Adding hair extensions can give you stunning length and volume, but there are a lot of things to keep in mind to ensure your extensions look natural and last as long as they should. I have compiled a list of 30 hair extension tips and hope they help you have a great extension experience. Feel free to add to the list by leaving a comment.
Here Are My Best Hair Extensions Tips!
Getting The Right Supplier
1. Get a sample of hair before buying: If you buy online, some suppliers won’t send samples. The good ones will. If you’re going to a salon to have them added, ask to see the hair they use before paying.
2. Don’t buy overpriced extensions: This usually applies to salons that charge a LOT of money to have extensions added (several thousand dollars is crazy). Usually I find these salons simply aren’t worth it and you’ll feel ripped off if you have even the smallest problem with the hair.
3. Don’t buy under priced extensions: You’re cruising for a bruising being cheap and will end up having to buy new extensions.
4. Avoid online auction sites: Yes, there possibly is the odd seller who is ok, but there is a minefield of rubbish quality hair being sold on auction sites. And don’t be fooled by a seller with good feedback. Even the worst quality non-remy hair looks ok when you first receive it and by the time it starts to matt up in a week or so, most buyers have already left their positive feedback. Sorry guys, I don’t like to sound cynical, but this particular tip is based on many, many unhappy customers coming to me after having the above bad experience with online auctions.
5. Ensure your supplier has before and after pics: It’s always good to know the supplier has had happy customers. Before and after hair extension pics are a great endorsement. Also avoid suppliers with only celebrity or model pics: Anyone can add these, but how does it relate to their product?
Extension Application
6. Shampoo hair before application: This gets rid of oils in the hair which can cause extension slippage with some methods of extensions.
7. Ensure your hair is suitable for extensions: If you have very damaged or easily breakable hair, my advice is to avoid extensions. They could cause more damage.
8. Avoid the No-Go Zones: To check these areas out, see my previous article on areas where hair extensions should not be added.
9. Get the colour right: Once again a sample is helpful for colour choice. Remember, adding extensions a shade or so off the natural hair colour can actually provide a good look.
10. Avoid conditioning hair before application: This can cause slippage with certain extension methods.
Hair care
11. When washing extensions, add water slowly: Excessive water can cause the hair to swell and cause damage.
12. Do not rub hair together when washing: Can cause matting.
13. Pat dry extensions: Can cause matting if you don’t.
14. Use soft bristle brush with wide teeth: Some other brushs can cause damage to the extensions.
15. Brush 2-3 times per day: Keeps your extensions looking great and reduces the chance of getting a birds nest.
16. Heat is one of your hair extensions biggest enemies: Straighteners are pretty much unavoidable, but try to limit using them if you can as heat damages the hair cuticle and will reduce the life of the hair. If using a blow dryer, use a cooler setting, especially around the bonds.
17. Use spray in conditioners sparingly: Too much can cause buildup and effect the bonds.
18. Wear a cap when swimming: Keeps the hair from matting up.
19. Avoid chlorine: Causes minor hair damage
20. Never sleep in wet hair: Causes matting
21. Wrap or tie hair when sleeping: Avoids matting
22. Use a quality leave in conditioner occasionally: Brings your extensions back to life with extra lustre.
23. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate: Strips you of natural oils and can cause skin and eye irritation.
24. Selenium Sulfide (in dandruff shampoos): Can cause discoloration of the hair and alter the color of hair dyes
25. Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Ammonium Laureth Sulfate (in some hair care products): Another couple of ingredients to avoid putting in your hair.
26. Don’t buy cheap hair care products: You’ve spent hundreds (or thousands) on the hair so why skimp on the hair care products? Get your shampoo and conditioner from your salon or a specialist hair products retailer. Stay away from the supermarket.
27. Use semi-permanent colourants: These aren’t as harsh on your hair as permanent dyes.
28. Avoid perms and peroxide like the plague: Trust me, they won’t help your extensions one bit.
29. Don’t pick or pull at extensions: This can result in your own hair being damaged.
30. Colour extensions: If you can’t find a hair extension colour that matches your hair and decide to colour the extensions yourself remember: choose a lighter colour hair extension and colour them darker rather that choosing a dark hair extension colour and lightening the hair. Lightening hair tones is much harsher on the hair that darkening the hair.
Tags: colouring, hair care, hair extension tips, washing
