How Do You Care For Long Hair Extensions?
(Quick washing and care tips)
"How do you care for long hair extensions?"
Caring for long hair extensions (or any other king of long hair) is a bit different to the ordinary care routine for hair extensions as it's about preventing friction with clothing and of course the dreaded tangling issue.
As there are quite a few queries about washing, we've put together a response to some of the questions and pointed you in the direction of some washing guides for specific types of hair extensions; so if you are planning on wearing long extension hair or you're already wearing them, here are a few tips to follow to keep those long locks looking luscious for longer (that's a tongue twister - say it five times quickly if you don't believe it!).
Protective Hairstyles for Long Hair Extensions
Long Stick Tip Hair ExtensionsWe don't want to burst anyone's long hair happiness bubble so we're not going to mandate that long extension hair must always be in a bun, chignon French braids, Dutch braids or anything else....
... What we will say however is that when you sleep - whether a mini daytime snooze or bedding down for the night, that you style the hair in a way that prevents tangling.... and the easiest what to do this is tying the hair into a loose ponytail and if you don't mind gentle waves, then loosely braiding it would be a bonus.
At night, cover the loose ponytail (or your whole head if you don't mind it) with a silk scarf - this will also prevent your hair extensions from pulling or tugging at your growth hair during the night.
What About Braided Hair Extensions and Dreadlock Hair Extensions?
It depends on the type of braids. If you wear the braided hair extensions that you braid until you get to the end of your natural hair and leave the rest of the hair extensions free flowing then follow the tips above.
If you wear or dreadlock hair extensions that look like the image to the right, then follow the tips above
If on the other hand you wear kind of braided hair extensions or dreadlock hair extensions that you braid or wrap all the way to ends then you don't have to worry about the ends of the hair becoming damaged.
The main thing to do is protect the neatness of the braids at night by tying your braided hair extensions in a loose ponytail and wearing a cotton or silk scarf over your head just to avoid friction with the pillows and to preserve the look of your braided hair extensions.
Washing Long Clip In Hair Extensions
There's a guide that outlines the different ways to wash the different textures of clip in hair extensions (basin or upright depending on texture)... however here's where we make a bit of a departure.
All long hair extensions should be washed in the upright position, irrespective of hair texture. The reason for this is simple: if you want to prevent tangling then all of the hair has to be facing the same direction for the entire time it's being washed. If you swish and swirl long hair around in a basin or sink, then it's bound to end up tangled, even if it's silky straight in texture.
This is especially problematic if you have synthetic hair extensions as if the hair becomes very tangled it can prove difficult if not impossible to fully detangle it without distorting the texture (overstretching the synthetic plastic fibres)
Specific Washing Guides for Different Types of Hair Extensions
Righto, we promised signposting to specific guides... so get ready for some heavy linking:
Washing braided hair extensions (long or short)
Washing glue in hair extensions (long or short)
Washing sewn in hair extensions (long or short)
Washing micro ring hair extensions (long or short)
Phew...link-city is now closed!
Using The Braided Hair Extensions Method For Washing Long Hair Extensions
Here are the basic steps to wash your long hair extensions:
- Section the long hair extensions into four parts (two at the front and two at the back) and make four large loose braids.
- Secure the four large loose braids with hairbands.
- Mix your chosen shampoo or conditioner with some warm water in a container.
- Pour this mixture over each of the four large loose braided sections of your hair. You can do all of them at the same time or just one at a time.
- Gently squeeze each of the four large loose braids (don't rub or massage the hair)
- Repeat steps 4 and 5 until you're satisfied the hair is clean.
- Rinse the hair by pouring warm water over each of the loosely braided sections of your lace wig as described in steps 4 and 5.
- Squeeze excess water from the loosely braided sections.
- Dry
Okeydokey, we've wandered through the quick care tips for long hair extensions.
There are more answers to more questions in the Hair Extension Q&A section as well as options in the navigation menu.
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17/03/16
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