Top 10 Extension Hair Care Tips for Long Term Wear

Wearing hair extensions can be so much fun and look dope AF! But they can also be an investment. So, it is important to know how to take care of them the proper way so you can enjoy your hair extensions for long term wear. 

1. Keep your hair Clean. Proper Washing is Key

It’s important to keep your hair extensions clean to avoid product and oil buildup. The natural oil from our scalp can travel down the strands of your hair extensions over time. Also, if you use sprays, or serums on your hair constantly that buildup can lead to your hair being weighed down over time and can lead to tangles.

So, depending on how often you wear your hair extensions will determine how frequently you should wash your hair extensions. If you wear your hair daily, I recommend washing your hair weekly. If you wear your hair every other day than at least wash your hair on a bi-weekly basis.

Also remember to always detangle your hair before washing and to use gentle, moisturizing sulfate-free shampoos when washing your hair. 

 2. Condition, Condition, Condition!!

After washing your hair, it is important to not skip conditioning your hair extensions. This will help bring back moisture to the hair and keep your hair from detangling when wearing. Once you apply the conditioner make sure you let the conditioner stay in the hair for a few minutes and detangle the hair with a wide tooth comb while the conditioner is in the hair. Rinse the hair with cold water. 

3. Lock in that Moisture

After you are done conditioning the hair you want to lock in the moisture with a leave-in conditioner. Liquid base leave-in conditioners work best with straight and body wave hair. Cream base leave-in conditioners work well with deep wave or curly texture hair.

4. Prevent Product Buildup. Less is More

Try not to use sprays or serums during the days you are wearing your hair. Products are good to use to create a specific style after the hair has been washed and conditioned. But once the style is set and the hair is dry it is best to stay away from sprays and serums and other types of hair products on your hair extensions. Using various hair products can result in product buildup and weigh your hair down. Weighed down hair can lose movement and can develop tangles over time. 

 5. Store Your Hair with Care 

When you are not wearing your wigs, bundles, closures, or frontals, etc. it is important to wash and condition your hair extensions before putting them in storage and to store them the proper way so that they will be in the best shape for when you wear them again. There are 2 main ways to store your hair extensions and they both have pros and cons.

The first way is to store your wig on a hair mannequin or a wig stand. This is a great way to store your hair since you can preserve the hair style and your wig would be ready to wear which can save you a lot of time. The con of leaving you wig out on a mannequin, or a wig stand is that your hair can attract dust and debris if it is left out for long periods of time. This will result in having to rewash and restyle your wig before wearing.

The second way to store your hair extensions is by storing them in plastic Ziplock bags. The pros of storing your hair this way is that your hair will be safe from attracting dust and debris, so this way of storage is great for long term storage. The only con of storing your hair in plastic bags is that you will not be able to preserve the hair style if you were styling a wig. Since the hair will be flat from being in a bag you will have to restyle before wearing the hair again.

So decide on which method of storage works best for you, depending on how often you wear your hair extensions. 

6. Use Color the Right Way

If you want to color your hair extensions I recommend going to a professional if you do not have experience coloring hair. It can be hard to get the right color on the first try if you are a beginner at coloring. 

7. Set your Hair at Night Correctly

It is best to not sleep in your hair extensions if that is possible. So, if you are wearing a glueless wig, then place your wig on a wig stand before going to sleep at night. If you are going to have your wig glued down for a couple of days or if you have tracks sewn in your than it is important to set your hair at night before going to sleep. If you are wearing a wavy or curly texture, lightly detangle your hair at night and then braid or twist your hair. If your hair is straight, you can wrap your hair at night. And then cover your hair with a satin scarf before going to sleep.

8. Protect From the Heat

Sometimes we can forget to treat our hair extensions with the same tender love and care that we do to our actual hair. It is important to use a heat protectant on your hair extensions before adding any heat. So, remember to apply a heat protectant spray or cream to your extensions before using any type of heating tool. 

9. Replace Extensions Regularly

Remember that even if you have been giving your extensions love and care you can’t wear the same extensions forever. At Femi S. hair our hair can last 18+ months and is 9A grade quality hair. 

10. Have All Tools On Deck

Depending on the style you decide to go with it is important to have all your tools available.

So, if you decide to glue down your wig make sure you also have alcohol and shampoo and conditioner ready for when you take down your wig. If you plan on wearing a straight wig or bundles invest in a bio silk serum and a carbon free comb to avoid static when straightening your hair.

So make sure you have all the tools you need after purchasing your hair in order to achieve the style you want.

I hope these tips help!

Definitely check out the products, hair extensions and lace wigs we offer at Femi S. Hair. If you have any questions about the products we offer email hello@femishair.com.

If you want more tips, especially when it comes to learning how to make your wig look natural then go ahead and read The Ultimate Lace Melting Guide. In this guide, you will find a series of step by step videos that will help you become an expert in melting your lace and wearing your wig or lace frontal with confidence! The videos are filmed in a way where you can follow along step by step and touch on the main stages of melting your lace and having it look as natural as possible.