will pass and not a sign of a problem but just the added weight of the extension hair, if this does persist for longer than a few days this could be a result of the extensions been fitted too tightly in which case you would need to get this checked.

Please Note: - All of our hair extensions are colour treated therefore can be subject to colour fading, colour running for the first few washes and the lighter shades have a bleach content therefore will not last as long in life span as non-bleached hair.

The lighter shades will need extra care and less heat application to increase the lifespan as they are more prone to fading than other shades as they are done on to a bleach base.

It is the responsibility of the Salon/Hair Extensionist to ensure customers receive the correct aftercare information, please feel free to copy and paste the text below for customer use:

Washing

Your extension hair should only be washed between 2-3 times per week.

Before washing it is advised to detangle your extension hair with a wide tooth comb and separate the bonds.

It is essential you only use shampoo and conditioner that is designed for hair extension use.

When washing your hair, do not tip your head over the bath as this could cause tangling - always wash with your head upright – in the shower is ideal. Smooth the shampoo down the extension hair – do not rub vigorously! Only condition from the mid lengths down to the ends of the hair. Do not apply any conditioner to the bonds as this will cause slippage.

You can pick the top section of your own hair up and apply condition to this section. Pat hair gently when washed – do not rub.

Drying

Before detangling we advise you to use a leave in conditioning spray. Follow by detangling with a wide tooth comb, making sure you avoid the bonds. Make sure all bonds are dried completely. Be very careful when brushing the hair when wet, make sure you support the extensions hair by holding the bonds.

For a sleek finish, section your hair off and blow dry using a round brush with soft bristles. Be very careful that you do not snag the bonds. Finish by using a good quality straightening iron.

Heated Rollers, Straightening Irons, crimpers and tongs can all be used on the extension hair although it is advisable to use a Heat Protection Spray to protect the both your hair and the extension hair. Serums, gels, hairsprays, etc. may all be used but avoid the bonded areas as this may cause slippage.

Brushing

Remember your extensions are attached to your own natural hair, pulling too hard or mistreating your extensions can result in your own hair being pulled out. The only brush you should use near to your extension bonds is an extension brush – this brush has soft loop bristles and a cushioned bristle base, meaning the brush gently glides over the bonds. When brushing the extensions always hold the bonds, making sure no additional stress is put on the hair.

Day to Day Activities

If you use a sun bed it is advisable to wrap the hair in a towel first. Sun beds can dry out the hair and melt the bonds. If you work out regularly or have regular use of a sauna or steam room make sure the bonds are completely dried as soon as possible after your session - leaving the bonds in a constant damp environment could cause them to deteriorate.

We do not advise getting Hair Extensions if you are pregnant or for one year after having a baby.

Swimming & Holidays

We do not advise that you swim when wearing extensions as prolonged water exposure especially with chemicals may weaken the bonds. Chlorine in pools and salt in the sea combined with heat can also cause the extension hair to discolour, deteriorate in condition and matt.

If you do swim we recommend you take the following precautions:

Place your extensions into a braid using a covered band.

Avoid getting the extension hair wet where possible.

Immediately after swimming, rinse hair in fresh water thoroughly.

Ensure the hair is tangle free by combing through with a wide tooth comb, separating and supporting the extension hair as you work through the sections.

DO NOT brush the extension hair when wet.

Dry hair fully and use a hair extension protein spray.

The Importance of Good Aftercare

It is crucial that you make the most of your extensions by taking good care of them and using the correct products.

Correct aftercare is just as important as fitting the extensions correctly. Many people try to save money on aftercare by watering down regular shampoo's/conditioners etc. to "make do" which can have really disastrous results such as dryness, matting and dullness in the extensions.

Many manufacturers have tried and tested many methods before settling on a range of aftercare for their human hair extensions range, this is done to ensure that the extensions get exactly the right balance of products whilst also maintaining your own natural hair at the same time.

Hair extensions are a great way to change your look but they do require some maintenance and care. Once you have had your extensions fitted your stylist will guide you through how best to look after your new hair. Hair extensions often cost a lot of money and can take a while to attach, so it is in your interest to look after them properly.

Most stylists will advise you not to wash your hair for at least 5 days after having your extensions fitted. This will give the bonds plenty of time to set and avoid hair shedding from the bonds later on.

With your new hair extensions you won't need to wash your hair as much as you would normally. You shouldn't need to wash your hair any more than twice as week as any more than this can put too much stress on the extensions due to excessive heat styling etc.

It is important to only use a shampoo and conditioner recommended for hair extensions. This is because many of the standard high street brands contain high volumes of sodium chloride (salt) which will dry out your hair and silicone based ingredients which can cause the bonds to weaken and break down. Loose bonds will cause the extensions to fall out - so either way it is a lose - lose situation.

You also need to keep your hair in really good condition by using a moisturising conditioner. However, you need to make sure that the conditioner does not come close to the actual bonds as this can also cause the bonds to weaken.

Once you have washed your hair you need to take extra care when drying and styling it. The hair is at its weakest when wet so ensure it is dried gently and handled carefully. Hair extensions will last longer and look better for longer when properly taken care of so it is well worth taking the extra time to get it right.

When brushing your hair, make sure you are using a hair extension brush as this is specifically designed for your extensions. Other brushes with balls on the ends can rip and break the hair. You need to keep your extensions tangle free by brushing your hair up to two times a day, but avoid over-brushing as this can cause unnecessary shedding.

It is perfectly normal to lose some hairs when brushing, remember most people actually lose up to 100 hairs a day! You are actually doing less damage to your hair by having extensions as you aren't using heat directly on to your own hair.

It is a good idea to tie your hair in a loose plait when sleeping as this will minimise tangles and matting overnight.

If you have invested in high quality human hair extensions then you are able to style your extensions in the same way as you would your normal hair. 

It is advisable to have a maintenance appointment a month after you've had your extensions fitted to make sure everything is going well. This should be organised with your stylist and if you need any bonds removed or replaced then this is the time to do it.

Hair extensions do require a certain amount of maintenance but once you've got the hang of how to wash, dry and style your hair your extensions will look great for even longer; it really is worth it!

So there you go ladies, next time you are thinking of cutting costs on aftercare the simple answer is DON'T.

Human Hair Extensions with no regular aftercare: