Extension
Care Guide.
Everything you need to know about how to care for your extensions including washing & brushing techniques, our product recommendations, tips & tricks, and the do's & please just don't's...
Congratulations on your new set of hair! I know you and everyone around you is going to love the way it looks, so this guide is going to help you to continue to love it and to keep the hair looking just as amazing as the first day. As I said before, this is the lowest maintenance technique available, however you still need to make sure you are taking special care of the hair itself! The most costly portion of the process is the initial hair investment, so my goal is for you to get the most time out of your new set of extensions as you possibly can.
what to expect in the first week...
First of all, you are going to notice that the extensions will feel very tight and possibly might have a couple spots that pull a little more than others. This is normal. Once you wash your hair 1-2 times, the thread and the wefts will soften and relax after which you will hardly notice them. However if you are losing sleep and are in deep discomfort, please contact me and I can make adjustments.
your new nightly routine...
Each night before bed, gently brush your extensions out. When brushing your extensions, begin at the bottom and work your way up as you hold the top of the weft-this way you are not pulling the weft where it is attached to your natural hair. Add a conditioning oil to the ends and secure hair into a low loose braid. Overnight the extensions will absorb the oil and this helps them from becoming dry. We love Young.Again by Kevin Murphy and No. 7 Bonding Oil by Olaplex.
washing your hair...
Ideally you want to wash your hair only a maximum of three times per week, which is a huge blessing because washing does take some extra time and effort. The less often you wash, the longer your extensions will last. To help you on your in between non-washing days I highly recommend investing in a good dry shampoo. At Salon 144, our favorite dry shampoo is Fresh.Hair by Kevin Murphy. You can also try simply washing the front and top sections of your natural hair, to refresh if you've done a serious workout or are feeling too oily.
Before your hair even gets wet, gently brush all the tangles from your extensions. Again, being sure to begin at the bottom and work your way up as you hold the top of the weft.
It's absolutely critical you use the right kind of shampoo and conditioner on your extensions. Hair extensions are a big investment to install, so please do not try and use $7 grocery store products to maintain it. One ingredient in the professional product realm to limit is protein. Limit use of shampoo and conditioner lines made for damaged hair that contain large amounts of protein. This may seem like a good idea, however protein can build up on the hair and actually cause it to become too hard and break. You have more hair than before, so keep in mind you will need to use more product, however focus on using shampoo only on your scalp area and simply allowing it to run through your extensions as you rinse-they stay in better condition with minimal shampooing. In contrast, generously focus your conditioner and/or masks on the mid-lengths to ends or your extension hair to keep them soft and silky.
The best shampoos for extensions are professional, sulphate free, and gentle. Our top choice at Salon 144 is Extension Repair Shampoo by Brazilian B3 Bonder. It is specially formulated to be used with all types of hair extensions and will prevent build up while reinforcing fiber strength and prolonging extension life to keep them feeling soft and clean. Our other two top picks are Young.Again.Wash by Kevin Murphy and Olaplex No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo. Washing is a careful balance of thoroughly cleaning the row without overly disturbing it. Avoid circular motions or vigorous scrubbing which will wear on the bead's seal and stress your natural hair. Lather shampoo in your hand and apply in gentle squeezes with your finger tips along the rows. After applying a little shampoo, wet your hair and add a little more shampoo-the added water will help lather and spread the shampoo easier. Remember, the mid-shaft to ends need very little shampoo, so focus more on the scalp.
Next use a moisture rich conditioner or mask. Our top choice at Salon 144 is Extension Repair Conditioner by Brazilian B3 Bonder. It is is a silicone-free conditioner designed for all types of hair extensions. It perfectly strengthens, conditions and reinforces hair cuticles to prolong extension life for up to 2 months. Our other top two picks are Young.Again.Rinse by Kevin Murphy and Olaplex No. 5 Maintenance Conditioner. Focus your conditioner from the mid-shaft of your hair to the ends. Try to avoid the row itself, this way you avoid product build up along the beads. Be generous with the conditioner and allow it to sit 3-5 minutes so your extensions have a chance to soak in all the moisture adequately before rinsing it out. Spend extra time carefully lifting and rinsing along each row. Leftover residue can mold causing irritation, itchiness and possible bead slipping as well.
