Your decision to wear and use hair extensions should come with a full understanding of the different tips and tricks you have to apply to maintain their excellent condition. Note that while having hair extensions is beneficial as they can provide your hair with your desired volume and length, taking care of them can also be tricky sometimes.

You have to know exactly how to wash style, brush, and condition your newly installed extension to maintain its quality and extend its life. Without proper care and attention, there is a great chance for you to deal with a bad hair day, which, I’m sure, you don’t want to happen.

To avoid that, here are some of the things that you should do and avoid doing once you have your favorite hair extensions installed:

• Use only around forty strands during your first try – This is important to get a feel of the extensions before you actually start using them. Here, you can determine whether you should go for more strands or less. You can decide based on the specific volume you are after.

• Let an experienced and professional stylist apply the hair extension for you – You have to do this especially if you decided to go for more complex methods of installation. With an experienced and professional stylist around, you can use the extension to increase your hair’s volume and length with the least possible damage to your natural hair. You also have an assurance that the extension will look natural, making it undetectable.

• Shampoo your extensions regularly – It would be best to do this twice or thrice every week. Just make sure that you exercise caution, ensuring that you do not bunch, scrub, or rub your hair while washing. One thing to remember about your hair extensions is that you have a higher chance of making them last longer if you do not stress the bond.

  This means you have to be gentle when applying shampoo and washing your hair. You may also want to use leave-in conditioners as they can help prevent your extensions from tangling and drying out. Apply your daily conditioner only from your hair’s mid-shaft to the ends.

• Use a special loop brush to brush your hair extensions – You need to brush your hair extensions daily, especially when it is summer. However, you can’t just use any brush. It is important to use a special loop brush specifically designed for hair extensions.

  You need it if you want to take good care of your natural hair as well as lengthen the lifespan of your extensions. When brushing, begin at the ends. Once you have eliminated all tangles, work gently on the top sections. Just make sure that you brush your hair through downward motion.

• Make sure to sleep with a nice pillowcase on – As much as possible, use satin or silk pillowcases, especially if you are using bonded hair extensions. This material comes with finely woven fibers that will ensure that it will not tug nor catch on your hair when you are sleeping at night. Alternatively, you can use satin sleep caps or scarfs. You can also prevent your hair from tangling by tying it into a bun before you sleep at night.

• Do not use products with ethanol, oil, or alcohol – Go for products that are gentle and not damaging to your hair extensions. One thing to remember about alcohol-based products is that they tend to cause dryness to your hair. They might also compromise the adhesive bond’s strength.

• Do not brush harshly – If you are used to brushing your natural hair harshly then avoid doing that to your hair extensions. You need to be extra gentle when brushing your extensions to prevent them from breaking.

  Also, hair extensions are more prone to tangling compared to your natural hair. With that in mind, it is advisable to use a good comb or brush and be extra gentle every time you brush your hair with it.

• Do not style it without using any protective product – Note that even if you are wearing synthetic hair, you still need to take care of it. This is the reason why you have to use some protective products designed to defend it from possible damage every time you style it. For instance, put on a heat protector prior to using a flat iron to prevent potential damage to your hair extensions.

• Do not brush your hair extensions when they are still wet – It is because the strain on the tape, bond, or any other material used to attach the extension might cause it to weaken faster than expected. Also, regular bristle or nylon brushes might pull on and tug the tangles, significantly lowering your extension’s lifespan.

• Do not dye the extensions on your own – It is because coloring your hair extensions might cause further damage. In case you are really desperate to dye or color your hair extensions, make sure to seek the help of a professional instead of doing it on your own.

• Do not use a hair extension, which does not perfectly match the current color of your natural hair – Go for a completely natural look and you can only achieve that by choosing the right color of hair extension carefully. Assess your actual hair color and make sure that your chosen extension indeed fits its present hair.

Apart from the tips mentioned, make sure that you also look for quality before making your final choice for a hair extension. Check your choices closely. Assess every little detail and part of it. It should not shed and should have even thickness starting from the topmost part down to the bottom. Once you have made your choice, commit to taking good care of it to guarantee its long lifespan, probably longer than what is indicated in its label.