Good quality extensions are expensive and hard to find! When you purchase them, you should be doing all you can to protect your investment. Here are some great tips on how to preserve your extensions (installed or not yet installed).

Condition Constantly

Using a good quality, moisturizing conditioner is the key to soft, shiny extensions. Co-washing the extensions weekly is a great way to keep the hair hydrated and the ends intact. Curlier and wavier textures of extensions definitely benefit from co washing 1-2 times weekly.

Examples of co-wash conditioners: Pantene Truly Naturals Co-wash Cleanser, Tresemme Naturals Moisturizing Conditioner, Dove Moisturizing Conditioner.

Minimal to No Heat!

Heat does nothing but tarnish and damage the hair strand. Believe it or not, extensions can obtain heat damage just like the hair growing from your scalp, especially if you’ve purchased curly or wavy human hair textures. There are many ways that you can keep hair straight or smooth without using a flat iron or blow dryer. Using Large Rollers to help keep the hair smooth and/or wrapping your hair every night can give you hair body and keep it smooth!

Minimal Use of Shampoo

Most shampoos are composed of harsh sulphates, which can strip the hair of its moisture. This is why co-washing is recommended for human hair extensions. Only use shampoo if the hair has product buildup from the use of gels, edge controls and/or other hair care products.

Hair Utensils

Always use a wide tooth comb on extensions! No matter if the hair is curly, wavy or straight. This will keep shedding at a minimum, and keep the ends of the hair from splitting. It is always recommended to comb out hair with a wide tooth comb while the hair is wet or damp.

Sealing the Wefts

Sealing the wefts of extensions before installing can almost always eliminate shedding by up to 90%. There are many products out now that are distributed specifically for sealing the wefts of hair extensions. A popular product is called Fray Block and can be purchased at your local super market, or Jo-Ann Fabrics.

Avoid Cutting the Wefts!

When installing your extensions (either by doing so yourself or your by beautician), please ask them to avoid cutting the wefts as much as possible. Cutting the wefts allows for more shedding because of an open ended weft, allowing the hair strands to come out.

These are some of the many tips used to preserve hair extensions. Follow these tips closely and you will have you investment for a very long time.