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EXTENSION 

Care Guide

 Proper at home care is an absolute must if you want your extensions to last and prevent damage.The method and installation could be perfect, but what you do at home is the deciding factor on whether or not extensions damage your natural hair and scalp as well as how long your extensions will last. My goal is to educate you so that you can have and maintain the hair of your dreams!

Daily:

 

  •   Brush 2 to 3 times a day using proper brushing technique.

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  •   Apply a silicone-free lightweight and clear oil to the mid-shaft and ends of hair daily.

Wash Day:

 

  •   Use only recommended shampoo's and conditioners. These will be lightweight, gentle products free of sulfates. Heavy products and oils can build up on the extensions actually making them more dry.

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  •   Avoid all protein products as they will dry out and damage your extensions. This includes Olaplex, K18 and products labeled as reconstructive or reparative  for brittle damaged hair. If your natural hair needs protien, use a leave in product only on those area.

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  •   Gently but thoroughly wash the hair. Make sure you are massaging shampoo into the tops of the wefts to remove oil and product and rinse thoroughly. Sectioning your hair with a clip as you shampoo and rinse helps ensure your hair is cleaned properly.

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  •   Never ball up the hair or rub it together between your hands. Let your hair remain in natural fall position and shampoo your scalp and the top 1-2 inches of your extensions.

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  •   Condition your hair with a light but hydrating conditioner focusing on the midshaft to ends. Alternate every 3 washes with a deep conditioner.

Sleeping:

 

  •   Always wear hair in loose braid or bun with a satin scrunchy. This is a great time to brush out and apply oil to ends before bed.

 

  •   Never go to bed with wet hair to avoid matting, breakage and scalp issues.

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  •   Sleep with a silk pillowcase to minimize friction. Silk hair bonnets or scarves are also a great option!

Brushing:

 

  •   Brush must have both boar bristles and nylon bristles without balls

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  •   Start at the bottom and gently work your way up the hair while holding the track point against your head  firmly with the other hand. This will prevent tension on your scalp and snagging the tops of the wefts.

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  •   Make sure to brush the natural hair in between rows to prevent matting.

After Shower:

 

  •  Remove excess water by sandwhiching and pressing on your hair with a micro-fiber or t-shirt towel. Do not rub, scrunch or twist your hair.

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  •  Allow your hair to dry 75% before beginning brushing. This can be done by air-drying or quick hit with the blow dryer. (no brush)

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  • Use a light de-tangler before gently de-tangling with a wet brush.

Styling:

 

  •   Apply a heat protectant and comb through hair before blow drying.

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  •   Keep blow dryer on medium to low heat.

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  •   Use a flat, extension brush to blow dry extensions keeping the air pointed downward to avoid roughing up the cuticle.

       ( never upside down)

 

  •   Use the concentrator nozzle and avoid touching the blow dryer to the brush. This can trap heat and cause damage.

 

  •   Make sure the tops of the wefts are always completely dry to prevent mold, dandruff, and matting.

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  •   If you must use a round brush on your extensions, use only on the very ends of the hair at the end of blow drying, preferably with a brush that is metal free. Traditional blowouts are very damaging to the extensions.

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  •   When using a flat iron or curling iron, an additional heat protectant designed for dry hair needs to be applied again. This needs to be the last product applied before using a hot tool and it needs to be applied evenly , in sections. This includes days you do not wash your hair but restyle it. Previous products applied such as oil, hairspray, or dry shampoo can burn up and permanently damage your hair, so ALWAYS reapply heat protectant.

 

  •   Make sure the heat protectant has dried before applying any hot tools.

 

  •   NEVER apply hot tools to hair that is not completely dry.

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  •   Keep temperature at 300F degrees or lower.

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Maintenance:

  •   Always keep your move- up appointments to 8 weeks at the most. Clients with very fine or thin hair may benefit from 6 week move-ups.

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  •   Trims at move-up appointments can extend the life of your extensions. You may feel it is counterintuitive to trim the extensions, but you'll lose much more length at a quicker pace from split ends and breakage.

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  •   Like your natural hair, the color of your extensions may fade in between visits. Blondes need more color maintenance than brunettes, especially those with low-lights or root melts. These color refreshes can be added on to your regular move-up appointments.

Gym:
Summer Time:

  •    AVOID sunscreens with Avobenzone or Octocrylene. These are used in most sunscreens and will quickly turn your extensions an orange color that cannot be removed.

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  •   Opt for a mineral sunscreen that is Zinc- Oxide based and always double check that it is extension safe.

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  •   When planning to swim in the ocean or pool, wet hair first with tap water, coat with conditioner and your oil, then tightly braid your hair. This will prevent the hair from absorbing as much of the other waters. Follow up the day with your shampoo regiment.

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  •   Always wear hair in a bun, ponytail, or braid on top of your hair to minimize contact with sweat and friction. A headband to absorb sweat is even better.

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  •   Prior to working out, spray the extensions with a leave in conditioner to lessen the absorption of sweat. Sweat is acidic, salty and can leave the extensions dry and damaged.

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  •   Although it's normally best to wash less frequently, washing your extensions after a workout is a must. Try to plan your hair washing days to  line up with your workouts!

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