Caring for Hair Extensions
General FAQs
How do I care for my hair extensions?
Keep in mind that unlike your own hair, which receives natural hydration from the oils on your scalp, hair extensions don’t have a natural hydration source. Therefore, keeping them hydrated is key to keeping them shiny and in good condition.
How do you prevent tangling/matting and reduce shedding?
Keep your hair extensions moisturized- Keeping your extensions moisturized and nourished is crucial, considering they don’t have a natural hydration source like your own hair does. If you are brushing your extensions throughout the day and you seem to notice dryness or some minor breakage, apply a pearl-size amount of a lightweight or water-based hair serum or a lightweight oil, like argan oil. Always ensure you apply it from the midshaft of the hair down to the ends and follow by brushing the extensions to evenly distribute the product throughout. Remember, less is more. You do not need to apply a hair oil daily, as this can cause buildup on your extensions. Instead, you apply it once a week or when you notice significant tangling and dryness.
Use the right hair products- 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 products that add moisture to the hair like argan oil, coconut oil, and castor oil. 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 and will affect their integrity. This, in turn, makes the hair drier and more prone to tangling or matting.
Read the ingredients list- 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. Also, keep in mind that not all companies claiming to make sulfate-free shampoos are truly free of sulfates. 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.
Hydrate your hair extensions- Since your extensions don’t absorb the oils your natural hair would, 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. When washing your extensions, it's important you hydrate them as much as possible, and apply a moisturizing sulfate and alcohol-free conditioner before and after shampooing. Sometimes, you can even skip the shampoo and only co-wash your extensions with conditioner! Always be sure to rinse the extensions in cold water at the end to close cuticles and lock in moisture.
When you notice your extensions getting dry or tangled, apply a deep conditioning treatment or mask. This will hydrate and restore some moisture back into them, as well as help make them softer and more manageable to style. It’s an easy and simple process to do—all you have to do is dampen your extensions and apply a generous amount of a sulfate and alcohol-free deep conditioning treatment or conditioner to the hair, and let it soak in the product for 5-6 hours or overnight by placing it in a shower cap or a plastic bag. Rinse off as normal the next day.
Use an oil treatment on your extensions- Another way to infuse moisture back in your hair extensions is with an oil treatment, like coconut oil. First, measure out two tablespoons of coconut oil and warm it up until it melts. Then, apply it to dry hair from the mid-shaft working your way down and focusing most of the product on the ends. You can also leave this treatment on overnight for best results. In the morning, wash the extensions as normal. Keep in mind that coconut oil is very heavy so you may need to shampoo your extensions twice to get rid of all of the oil from the hair.
Handle your hair extensions with care- Improper hair care can also take a toll on your extensions. When washing, make sure to handle the extensions gently and to not rub them vigorously. After you are finished, carefully squeeze any excess water from the extensions. Never rub your extensions dry with a towel. Instead, always lay them out on a flat surface and gently pat them dry. When air drying, invest in a microfiber towel as it will remove excess water faster and it won’t rough up the hair (which can also cause tangles).
Limit heat styling and always use a heat protectant - We do not recommend blow drying your extensions after every wash as doing this constantly will make them dry and more vulnerable to breakage. If you can avoid it, we highly recommend air drying your extensions for the safest route as this will also prevent against tangles. Also, we always suggest using a heat protectant spray prior to using any heat styling tool to extend the lifespan of your hair extensions. Additionally, we recommend to only use a low heat setting of 120C/250F, as anything higher runs the risk of damaging the hair.
If you need to use your extensions immediately after washing them, the most important thing is to ensure that you are using a cool setting to prevent any heat damage and that you don’t brush the hair until the hair 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.
Limit the use of heavy hair products- Limiting the number of products you apply to the hair will help with tangling. 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.
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 pinning up the curls and leaving them overnight or even just for an hour to ensure the curls stay in place without the use of hairspray. If you do want to reach for hairspray, consider a lightweight formula which you can still easily brush through. Extra strength hair sprays will clog up your extensions, which means more washing.
Store your clip-in hair extensions neatly- Starting a good storage routine from the moment you start wearing your new extensions is crucial as it will prevent tangling and matting in the future. Always ensure that you brush your extensions before and after each use. Interested in learning about the best way to store your Luxies? Click here to find out more!
Remove your clip-in hair extensions before sleeping- Clip-in hair extensions should always be removed before sleeping, as they can get extremely tangled throughout the night if worn to bed. Since they only take a few minutes to clip in, and seconds to remove, removing them daily will maintain the integrity of the hair. You can store your hair extensions in the Luxy Hair Extensions Carrier, or, neatly coil them and store them in an airtight shoebox or container.
