Looking after real hair extensions is not difficult, yet it is important to follow a consistent hair care routine to keep them looking their best. A hair strand is essentially a tube with an inner cortex encased in a delicate outer layer, called the cuticle. When the cuticle layer is perfectly closed, hair looks supremely glossy and doesn’t tend to tangle or break. We all know that the overuse of heat styling tools, chemical products and colouring can affect the natural health of your hair, and yet most of us do want to be able to use tongs, straighteners and colours on our hair to keep us up to date with style trends.
- Brush before bed and before washing to ensure there are no natural occurring tangles caused by wind or friction
- Do not brush wet hair as that is when hair follicles are at their most vulnerable.
- Use an Organic and sulfate free shampoo. Sulfate strips hair of natural oils, as there is no direct supply of nutrients from your scalp into the extension strands, its vital that you use a no sulfate shampoo to avoid drying the hair out.
- To avoid damaging the extensions, the cuticles and your scalp, only wash with warm water.
- Wash the hair gently in a downward motion with your palms, do not scrub or bunch the hair together as this will cause open cuticles to rub against each other causing friction.
- Rinse between each wash, and wash only 1-2 times.
- Whilst wet, add 2-3 drops of natural oil such as Almond or Coconut by gently applying it evenly over the hair, these oils will penetrate the cuticles and add moisture to hair extensions.
- Natural oils do the work of most conditioners without the added chemicals and silicone, natural is always best.
- Finally, lower the shower head and rinse your hair (not scalp) with cold water, this is known as an 'Arctic Rinse' it will close the cuticles to lock the moisture and nutrients in, leaving you with nutrient rich extensions.
- Let your hair air-dry at home, take 2-3 hours to wash and naturally dry your hair - Do not use heat as this will swell and dry your strands.
- Apply a small amount of Almond or Coconut oil 2-3 times a week or when required. Argonoil is a great finishing oil for styling and frizz for nights out, however its a dry oil and does not moisture the hair as well as Almond or Coconut.
- For long lasting hair extensions, moistureyour hair (with a natural moisture rich oil) as you do your skin, it makes perfect sense.
