Best products to use on human hair extensions

Hair Extension Care Guide

To keep your hair extensions looking great requires a comprehensive aftercare routine.  Washing, brushing, straightening, and more, the list of things to consider when caring for your hair extensions is endless. Making sure you have a strong aftercare routine will ensure you maximise the longevity of your extensions and keep them looking fantastic.

With so much information available online knowing how best to treat your hair extension can be a confusing and overwhelming experience. That’s why we’ve put together this ultimate guide to the products that will keep your hair extensions looking perfect as long as you wear them.

We’ll take a look at each aspect of keeping your hair extensions looking great, from great shampoo and conditioners to hair turbans and hair straighteners. Every product we cover is sure to make life easier for you and your hair

L’Oreal EverPure Sulfate-Free Shampoo and Conditioner

It would be best if you aimed only to wash your hair extensions once or twice a week. If the crown of your hair needs washing more frequently, then your hair extensions should be kept dry if possible. A top tip is never to wash your hair upside down as this can lead to hair unnecessarily knotting and tangling. Likewise, tying a towel around your hair is a bad idea as this can also cause knots and tangles to develop.

When looking at what shampoo and conditioner to use with your hair extensions, you need to consider sulfates. Sulfates are the combination of molecules that cause the foaming lather in hand soap, body wash, shampoo and conditioner. Sulfates are good at releasing grease and dirt from the skin, which is why they have been extremely common in cleaning products for many years. However, there are downsides to using sulfates, particularly on hair.

The process by which sulfates take dirt from hair molecules has been shown to damage the hair when used in high quantities. In fact, a study by the American College of Toxicology found that more than 1% of sulfate content in shampoo or conditioner can lead to damage. Traditional shampoos will usually have roughly 15% sulfate content, so hair damage is inevitable.

This effect is considerably worse in hair extensions. As your extensions are not biologically attached to the scalp, they receive none of the natural oils that natural hair would. Without this added layer of defence, sulfates strip the oils from hair extensions far quicker, and the results are tangling, breakage and frizz in no time at all.

That’s why it’s imperative that you shampoo and condition your hair with a sulfate-free solution. We recommend L’Oreal’s excellent range of EverPure shampoos and conditioners, a range of products that are all 100% sulfate-free.  Available in five different styles, EverPure offers a gentle and nourishing clean to all different types of hair. With solutions for fighting frizz, protecting blonde hair, boosting volume or just ensuring your hair remains well moisturised the EverPure has the same formula across the whole product range, 100% sulfate free safe for colour-treated strands.  Anyone serious about looking after their hair extensions should be making EverPure part of their haircare routine.

Silke Hair Wraps

We spend a third of our lives in bed, so making sure your hair extensions are looked after while you sleep is an essential part of any good care routine. As we sleep we naturally toss and turn and with each movement, abrasive bed linen aggravates our hair cuticles which in turn causes them to break. The repetitive coarse interaction between hair and linen can cause all kinds of problems to hair, including thinner hair, frizz, split ends and breakages. 

Naturally, all these symptoms affect hair extensions, too, and that’s why we recommend the Silke Hair Wrap as a great, stylish and cost-effective way to keep your extension in top shape. Using a design perfected over two years of prototyping Silke have engineered a hair wrap that protects and nourishes your hair whilst you sleep. Made from 100% mulberry silk the smooth, snug fit protects your hair cuticles, and unlike bed linen keeps the natural oils in your hair where they should be, conditioning and nourishing your hair throughout the night.

Silke Hair Wraps are particularly effective for hair extensions as they reduce damage caused to your roots by any tension caused by movement throughout the night. Your extensions are also protected from becoming matted or tangled, wrapped safely inside. As your hair is able to condition itself with the natural oils that remain locked inside the wrap your hair will need washing less, further decreasing the strain on your hair extensions.

Available in a variety of stylish colours, the Silke hair wrap is used by some of the greatest names in fashion, from Christian Dior to Marc Jacobs. With a timeless Hollywood chic design Silke Hair Wraps keep your hair extensions safe whilst sleeping, and look good doing it.

Anti-Tension Hair Extension Bobbles

One of the most important steps of any hair extension care routine is ensuring the hair doesn’t become tangled. Separating every bond from the roots on a regular basis is essential to stop any tangles growing out along with the hair.

Keeping your hair extensions from tangling is made easier by using an anti-tension hair bobble. These bobbles secure hair in place, keeping ponytails and plaits where they should be, without placing any tension on either the hair extensions or the scalp.

Anti-Tension hair extension bobbles are widely available and are often very cheap, offering a simple and affordable solution for keeping your hair extensions free of tangles and kinks, whilst keeping the scalp healthy by relieving pressure.

Head Jog 101 Hair Extension Brush

Another simple and cost-effective product to help maintain healthy hair extensions is a bristle brush. Soft bristle brushes are designed to be extremely gentle on hair and the bonds of the extensions.  The wide bristles distribute the hair whilst brushing, giving a vibrant shine and keeping your hair extensions feeling and looking great.

To brush your hair extensions properly always make sure they are at least 90% dry to avoid any unnecessary breakages. Next, gather the hair together, making sure to stack all the wefts on top of each other. Then work from the bottom of the hair, brushing the hair slowly whilst working up towards the root. If you encounter any knots separate these out and brush the knot out gently.

ghd hair straighteners

GHD hair straighteners are considered classics for a reason. For nearly 20 years the iconic product has been used in hair salons and homes worldwide. With its rounded barrel design and floating plates the GHD hair straightener will glide effortlessly through hair extensions of any style or length. With a fixed temperature of 185ºC the straighteners maintain a heat perfect for all your hair styling needs, without damaging your hair extensions. Don’t forget to apply your heat spray before use, for that added level of protection. To properly protect your extensions when straightening make sure to brush the hair, part into two sections, then section at a time slowly work the hair straighteners over the hair.

GHD Heat Protector spray

Excessive heat generated by hairdryers, stylers and tongs can cause damage to hair extensions. Prolonged exposure dries out the hair molecules and can quickly lead to noticeable damage to hair extensions. That’s why we recommend using a heat protector spray, such as GHD Heat Protector before using a hairdryer or similar products.
By simply spraying your hair 6-8 times and combing through GHD Heat Protector ensures that your hair is safe from the harm caused by heat, and as the spray is invisible and lightweight it can be used with any other products without affecting the style you’re after.

Moroccan Oil

As we have discussed hair extensions do not benefit from the natural oils produced by the scalp unlike our own hair, so ensuring that you keep extensions moisturised and nourished is critically important. A regular routine can make all the difference to ensure that your hair extensions look fresh and stylish for longer.

Moroccan Oil is a particularly good source of the nutrients your hair extensions need to stay healthy and nourished. Combining the natural powers of argan oil with its own unique formula Moroccan Oil has a whole range of cosmetic benefits:

• Argan oil is absorbed easily by the strands of hair which helps to prevent split ends.
• Argan oil is rich in minerals, vitamins and antioxidants. These qualities help to increase the elasticity of the hair, restoring shine and adding life to your hair extensions, preventing a dull, flat look from developing.
• It is important to protect hair extensions from harmful UV light from the sun as too much can easily dry out your hair, leading to split ends and brittle hair. Luckily, argan oil is also a strong source of protection against UV and will also keep your hair extension protected throughout the day.
• Moroccan Oil helps detangle hair, and reduces frizz, speeding up drying time for your hair and helping keep your hair extensions manageable