Do not swim with hair extensions in- One of the most important things to keep in mind when wearing hair extensions is to not wear them while swimming or taking a shower. You can definitely wear them to the beach or by the pool, however, we do not recommend getting into the water with them (unless your hair is tied up and will not get wet).
Avoid working out with your hair extensions in- Avoid doing any physical activity that could lead to excessive sweat, when you are wearing hair extensions. Remember, your sweat is salty, acidic and can dry out your hair extensions so this could lead to additional matting and tangling, causing your hair extensions to deteriorate faster. To increase the lifespan of your extensions, try to minimize their exposure to sweat. Instead, be sure to un-clip them before heading to the gym!
Have you ever noticed how dry and tangled your natural hair feels after swimming in a chlorinated pool or salt water? Chlorine from swimming pools, salt from ocean water, and dirt in all bodies of water can be damaging to your hair extensions. Also, swimming with your extensions clipped in may lead to the extensions tangling with your natural hair, which can be damaging.
Can I cut my hair extensions?
If you decide to get them cut, we recommend having them already clipped into your hair during the haircut. We also recommend coming up with a numbering system for the wefts, so that you know exactly where each weft is supposed to go for future uses.
Can I have Luxies sewn in to my hair?
Can I wear my hair extensions outside when it's windy or rainy?
Details
What products can be used on 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 products that add moisture to the hair like argan oil, coconut oil, and castor oil.
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. To learn more about what products you should avoid using, click here.
Heat Protectant
Depending on the heat protectant used, the product may have added ingredients to detangle, smoothen, and boost shine. Some thermal heat protectants go so far as to help transfer nutrients and vitamins to the hair shaft, making it stronger in the long run, and protecting the hair from UV rays.
To use a heat protectant, spray your hair as well as your hair extensions with the product evenly, and wait a minute or two before applying heat.
Dry Shampoo
Not only is dry shampoo a holy grail product for oily-haired ladies in terms of soaking up excess oils at the roots, but it's also a holy grail product for fine-haired clip-in hair extensions users. Before clipping in your wefts, separate a section of hair, apply a bit of dry shampoo at the roots, then backcomb the hair. This will create a stronger, sturdier base for each clip to hold on to, resulting in hair extensions that stay put throughout the day.
Hair Oil
Hair Mask/Deep Conditioner
Best hair oils for hair extensions
Coconut Oil
You can also use it to infuse moisture back in your hair extensions is with an oil treatment using coconut oil. First, measure out two tablespoons of coconut oil and warm it up until it melts. Then, apply it to dry hair from the mid-shaft working your way down and focusing most of the product on the ends. You can also leave this treatment on overnight for best results. In the morning, wash the extensions as normal. Keep in mind that coconut oil is very heavy so you may need to shampoo your extensions twice to get rid of all of the oil from the hair.
Argan Oil
Jojoba Oil
Washing
How often should you wash hair extensions?
How do I wash my hair extensions?
What is the best shampoo for hair extensions?
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.
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.
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.
What is protein overload?
Protein overload can cause dryness, dullness, and breakage. Instead, we 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!
Do I need to wash my hair extensions before I wear them?
Heat Styling
Can I use heat styling tools on my hair extensions?
What temperature should I style my hair extensions at?
What are the benefits of air drying vs. heat styling?
For 4 ways to air dry your extensions with little effort, please click here.
Air-drying
If you're looking for some fun and easy heatless hairstyles, be sure to check out some on our YouTube channel here.
Dyeing & Toning
For full instructions on how to dye or tone your Luxies, click here and here.
Can I color, tone, or bleach my hair extensions?
For our dyeing do's and dont's and examples of our customers who had their Luxies dyed/toned, please click here.
Can I use purple shampoo on my hair extensions?
Please keep in mind that purple shampoo will balance out the golden undertones from the Ash Blonde and Platinum Blonde shades and make it cooler, however, depending on your tone of blonde, this may not be the best alternative to making your extensions match better to your hair color. Since there are many different variations of cool-toned blonde shades, this is why we recommend having your set professionally toned to achieve a more seamless match.
Also, we don’t recommend purple shampooing the Dirty Blonde shade as it will most likely not create a fully cool-toned medium blonde color. Instead, it may remove some of the brassiness. If you are looking for a dramatic difference, we recommend having this shade professionally toned.