Once a week, apply a mask or treatment to your hair. Our top picks are either Hydrate-Me.Masque or Angel.Masque by Kevin Murphy or treating your extensions to an at-home Olaplex Treatment using Olaplex No. 0 Intensive Bond Building Treatment and Olaplex No. 3 Hair Perfector. While Cabo is surrounding by stunning ocean water views, it is home to some pretty terrible shower water. You cannot over condition your hair. If your extensions feel dry, it means they are not being properly hydrated, so condition, condition, condition!
drying your hair...
After you're finished washing, gently squeeze excess water from your hair with a towel letting your hair fall naturally. Avoid flipping your hair forward, tousling, or rubbing as this can cause the wefts to tangle. Detangle using a good detangling spray and a Wet Brush, working again gently from ends up and holding the row at the top of the weft. We love Un.Tangled by Kevin Murphy and argan oil rich Core Tonic by Difiaba. Apply a styling cream and/or oil to extensions. Our favorites for extension hair are Olaplex No. 6 Bond Smoother, a smoothing, conditioning, and strengthening cream and Young.Again by Kevin Murphy, a weightless nutrient-rich oil that increases elasticity and moisture retention. Apply products only to the mid-shaft to ends, avoiding the top of the rows. Comb thru to coat evenly.
Dry hair as naturally as possible. If you have time allow them to air dry part way, however always avoid going to bed with them wet. If you choose to blow-dry, keep the nozzle pointed downward in the same direction as the cuticle of the hair. This will ensure the extensions dry smooth and silky. Work in sections from bottom to the top-again being careful not to tousle and tangle. If you will be using a round brush, dry the hair to around 90% first. This is not only time saving, but will prevent putting too much tension on the extensions and causing breakage. Hold extensions at the top of the weft against the scalp to minimize pulling on the rows.
curling your hair...
Extensions look so beautiful with curls and waves. To achieve this look you can use a regular barrel iron or curling wand. The size you use will determine the look you want. I find that 1" irons create tighter curls that will last longer, but if you like a looser wavey style use an iron between 1.25"-2". To prevent your hair extensions from "creeping" up through the day, run the hair section loosely through your curling iron to smooth before curling it. Curl your hair in vertical sections working back from each side. For more of a glam look, curl each section back away from the face in the same direction. To have a more beachy wave look, alternate the direction of each section you curl. Once you have finished curling, allow your hair to cool for a couple minutes and then run an extra wide tooth comb through the curls to break them up. This is the key step to creating the curly wavey look you see on Pinterest. Always use a heat protectant to keep extensions from becoming damaged. We love Heated.Defense by Kevin Murphy and Sunveil Pro Heat Shield by Difiaba.
active life tips...
Just because you have extensions doesn't mean you can't still be super active. It is perfectly fine to pull hair up into a high pony tail, however I highly recommend using spiral hair ties. Spiral hair ties (aka phone cord hair ties or hair coils) spread the pressure of the hair elastic out over a greater surface area of your hair. This prevents the breakage you can get from normal hair ties that concentrate the pressure to the same single area of your hair over and over. They work really well for holding a lot of hair securely.
While swimming in chlorine and saltwater isn't particularly good for your extensions, it's still possible just so long as you add oil or a leave-in conditioner to your hair to give it some protection before you get in the water. For this we love Core Tonic by Difiaba. If you can, keep your hair in a loose ponytail or braids and make sure you wash your hair as soon as possible after you're finished. If you're going to be in the ocean, a great tip is to wet your hair in advance, add a leave-in conditioner and bring a bottle of filtered water to rinse your hair as soon as you get out.
Wind can really make a mess of your hair extensions. If you plan on "ridin' around with top down", boating, or just spending the day out at the beach in the wind-try to keep your hair in a loose braid, messy bun, or ponytail. This will reduce the amount of time you will have to spend later gently detangling.
follow the guide and your extensions will survive...
So there you have it! All the main things you need to know about taking care of your new hair. Once you have your routine down, it's easy breezy. The key thing is just to be kind and caring to your hair. The hair companies I order from carry high quality durable hair, however all extension hair goes through a lot of processing, so it's essential to treat it as well as you can. Hair typically lasts between 6-8 months. If you follow the guide to the letter I am confident you can get the full eight month life span from your hair and I have already had clients who have achieved this gold star status. For further questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to me.