How do I wash my hair extensions?
Updated
by
Aleksandra
Luxy Hair extensions are made with 100% remy human hair, which means they can be washed and styled just like your own natural hair. Since your extensions aren't subject to the oils produced by your scalp the way your natural hair is, you don’t have to wash them as often. As a general rule, the less you wash your extensions the longer they will last. You can use your best judgment on how often to wash them, however, we recommend only washing them once there is a lot of product build up.
If your extensions feel like they’re becoming increasingly difficult to style, this is likely a sign that there is product build-up and they need to be washed. We recommend washing them after every 30 wears or once a month. Please read below for full instructions on how to properly wash your Luxies.
You will need...
- A large bowl or a sink which can be plugged
- Alcohol / sulfate-free shampoo
- Alcohol / sulfate-free deep conditioner
- Hair oil
- Wet Brush or wide tooth comb
Why alcohol / sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner?
Purchasing sulfate-free and alcohol-free products is a necessity as they are imperative to maintain the health of your extensions. These ingredients strip the hair of its natural oils and will affect their integrity. This, in turn, makes the hair drier and more prone to tangling or matting.
Be sure to check the ingredient listing and ensure you don’t see the words: SLS, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Alcohol Denat, Ethanol, SD Alcohol 40, Propanol, Isopropyl, and Propyl. To learn more about what products you should avoid using, click here.
Brush your extensions
One of the most important steps is to brush your extensions out before washing them and only once the hair is 90% dry. This helps minimize the possibility of breakage and shedding because the hair is at its weakest point when wet. Keep in mind it is also more susceptible to breakage when wet. Then, stack each weft neatly on top of each other to keep them tangle-free during the washing process.
Prepare your sink
Ensure your sink is squeaky clean to avoid existing dirt transferring to the extensions, or better yet, gather a large bowl. Then, plug the drain and begin to fill it up with lukewarm water, or fill the bowl up three-quarters full. Be sure that the water is not too hot, as this opens up the hair cuticle and moisture leaves the strand more easily, leading to dry hair.
Pump 2-3 dollops of shampoo into the water, and swish the product around in the water so it's nice and soapy.
Shampoo each weft
We highly recommend applying a moisturizing sulfate-free and alcohol-free conditioner before and after shampooing. Sometimes, even skip the shampoo and only co-wash your extensions with conditioner!
Wash each weft one at a time, to prevent tangling and to ensure each weft is washed thoroughly. If you are short on time, you can bundle the extensions with an elastic and wash them carefully in one shot.
Hold the weft is one hand at the top, submerge it into the water, and gently wash the hair, working the shampoo in with light strokes. When washing, make sure to handle the extensions gently and to not rub them vigorously as you would with your natural hair. Once you have washed the weft with shampoo, set it aside neatly on a towel and repeat the same steps for the rest of the wefts.
Condition each weft
Once all the wefts have been shampooed, it's time to condition them. Take a generous amount of conditioner and apply onto each weft from top to bottom, massaging the product thoroughly into the hair. Leave on for 5-10 minutes, then rinse out each weft thoroughly. As a general rule, the longer you leave it on the better.
Apply a deep conditioner or hair mask
This step is crucial to ensure that your hair extensions remain soft, and moisturized. Just like your conditioner, take a good amount of the hair mask and work the product into each weft from top to bottom. In order for the product to really soak in and work its magic, bundle your extensions and carefully coil them and place them in a shower cap to leave overnight. This will help to seal in the moisture throughout the night.
Rinse out each weft
The next morning, thoroughly rinse out each weft, ensuring that there is no conditioner residue left on the hair. A common mistake is to only wash the hair halfway, leaving it with "the slip"–that slippery, soft feeling after conditioning. This is a no-no, as it actually leaves product on the hair, which weighs it down or causes it to look greasy when dry.
When washing out each weft, rinse it again with cold water, which will help close the cuticles of the hair to seal in the moisture and make the extensions shinier.
Lay each weft out to air dry
First, carefully squeeze any excess water from the extensions and make sure that you never rub your extensions dry with a towel. We highly recommend air-drying your extensions whenever possible. When air drying, be sure to invest in a micro-fibre towel as it will remove excess water faster and it won’t rough up the hair (which can also cause tangles).
Lay out all of the wefts on a flat surface and gently pat the excess moisture from the hair. A trick to preventing any frizz once the hair dries is to apply a small amount of hair oil to each weft to ensure the hair remains manageable and silky smooth.
If you must blow-dry your extensions, be sure to use a heat protectant spray prior to blow-drying to extend the lifespan of your hair extensions. The most important thing is to ensure that you are blow drying on a cool setting to prevent any heat damage and that you don’t brush the hair until it is 90% dry. When blow-drying, start by focusing on drying the root of the weft first and then working your way down to the ends. Always blow-dry downwards as this will help to not only smooth the cuticle but it will also prevent the hair from getting tangled since it is being blown in lots of different directions.
Comb each weft
Combing wet hair is usually not recommended as this is when the hair is at its most fragile state, however, in order to ensure that your extensions dry straight, you can make an exception. Gently brush through each weft with a wide tooth comb or Luxy Hair Loop Hair Extensions Brush from bottom to top.
Leave the wefts to dry, and come back to clean smooth, hair extensions, ready to clip into your hair.
FAQs
Do I need to wash my Luxy Hair extensions before I wear them?
No, Luxy Hair extensions are ready to wear straight out of the box! Hair extensions are a hygienic product and have been thoroughly sanitized at our factory. They are completely safe to wear right out of the box.
What shampoo/conditioner should I use on my Luxy Hair extensions?
Keeping your extensions moisturized and nourished is crucial, considering they don’t have a natural hydration source like our own hair does. The proper hair products make all the difference in whether your extensions will tangle or be soft and manageable.
Purchase products specifically formulated for dry and damaged hair, as they will help keep the strands healthy and nourished. Also, look for ingredients that add moisture to the hair like argan oil, coconut oil, and castor oil. Click here to learn about what products can be used on extensions, and look for alcohol-free and sulfate-free shampoos and conditioners.
Do I need to wash my hair extensions after curling to make them straight again?
No, unless the extensions have a lot of product buildup (like hairspray), this is not needed. Instead, you can gently brush out the curls with a soft bristle brush from bottom to top, and use a hair straightener to straighten the extensions. Be sure to use a heat protectant spray prior to straightening, and to use a low to medium heat setting (120C/250F).
Keep in mind, using sticky products such as hairspray, hair gel, or hair wax, can and likely will clog up your extensions. The more products you use, the more you will need to wash your extensions, leading to dry, tangled extensions. Also, keep in mind that any products that you use on your natural hair can transfer onto your extensions.
Do these hair extensions dry straight?
Luxy Hair extensions are of Chinese origin, therefore, should dry straight. Be sure to brush the extensions straight before air-drying overnight. Some sets could be potentially dry with a slight wave, however, can be styled with hot styling tools to achieve any desired look.
You can also air dry your extensions overnight (in a braid, for instance), and when you wake up and clip in your set, you will have gorgeous, beachy waves ready to go. Plus, you can also experiment with different curl patterns without having to buy an array of curling wands. Please click here for 4 ways to air dry your extensions.
What if I have more questions?
As always, if you have any other questions about how to wash your hair extensions, be sure to email us at info@luxyhair.com. We'll be happy to help.
