What products should I avoid using on hair extensions?
Updated
by
Aleksandra
One of the most important things to consider when taking care of your Luxy Hair extensions is to ensure that you are using the proper products on them. They will make all the difference in whether your extensions will tangle or be soft and manageable.
Products That Contain Sulfate & Alcohol
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.
Purchasing sulfate 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 which, in turn, makes the hair drier and more prone to tangling or matting. Prolonged use of these ingredients will affect their integrity. Remember, products that are free from sulfates might not produce much lather as they are gentle cleansers but that is a good thing! We don’t want the shampoo to strip the good oils from the hair.
Always be sure to do one simple thing before you buy any product… flip it over! Many products out there have sulfates and alcohol hidden in their formulas. Not all companies claiming to make sulfate-free shampoos are truly free of sulfates. This is why it is super important to know what to look for when reading ingredients.
Also, keep in mind that there are different types of alcohols. For example, Isopropyl alcohol is drying and harsh to our natural hair and can usually be found in hair sprays and gels because it dries faster when applied. Constantly using this ingredient can leave your extensions very dry, frizzy, and dull. Now that isn’t to say all alcohols are bad. Here is a list of the most used good fatty alcohols found in hair products: Cetyl, Stearyl, Cetearyl, Myristyl, Behenyl and Lauryl. Cetearyl alcohol and Cetyl alcohol are two of the most common fatty alcohols in hair products as they support moisture and manageability. They also provide slip to our favorite conditioners which allows us to detangle our hair better.
Sticky Products
Using sticky products such as hair spray, hair gel, or hair wax, can and likely will clog up your extensions and the more products you use, the more you will need to wash your extensions. Remember, over washing equals dry and tangled extensions. Also, keep in mind that the products that you use in your natural hair can travel onto your extensions from constant head movement and heat from your scalp.
Your extensions have a beautiful, healthy finish already so you shouldn’t need much product to enjoy them. If you want more hold when curling your extensions, try rolling up the curls and pinning them up with a bobby pin. You can leave them overnight or even just for an hour to ensure the curls stay in place without the use of hairspray. Simply unravel your extensions when you are ready to wear them! If you do want to reach for hairspray, consider a lightweight formula which you can still easily brush through and that is preferably alcohol-free. Extra strength hairsprays will clog up your extensions, which means more washing.
Keratin or Protein Products
Protein overload may occur when products that contain keratin or other proteins are used on human hair extensions. These products are often advertised to be "bond-building" or damage repairing. While products like this may be great for your own hair, human hair extensions may experience an overload of the proteins in these products.
Protein overload can cause dryness, dullness, and breakage. Instead, recommend selecting sulfate-free products that do not contain keratin or other proteins, and only washing every 30+ wears. Reducing your washing frequency and using the right products is an important part of helping your set to live a long, healthy life!
