1. Allow 48 hours after your extensions are put in before you wash your hair. This allows the extensions to fully bond with your hair.
2. Wash your hair with a quality shampoo. Be gentle when massaging the shampoo in; don't use rough motions, but, slow gentle circles. Tilt your head back to rinse; do not flip your hair over and rinse with your head down.
3. Condition your hair with a quality conditioner. Do not put conditioner on the scalp area; cleanse and de-tangle gently from the middle of your hair down to the ends.
4. Apply the Anti-Tap spray after your final rinse. This product protects your hair from tap-water chemicals and reduces frizz.
5. Towel-dry your hair by wrapping it up in a towel. Do not rub your head with the towel. Once your hair has dried, you can use low to medium heat to shape and form your hair. Avoid applying heat to your scalp; let it dry naturally. You may use a curling iron or a straightening iron to style your hair. Be gentle, and avoid pulling the hair as much as possible.
6. Brush your hair with a natural-bristle or bore-bristle brush two to three times a day.
7. Before bed, wrap your hair in a loose ponytail with a scrunchy or a loose braid. This prevents tangling of the hair while you sleep. Never go to bed with your extensions wet.
Natural hair care products work great for your own hair, and also for human hair extensions. Natural products are gentle and nourishing and don't strip or damage hair, which is exactly what you need to prevent shedding of those beautiful extensions.
Instructions for Caring for your New Human Hair Extensions
1. Brush your extensions with a natural bristle brush. Natural bristles are much gentler on hair because they run down the hair shaft more smoothly, preventing snagging and tangling of the hair. You can brush the extensions once they're inserted in your hair, but it's best -- when you can -- to brush them separately. Hold the top end of one extension piece -- work with one at a time -- with one hand and start brushing from the ends of the hair, working up, preferably over a towel or other surface to prevent damage.
2. Keep your extensions clean. You wouldn't let your own hair get dirty and grimy, so don't let your extensions get that way either. Over time you use hair products and tools on your extensions that sit in your hair, so oils from your hair end up on the extensions. Not only do dirty, oily hair extensions make for a major faux pas, but it's also damaging to the extensions. Shampoo your extensions at least once every couple of weeks, more if you wear them every day.
3. Your extensions need proper conditioning too, to stay healthy and beautiful looking. You can use your regular conditioning products on your extensions as long as they're of decent quality; the most important thing is that you're conditioning them often enough. After each shampoo is appropriate, but you also need to apply a deep conditioning treatment to your extensions once every couple of weeks to nourish and protect the hair.
4. Use an ionic hair dryer on the extensions. Ionic hair dryers use negative ions to dry the hair from the inside of the hair shaft out, rather than vice versa as standard hair dryers do. This means a much faster drying time for you, but even more importantly, it causes less damage to the hair and keeps hair looking healthy and shiny looking as a result.
5. Protect your hair from heat-styling tools. Hair straighteners, curling irons, hot rollers and other heat-styling tools are one of the main causes of damage to hair. Heat removes moisture from the hair and damages the hair follicles. Over time, you'll end up with frizzy split ends and dull, lifeless locks. To avoid this, use a thermal heat protectant on your extensions -- as well as your own hair -- before using any heat-styling tools, for better protection.
Things You'll Need
1.Natural bristle hairbrush
3.Conditioner
5.Thermal heat protectant
2.Shampoo
4.Ionic hair dryer
For permanent bonded extensions, visit your stylist every 4 to 6 weeks to ensure the extensions are properly in place and make any necessary adjustments to keep them looking great -- and help you avoid that awful noticeable grow-in.
Use a deep conditioning treatment at least once a month to nourish the hair and keep it in the best condition.
How to Remove Human Hair Extensions
You can remove your extensions, style your hair and head out with your girlfriends in a few short hours.
1. Clamp the hair around your hair extensions up and out of the way. You are going to be playing with pliers; you do not need your real hair falling into the mix.
2. Pick up one hair extension and dab a drop of acetone onto the bond. If you do not have any acetone, you can rub a small amount of alcohol-based gel on the bond. Do not stand near anyone who is smoking or your hair may go up in flames.
3. Continue rubbing the bond to break up the adhesive. Once you can feel the adhesive starting to get soft, place the bond of the extension directly on the ridges of the pliers and clamp down.
4. Move the pliers around to remove the bond from the hair. Be gentle; remember the extension is attached to your hair and you do not want to snatch yourself bald.
5. Once the extension becomes free, use your hand to pull the extension from your real hair. Use a comb to comb out any remaining residue from the adhesive.
6. Remove the remaining extensions using the steps outlined above and wash your hair with a clarifying shampoo, and then use a deep conditioner to further cleanse and moisturize your locks.
