aftercare
It is important to remember that having hair extensions is different from your natural hair and requires special care and maintenance.
To ensure that your natural hair and extensions remain in the best possible condition it is important to see a trained professional for maintenance regularly and follow the advice below carefully.
maintenance
Your natural hair will continue to grow normally and your hair extensions will become looser over time due to natural growth. Attending regular maintenance appointments where your stylist will retighten your extensions is important. If left longer than the recommended time (every 5 - 7 weeks) there is a risk of damage to your natural hair and extensions.
brushing
Always only use the recommended hair extension brush. Brush hair and hair extensions thoroughly at least 2 x daily. Do not pull or tug on your hair extensions. Do not backcomb extensions. When wet, do not stretch your hair extensions, only gently detangle your extension with your fingers and blow-dry gently.
How to brush daily; Divide your hair into 5 cm sections. Beginning at the nape of your neck, work up the back of your head and finish with the front and top sections. Take each section and brush the ends first until detangled, then the midsection, and finally the roots of your hair and the extension bonds.
As you brush, make sure you are supporting your hair's roots. Take care to be gentle but brush thoroughly. Do not neglect to brush your scalp and hair roots or bonds of your extensions, this area is most prone to tangling
washing
Avoid over-washing your extensions as it will dry them out. You will need to wash according to your own requirements, but we only recommend a maximum of 1 - 2 times weekly.
Wash only in mild-warm water and only use the recommended products.
How to wash: Thoroughly brush your dry hair before washing. When shampooing gently massage your scalp and between the extensions. Do not massage or scrub the lengths of the extensions. If you need to wash the lengths of your hair, use your fingers to gently comb the shampoo bubbles down to the ends. Take care not to pull on your extensions when they are wet.
Squeeze out excess water and apply conditioner to the mid-lengths and ends only. Do not apply conditioner to your roots or scalp, this will cause your extensions to slip.
Never tip your head upside-down when washing. Never tie up hair extensions when they are wet or put them into a messy bun, leave them loose to dry.
Blow-dry on medium or cool settings only.
Never sleep with wet hair.
products
Unlike natural hairs that grow from your scalp, hair extensions have been cut from the source of moisture so we need to treat them with products that nourish and replace moisture.
We recommend you use only salon-quality products that are highly moisturising, sulphate-free and protein-free. Protein will damage your extension bonds and make the hair extensions feel coarse and dry.
Use a wash-out deep conditioning treatment weekly to maintain the softness and condition of your extensions.
Apply a leave-in hydrating serum or leave-in conditioner twice daily on dry hair.
sunscreen and self-tan
Self-tanning products and sunscreen can cause hair extensions to discolour. If you have these products on your skin do not wear your hair extensions loose to avoid touching your skin.
Many sunscreens contain an ingredient called Avobenzone which will cause your extensions to permanently discolour an orange or pink/peach colour. We recommend checking the ingredients in your products before using them. Dark hair extensions may not be affected by a colour change but can still be damaged by the chemical reaction.
To further protect your hair in the summer months try the following tips;
wear a hat
use a gentle scrunchie to tie your hair up in a high bun or braid your hair and pin it up to keep it out of the way
wet your hair and saturate with a leave-in product or conditioner to act as a barrier before heading outdoors
at the end of the day shower with clean, fresh water and wash deep condition your extensions as soon as you can after sun exposure.
sleeping
Before sleeping brush your hair extensions as recommended above. Apply your preferred leave-in products and tie your hair into a loose plait.
Never sleep with wet hair. Never sleep with loose hair. Consider using a silk pillowcase to reduce friction and tangles.
before/after activities
Tie your hair extensions back if the weather is wet or windy, or if you are engaging in exercise or activities. Always have a hair extension brush with you to brush out tangles during the day.
swimming
Do not get hair extensions wet with anything other than clean, fresh water. Avoid wetting your hair in water in natural springs, swimming pools or at the beach. Saltwater, chlorine and the minerals in natural springs will cause extensions to become dry and/or knotty, and may cause your extension to discolour.
Self-tanning products and sunscreen can cause hair extensions to discolour. If you have these products on your skin do not wear your hair extensions loose, keep them up in a bun.
heat
Excessive styling is bad for your extensions. Minimise heat styling as much as possible. Always use a heat-protecting product on your hair before heat styling.
Heat styling tools must always be kept below 160°C. Blow-dry on medium or cool settings only.
general care
Do not colour, tone or bleach hair extensions. If you need to touch up regrowth you will need to remove your extension or go around them with the hair colour. (We are Dolls does not take any responsibility for the outcome if you colour hair without fully removing your extensions).
Take care with purple shampoo or similar toning products, they will dehydrate your extensions and hair extensions grab colour very easily, and the end result may not turn out as you expect.
Avoid putting your extensions up into a messy bun, it will make them tangled and may cause damage.
You may lose a few pieces of hair extensions between appointments, keep them safe and bring with you to your next appointment, or contact We are Dolls to have them reapplied.