HOW OFTEN DO HAND-TIED HAIR EXTENSIONS NEED TO BE MOVED UP, OR MAINTAINED?
Hand-tied hair extensions need to be moved up every 6-10 weeks depending on your hair type and growth.
CAN I GO SWIMMING AND WORK OUT WITH HAND-TIED HAIR EXTENSIONS?
Yes, you can swim and do any activity with hand-tied extensions. It is recommended to wear your hair in a tight braid or bun while swimming to prevent tangling.
Brush your hair extensions at least every morning and evening with this type/brand of brush: “Wet Brush”. Start at the ends and work towards the scalp, making sure to brush all the way up to the base of your wefts. Don’t be afraid to get in there! Avoid brushing directly over the seam of the wefts to prevent premature wearing of the extension hair. I recommend using a hair oil through the ends daily or every other day to keep hair moisturized and prevent tangling.
HOW TO WASH HAIR EXTENSIONS
Brush hair thoroughly BEFORE showering to prevent tangling or matting.
Use a sulfate-free moisture or hydrating shampoo and conditioner to prolong the life of your extension hair.
Shampoo the entire scalp, making sure to get in between the rows of extensions. I suggest doing a double shampoo to ensure the hair is clean. Rinse well.
Never shampoo your extensions with your head over the sink or
bath. Standing upright in the shower or tilting your head back in
the bath is recommended to avoid tangling.
Apply your shampoo
and gently massage or stroke into the scalp taking care not to pull or catch the weft or the rings. Do not use the traditional circular motion, use a gentle up-and-down or stroking motion; work the shampoo gently through the scalp and under each weft with your fingertips. Rinse the scalp area thoroughly. Inadequate rinsing can cause a build-up of shampoo along the top of the weft, which will irritate the scalp.
Deep Condition Every Few Washes
Your daily conditioner should be light yet hydrating enough to maintain the moisture level of your hair extensions. Alternate every third wash or so with a deep conditioner. Avoid heavy masques.
Even if your hair is stick-straight, don't overlook products designed for curly hair since curly hair is often very dry and those products are often extra-hydrating.For very deep conditioning, professional in-salon treatments.
hair masks I recommend: BIOLAGE HYDRA SOURCE DEEP TREATMENT,OUAI TREATMENT MASK FINE AND MEDIUM HAIR,MOROCCANOIL WEIGHTLESS HYDRATING MASK,VERB HYDRATING TREATMENT.
Daily Oil is Essential to Prevent Dry Ends
As your natural hair grows, the ends get trimmed. This helps remove damage and keeps the ends fresh. Extensions don't grow so the same ends have to last for months! It takes extra care to keep them strong, hydrated, and healthy.
Your pores emit oil that hydrates your natural hair through the shaft. Since hair extensions don’t grow from your pores, they don’t get the benefit of these oils.
That’s okay, we'll make up for it with light daily oil or serum. Never use a dark heavy oil like Moroccanoil or other argan oils, macadamia oils, etc. Dark oils can stain extensions and heavy oils can block moisture from entering the hair shaft resulting in dry hair. Heavy oils like coconut and castor oil will cause buildup and should always be avoided.
Just apply the oil from the mid-shaft to the ends. Apply evenly and always do your best to avoid the track.
Use a Dry Shampoo to Extend Time Between Washings
Washing hair extensions as little as possible will prolong their life. If you can cut back to two or three times a week, your extensions will last longer.
To look great between shampoos, invest in a quality dry shampoo. There are a few dry shampoos out there that even have heat protection and nourishing properties built in.
Drying and Brushing Beaded Weft Hair Extensions
"Gentle and careful" continues after the shower. Drying, brushing, and styling are delicate processes as well.
Gently towel dry using a patting motion, never rub. (do not leave wrapped in a towel for long periods of time). Apply a leave-in conditioner or hair oil to mid-lengths & ends
Pat Dry Excess Water and Never Rub
After you finish washing, Sandwich your hair in the towel and press to absorb excess water.
Avoid harsh movements and attempt to have your hair fall naturally. Circular or rubbing motions will cause your extensions to tangle and knot.
It is best to remove around 80 % of the moisture before you begin brushing. A quick rough-dry with your fingers (no brushing yet) can also help.
De-Tangle Again After Washing
Whether you blow dry or air dry, you'll want to de-tangle first. Use a wet brush or round brush and be gentle. Again, hair falling from each weft should be natural and separate. Your stylist can recommend a salon-quality de-tangler to help.
We also recommend a primer. The pores in your natural hair are different from the pores in your extensions. As a result, styling products will absorb and spread unevenly. Primers even out the porosity of the hair and make styling much easier. They can also speed drying time up to half.
If oils are part of your styling routine, only apply them mid-shaft to ends, never at the track. Use a little heat to help the oil saturate evenly.
If you plan to use a blow dryer or flat iron, now is the time to apply a heat protector. This is essential to protect both your hair extensions and your natural hair.
Section your hair by rows. Avoid clipping or styling half of a weft at one time.
If you'd like to curl your hair, pre-heat the entire length of your strands to avoid "climbing" which is where the hair in the iron will tighten as it heats.
If this sounds like a lot of products, don't worry, there are some great products out there that prime, de-tangle, and provide heat protection.
Dry Your Hair as Naturally as Possible
When blow drying, point your blow dryer downward. You want water to naturally dry and move through your extensions in the same direction as the cuticle. This will prolong the life of the extensions.
Blow dry your hair as normal, just pay extra attention to the track. Make sure it ends up dry. To avoid knots and tangles, don’t tousle your hair. Always avoid any heat over 330°F.
Heat-protective styling products are always recommended but avoid products that say they speed up your blow-dry or reduce blow-dry time. Blow-dry accelerators can often cause breakage.
HOW TO BLOW DRY & STYLE HAIR EXTENSIONS
Always use a heat protectant.
Rough dry hair until 80% dry. Only use your hands to rough-dry, do not use a brush.
Section out rows to make sure hair is at least 80% dry from the base of the wefts through the ends.
Use a Wet Brush or round brush with minimal tension to smooth hair during the last few minutes of drying.
Avoid Protein!
Always avoid protein products that are designed for damaged hair. Protein will dry your extensions.
As you read through, you'll see that we heavily emphasize moisturizing products. Protein-based products that are designed to repair the damage, including "bond-builders" like B3, Olaplex, and Olaplex oil, should always be avoided.