Hair Extension Aftercare ...

:: AFTERCARE PRODUCTS REQUIRED FOR HAIR EXTENSIONS ::

It is recommended that you use a Hair Extension shampoo throughout the lifetime of the hair extension style. A clarifyting shampoo should be used prior to having your extensions fitted. This is a deep-cleansing shampoo which removes oil, sebum, styling products, wax or deposits left on your natural hair. Most high street shampoos contain silicon which is not good for the extensions and if used regularly it will slowly soften & break down the bonds. The worst shampoo's to use are Pantene, Treseme and Head & Shoulders. The clients who use the recommended hair extension shampoo never experience any poblems with their bonds.

A rinse-out reconstructive conditioner should also be used on the extension hair. This is a conditioner that works inside the structure of the hair shaft and should be applied once or twice a week. As extension hair is not attached to your scalp it does not get the same vitamins and nutrients that your own hair gets and can become dry if a reconstructor is not used. The reconstructive conditioner will also care for your own natural hair keeping it strong to enable it to hold the extensions in place as well as strengthening the extension hair. Avoid applying it to the bonded root areas as any conditioner will soften the bonds.

A hair extension leave-in conditioner should be used after hair has been towel-dried. This is designed to moisturise and condition natural hair as well as extension hair. It is quite light and easy to apply. Again, avoid applying to the bonded area. The only product that can go on the bonds is the hair extension shampoo.

A hair extension brush should be used on the extensions. It is designed to thoroughly brush through natural and extension hair, taking with in any loose hairs. Brush your extensions with this brush at least twice a day, but no more than 3 or 4 times a day as the more you brush the more hair will shed.

All the recommended products are available to purchase from the online shop. Please see the Product Shop page for more information.

:: WASHING ::

It is recommended that you do not wash your hair for at least 48 hours after the extensions are fitted. This allows time for the glue to properly set. Washing your hair sooner can cause the bonds to soften, become weak, or even fall out.

You should wash your as least as possible, once or twice a week is best as the less stress put on the extensions the better, and the less drying through heat the better. Always use a hair extension shampoo to avoid softening the bonds. You can use conditioner on the hair but do not put any conditioner on the bonds. Do not rub or twist the hair as this can cause it to tangle. Always pat wet hair gently with a towel.

:: BRUSHING :: 

When brushing extensions it is best to use a tangle teezer brush as this will cause minimal damage to your extensions. A hard brush can often pull hair out. Do not use brushes with balls on the end of the bristles as these will rip and tear at the extension hair. With the fusion bonded method you will lose strands of hair whilst brushing and it may look like a lot, but bear in mind that everyone loses around 100 hairs everyday naturally, and these are hairs which have not been caught up properly in the glue and have come loose. Try to sleep with your hair in a loose plait as this will minimise the chance of knots.

:: STYLING ::

The hair can be straightened, curled, cut, and blow dried. When straightening, try to avoid straightening over the bonds although you will probably find that this part of your hair is missed anyway due to it being so close to the scalp. Hair can also be cut and styled but when cutting please take into consideration where the bonds are so you do not get the hair cut in a way which will expose the bonds. You can dye hair but do a strand test first as different hair types dye differently e.g. your own hair may not dye the same as the extension hair or the extension hair may not dye as expected. You can however dye your roots while extensions are in. The best way to do this is to dye around the hairline (where hair is seen if in a ponytail) and down the centre parting. Usually this is the only hair seen. If however, you wish to dye all of your roots then this is also possible but remember that the less stress put on the extensions the better.

