Washing:  Avoid overwashing.  Use an oil and sodium chloride free shampoo.  Make sure to wash and rinse in-between extensions.  Pre-condition ends lightly before shampoo if the hair feels dry.  I like Amika Normcore Shampoo, Amika Moisturizing Conditioner. Silicon Mix can be used to condition extensions only if they get tangled.

 

Styling:  It is crucial you do not go to bed with wet hair.  Use a light leave-in conditioner and/or heat protecting cream. Let hair air dry as long as possible prior to blowdrying.   I like Keracolor Purify Plus leave-in and Paul Mitchell Neuro Heat Protecting Spray. Brushing is important!  Make sure to brush every day with a boar bristle brush (I like the combo boar/ plastic bristle brush by Wet Brush). If hair feels dry, use a moisturizing cream like Amika Overnight Moisture Mask on dry hair.  Avoid  using hot tools more than 1x a week,  and instead opt for gentler options like heatless curls or hot rollers.  

 

Sectioning:  When washing, brushing, or stying its important to section and separate hair.  It's very easy (and it's something hairstylist do with all of their clients during hair cuts and styling).  Start from the bottom and work your way up, brushing from root to tip gently.  'Palm' the attachment site to avoid pulling.  

 

Brushing:  Finger comb first with detangler.  You will need 2 brushes.  One for detangeling brush when damp, and one boar bristle brush for dry brushing.  It is recomended to dry brush at least 2x a day after applying an oil, but do your best.  Wet Brush makes both types of brushes.  

 

Sleeping:  Brush hair before sleeping.  Sleep on satin pillowcase or in a satin hat to keep hair health and tangle free.  If you don't have those, you can lightly braid to help with tangling.  

 

Swimming:  Swimming can damage the integrity of the hair extensions.  But if swimming is a must, there are methods that stay in place (although hair may need to be replaced more often).  Apply leave in conditioner like Keracolor Purify Plus before swimming.  To keep hair dry, use a swim turban by You Go Natural.  

***Sunscreens cause discoloration in blonde extensions.  Use only Mineral sunblock/sunscreen with titanium dioxide, zinc, or both

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What to avoid:

-Flat ironing/curling iron more than once a week (breaks the fragile extension hair faster than bio hair)

-Oil and growth serums near the scalp and attachment points

-Dry Shampoo (causes extensions for slip faster)

-Shampoo, conditioner, and products with protein or bond builders

-Alcohol based products

-Chemical based sunscreen (use mineral onl to avoid discoloration)

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Maintenance Appointments: 

It's important to maintain regular appointments to remove your extensions from the growth point back to the scalp.  This keeps it more comfortable and strong.  Maintenance can vary with extension installations, length/texture/density differences, and lifestyle changes.