1. Washing Instructions 🚿
– Frequency: Washing your extensions once a week is PERFECT! 👌 This strikes the ideal balance between maintaining cleanliness and preventing unnecessary wear or drying out.
– Steps:
1️⃣ Prepare the Wash Basin
Fill a basin or sink with cool water ❄️. NEVER use hot water, as it can damage the hair fibers and bonds. Add a sulfate-free shampoo 🧴.
PSA: Sulfates = hair’s worst enemy! 🚫🔥 Harsh sulfates strip the hair of its natural moisture, leading to dryness, tangling, and a shortened lifespan for your extensions. Say NO to dryness! Always choose alcohol/sulfate-free products specifically formulated for extensions to keep them moisturized and healthy! 💦
2️⃣ Gentle Cleansing
Swish the wefts gently 🌊 through the soapy water. Absolutely NO rubbing, twisting, or scrunching! 🙅 These actions cause friction, leading to matting, tangling, and cuticle damage.
3️⃣ Rinse & Condition
Rinse the extensions thoroughly under cool running water 💧 until all shampoo residue is gone. → Then, apply conditioner generously from the mid-length down to the ends 💆. Avoid applying conditioner directly to the bonds or clips at the top of the wefts, as this can loosen them over time.
4️⃣ Drying is CRITICAL
After rinsing out the conditioner, gently squeeze out excess water (do not wring!). Air-dry the extensions completely FLAT on a clean towel 🧺. Crucially, avoid direct sunlight ☀️🚫 or any other heat source while drying.
REMEMBER: Hot water? Blow-dryers? Submerging clips underwater? These are BIG NO-NOs! 🔥🙅 Heat severely damages extensions, and submerging clips can cause rusting and mechanism failure.
5️⃣ Detangling
Once the extensions are completely 100% dry, carefully comb them with a wide-tooth comb 🪮, working from the ends upwards towards the roots.
WARNING: Wet hair = fragile hair! 💦🚫 The hair fibers are much weaker when saturated. Brushing wet extensions = guaranteed breakage city! 😱 Always wait until they are fully dry.
6️⃣ Nighttime Protection
- Before bed, tie your hair (including extensions) in a very loose, low ponytail or a loose braid 🌙. This minimizes friction and movement while you sleep.
- Invest in a silk pillowcase! Silk pillowcase >>> cotton 🛌✨. Silk creates significantly less friction + is naturally moisture-friendly! 💖 This reduces tangling, breakage, and helps retain the hair’s hydration compared to cotton.
2. Styling & Storage 🎀
– Heat Tools:
- Human Hair Extensions: Max recommended temperature is 180°C / 356°F 🔥🌡️. Always use a high-quality heat protectant spray before applying any heat, and avoid concentrating heat directly on the bonds or clips.
– Storage Tips:
- Between Uses/When Not Worn: The best options are to either hang the wefts individually on a sturdy, padded hanger 😊 (prevents tangling and maintains the hair’s natural fall) or store them flat in a breathable silk/satin storage pouch 👜.
- CRUCIAL: Always ensure the clips are securely CLOSED 🔒 before storing. This maintains the clip’s tension and spring + significantly contributes to their overall longevity! Open clips can snag, bend, or lose their grip strength.
Pro Tip: gentle care = long-lasting glam! ✨💁