Things You'll Need
1.Hair clips
3.Pliers
5.Deep conditioner
2.Acetone or alcohol-based gel
4.Clarifying shampoo
How Can I Detangle Human Hair Extensions
Long, playful locks are hot! Knots and tangles that give your hair that matted bird's nest look -- not so much. Real hair extensions, actually made from human hair harvested from donors, can add sexy length, giving you the hair of your dreams. But you need to treat it right. Just like your natural hair, the real hair extensions can, and usually do, get knotted-up. Treat the tangles with TLC and never tug!
1. Spray a detangling conditioner on your hair extensions after washing and rinsing. The spray detangler should be one specifically designed for use on human hair extensions. Knots are common after washing, especially if your human hair extensions are very long. So don't skimp on the detangler!
2. Wrap your hand around your hair as if you were going to make a ponytail. You always want to hold the extensions while detangling to reduce stress on your scalp and to keep the extensions intact.
3. Use a wide-toothed comb for detangling. Start at the bottom of your hair and work your way up. Don't start at your crown and work your way down! You will end up pulling the hair extensions out.
4. Work knots out gently with the wide-toothed comb. Comb in a downward motion -- never up! Up will give you even more tangles! Keep combing until your whole head is tangle free.
Things You'll Need
1.Spray detangler for human hair extensions
2.Wide-toothed comb
Tips & Tricks
Combing human hair extensions before you shower can help prevent tangles afterward. Also, massage the shampoo into your hair gently -- never rub vigorously. Vigorous scrubbing will cause knotting and may loosen your extensions, too!
Do not yank or pull on your hair extensions while taking out knots. One good yank is certain to rip the extension right out of your hair. This is likely to also cause some breakage to your natural hair.
Human hair extensions are the real deal: They feel good and look natural in your hair, for a win-win in the beauty department. These extensions are capable of lasting six or more months if you splurge for quality hair at the outset and maintain it properly, but will tangle up fast if neglected for a hair horror you'll never want to repeat.
Considerations
Top grade human hair extensions can last for six months, and some hair salons will guarantee you six months' wear from their extensions, so long as you give your 'do' proper aftercare. Synthetic extensions sure as shootin' can't last six months, and low-grade human hair extensions aren't up to the task. When you're getting extensions, ask your stylist for care instructions and an estimation of how long your extensions will last.
Suggested Care
Hair Boutique recommends washing and conditioning extensions every two to three days. While your real hair produces oil and stays moist, extensions need conditioner to moisturize or they will break and snap. Brush and comb your hair daily to keep it snag-free. Be gentle when you touch and style your hair. Make sure to follow any additional requirements from your stylist. These best-practice tips will keep your extensions looking natural and can help you get the maximum wear out of them.
Warning
If you neglect extensions, you'll end up with a rat's nest of tangles and be unable to tell where your extensions end and the real hair begins, and you may have to sacrifice some of your own hair to have the mess cut off. Marie Claire magazine contributor Meredith Bryan went for Barbie-blonde clip-in human hair extensions that got super-tangled with neglect and had to hand wash them in the sink! You will not get six months from extensions you neglect, and you may get dread-y with poor care.
Types
The type of hair you get affects the price point and the lasting quality of your new 'do. Hair Boutique recommends European hair for its superior lasting ability, of up to one year. Asian hair extensions work best for Asians, but woman of all races can get Asian extensions. That said, you'll have a tougher time keeping Asian extensions looking good for six months.
How to Clip in Human Hair Extensions
Many women covet long, cascading hair. In Hollywood, celebrities have been spending thousands of dollars on extensions for many years. Now all women can enjoy long, beautiful hair without breaking the bank. Many types of extensions are available. Some of these hair extensions are sewn into your natural hair and some are glued in. If you'd like long hair temporarily, clip-in extensions are a good choice. These extensions have small clips at the top that snap into your hair, giving you temporary length and fullness.
1. Brush freshly cleaned, dry hair. If necessary, run a flat iron through your hair to smooth it out. You want your natural hair looking smooth and groomed before adding in the extensions.
2. Separate the top section of your hair horizontally above your ears. Pin this section of hair up with a hair clip.
3. Open one of the clips on the hair extensions. The clips on the extensions open like barrettes. Pin them on the bottom section of hair hanging down.
4. Remove the clip from your top section of hair. Using your brush, blend the extensions and your natural hair. Style your hair normally.
Things You'll Need
1.Brush
3.Hair clips
2.Flat iron
Tips & Tricks
Human hair extensions can be styled like normal hair, and hot tools like curling irons can be used on them. However, more care must be taken with synthetic extensions, as heat can cause them to melt.