:: DAMAGE ::

Do not believe all of the horror stories you hear. As long as extensions are properly maintained and properly removed they will cause little or no damage to your own hair (depending on the quality of your hair to begin with). Picking and rough brushing causes the most damage. Some people find that extensions have helped their own hair grow quite a bit over the time they are in and also improved the condition of it. Please take extra care in all aspects of maintenance if you have naturally fine or thin hair as the extensions and bonds do put a slight added strain on the roots. By being as gentle as possible minimises damage to your own hair, and although extensions should cause little or no damage, it helps to treat them with respect as it is an un-natural process which may take your scalp time to adjust to.
Beware of hair extensionists who use silicon based glue as this glue is extremely hard to remove and may cause damage when removing. The glue I use is Keratin based, which is a natural product and is very easy to remove. The removal solution just disolves the bond, turns it powdery, and lets the extension hair slip away freely. This glue causes no damage to your natural hair and is painless to remove.
I will not be held responsible for any damage caused over the time the extensions are in if they are not properly looked after. If extensions do seem to be causing problems please do not hesitate to contact me. I also can not be held responsible if you find you do not get on with extensions and have them removed (although this is very rare).

:: MAINTENANCE ::

Some people choose to leave extensions for around 2 months without maintenance and then have them removed and a full set put back in. It is recommended that you have a maintenance appointment about halfway through the time your extensions can stay in: about week 4-6 and have a certain amount removed and replaced, and have more added. Maintenance allows extensions to stay looking good for longer as it creates a cycle, as there are always new bonds with new hair added and old ones which may have thinned out or been picked at can be removed. It is not advisable to keep extensions in for longer than 3 months as your re-growth can get matted and make them harder to remove after this period. It is also good to remove them after this time to give your hair a good wash and colour if needed.

:: REMOVAL ::

If you choose to have your extensions removed elsewhere please ask for a removal info sheet. I sell removal products if you wish to do it yourself but you must be very patient and gentle so as to not damage your hair. If you have another salon remove them then make sure the correct remover is used as most removers are designed for different brands / types of glue. I can sell a bottle of remover for your salon to use if required. Please make sure your chosen salon removes them properly as I will not be held responsible for any damage caused. Extension removal should cause very little or no pain at all if done correctly and it should never hurt or tug at your own hair and roots. This is what causes damage and is the reason extensions get a bad reputation for ruining hair. As the salon didn't fit the extensions they may be rough during removal then place blame on the extensionist for any damage caused. Please do not hesitate to ask for a free removal guidance sheet.

:: GENERAL ::

Extensions need maintaining and looking after - you cannot have extensions because you think it is an easy way out of doing your own hair. They need conditioning, gentle brushing and straightening. You have to be willing to spend time on them and have patience to look after them otherwise they will not stay in good condition. Longer extensions tend to be harder to look after than shorter ones and at first it may be difficult to sleep as your head is not used to the bonds. It will not always be like this, after a few days you should not even know they are in.

Extensions may also itch for a few days, this tends to be just above the nape of your neck, in the middle, and around your crown as these are the most sensitive parts of your scalp. If this is the case please persevere as again it is your head getting used to the weight and bonds. You cannot have twice as much hair and often three times the length put in and expect to get used to it straight away, some people have no trouble whatsoever but every now and then someone may have a sensitive scalp and it will take more adapting to. Do not give up straight away or think the worst!

The fusion bonded method hair will also shed, more so during the first 2 weeks or so as this is hair which has not been caught up in the glue properly, I put in around a third more hair than a salon does to account for this so please do not think that the extensions are falling out as it is normal for them to shed, even though it may seem a lot at the time.

Over the time your extensions are in you may notice parts of your own hair coming out with the root attached, this is only hair which has not been able to escape the glue bond which you would have normally shed naturally. As I said earlier, we lose around 100 of our own hairs per day naturally and these are the hairs which would usually have fallen out but can't drop to the floor because of the extensions, do not worry it is not the extensions pulling your hair out!

You will also lose some bonds during the time your extensions are in. This is very normal and happens with all bonded extensions. You should expect to lose around 1 -10 bonds, sometimes slightly more, and sometimes clients don't lose any at all!
All of the information given applies to all extensions applied using the bonded method, whether done privately or in a salon. Although some of it may seem a little off-putting it will be the same wherever the extensions are applied. It is better to know all of the true facts that salons won’t often tell you for fear of losing your (expensive) custom. A lot of salons will do the extensions first and deal with any questions after.
Please contact me on 07985 401836 if you have any further questions about the extensions.

By reading and understanding the information provided you have been given prior knowledge of the possible risks & side effects of having hair extensions before choosing to have them fitted.