How to Care For Your Hair Extensions

Maintaining an active lifestyle doesn’t have to be a hassle while you’re wearing extensions.

However, the harsh spring and summer weather can take a toll on your natural hair and your extensions, making it essential to take extra care to preserve their quality. Follow these helpful tips to keep your C&M extensions looking their best all summer long.

Protect Your Extensions from Sun Damage

Mineral sunscreen is a must-have for anyone with hair extensions. Avoid chemical sunscreens containing Avobenzone and Octocrylene, which can cause discoloration and a pinkish tone. Mineral sunscreen lacks these harmful ingredients and won’t affect your extensions, providing essential protection against sun damage.

UV Ray + Heat Protection

UV Rays and direct heat can be harmful to not just your extensions, but to your own hair as well. Look for hair products that provide UV and/or heat protection to help keep your hair color from fading and drying out.

Hydrate Your Hair and Extensions

The summer heat can be harsh on your extensions and natural hair, leading to dryness and damage. Keep your natural hair and extensions healthy and hydrated by using leave-in conditioners, hydrating balms, and hair oils. Apply these products to the ends of your hair, not your roots, and look for products with heat protectant to keep your hair from drying out.

Use Heat Tools Sparingly

Heat tools paired with the summer heat can be damaging to your extensions and natural hair during the summer. If you must heat style, make sure to use a heat protectant and keep your hot tools on a medium to a low setting to avoid any damage.

Swim Safely with Your Hair Extensions

Before you dive into the pool or ocean, wet your hair and apply a leave-in conditioner Mr. Smith Luxury Masque to prevent dryness and discoloration caused by mineral deposits in the water. Keep your hair off your face and neck by putting it in a ponytail, bun, or braid. Rinse your hair thoroughly with clean water immediately after swimming to remove any chlorine or saltwater residue. Using Mr. Smith Hydrating Shampoo and Luxury conditioner towel dry and add the leave in and serum dry and style.

Brush Your Hair Regularly

Brushing your hair regularly is essential for preventing tangling and matting. Use a brush with soft bristles, and start brushing from the bottom up, working your way to the top. Brush each row individually, starting from the middle and moving towards the weft. Don’t forget to brush your hair before showering to avoid tangling as you wash your hair.

How to Combat Dryness

We recommend using the Mr. Smith leave in combind with the serum

Here are some of our hair care tips and tricks for washing and brushing:

Avoid over-washing your hair extensions – what is the ideal frequency: We suggest washing once or twice a week.
Always brush your hair before getting into the shower to avoid tangling or matting.
Thoroughly cleanse in between wefts as well as completely rinse any excess conditioner.
Use a lightweight detangler & heat protectant after washing
We also suggest that during winter months you consider using a very lightweight hair oil or serum 2-3 times a week on your ends to lock in moisture.
When you’re done showering, squeeze your hair dry (don’t rub!) and hydrate your hair with a leave-in conditioner, we recommend
Mr. Smith or Iles Formula products we also recommend putting your hair in a towel turban to help soak up any excess water.
When brushing, pinch your hair like a ponytail and brush from the bottom up.
It’s extremely important to brush through your hair multiple times a day to avoid matting and knots.
Brush each row individually, starting mid way and making your way to the top of the weft.
To maintain optimal hair health, we advise periodically using a clarifying shampoo every 4-6 weeks. This deep-cleansing treatment removes any product buildup, deposits, or impurities that can dry out the hair. The result? Fresh, revitalized strands that are ready to shine.
Make sure to use a light conditioner for Asian Remy extensions as conditioner can become heavy and cause build up.

When it comes to maintaining the longevity of your hair extensions, proper washing techniques are essential.

Brushing for a Tangle-Free Experience

Before stepping into the shower, gently brush your hair extensions in one downward motion. This initial step helps prevent matting and tangling during the washing process. Use a soft-bristle brush or a specifically designed extension brush to ensure you’re treating your extensions with the utmost care.

Ensuring Every Inch Is Clean

While washing your hair, pay special attention to the areas underneath and between the rows of your extensions. These areas can accumulate natural oils, sweat, and product buildup, so be sure to work the shampoo through them diligently. A gentle massage with your fingertips will help ensure a thorough cleanse.

Opting For a Double Wash

If it’s been five days or more since your last wash, consider a double wash for a truly refreshed feel. The first wash removes initial dirt and buildup, while the second wash deeply cleanses and ensures that your extensions are as revitalized as your natural hair.

Rinsing With Care

When it’s time to rinse out the shampoo, do so in a downward motion. This technique helps prevent unnecessary tangles and ensures that the shampoo is thoroughly washed away from both your natural hair and extensions. Apply conditioner and brush through ensuring every hair has been reached; rinse well.

Squeezing Out Excess Water

After rinsing, gently squeeze out excess water from your hair. Avoid wringing or rubbing, as this can cause tangling. A gentle, downward-squeezing motion helps remove water without compromising the integrity of your extensions.

Detangling With Precision

Once you step out of the shower, take a moment to thoroughly detangle your damp hair extensions. Use a wet brush specifically designed for use on wet hair, and work through each section with care. Starting from the ends and working your way up, this step ensures a smooth and tangle-free finish.

When it comes to preserving your flawless hairstyle, night-time care is essential.

Whether you have straight, wavy, or curly hair extensions, follow our simple yet effective techniques to ensure your hair looks stunning in the morning.

For Sleek and Chic Hair

For a sleek and polished look, follow these steps:

Gather your hair, including the extensions, into a high ponytail at the top of your head. Use a silk scrunchie to secure it in place. This prevents tangling and minimizes friction, reducing the risk of damage.

Further protect your hair by wearing a silk bonnet over the high ponytail. The silk material helps retain moisture and prevents excessive friction, keeping your hair smooth and frizz-free.

Effortless Waves

To maintain beautiful waves while you sleep, try this technique:

Divide your hair into two sections and create two loose braids using silk scrunchies to secure the ends. These scrunchies are gentle on your hair and won’t cause breakage. Once you have your braids, tuck them into a silk bonnet. This step prevents your waves from getting flattened, matted, or tangled while you sleep.

Curly and Boucy

For those with curly hair extensions, here’s how to wake up with gorgeous curls: Gather your hair into a high bun at the top of your head and secure it with a silk scrunchie. This keeps your curls intact and prevents them from getting stretched out or losing their bounce. Don’t forget to cover your high bun with a silk bonnet. This dual protection method ensures your curls remain defined and vibrant.

By incorporating these nighttime care techniques into your routine, you can enjoy the beauty of your hair extensions for an extended period. Whether you prefer sleek, wavy, or curly styles, these steps ensure you wake up to a fabulous hair day, every day.‍

Hair Care can be a challenging topic; as the seasons change, so does your hair care routine.

Think about your skin; in the summer months, we try to stick with lightweight but moisturizing products, while in the winter, we double up on everything to maintain healthy, hydrated skin. Now, let’s do the same thing when it comes to your extensions. “There’s Hair Care, and then there’s Winter Hair Care.” Let’s protect your investment by knowing the Do’s and Dont’s of Winter Hair Care.‍

Hydration is Key

As the air gets drier, extensions need moisture so they don’t dry out and need to be replaced sooner than needed. Switch out your summer products and incorporate hair products that give extra hydration. Look for hydrating and nourishing ingredients like Shea Butter, Avocado Oil and Vitamin E to help replenish moisture, restore shine and protect tresses. Mr.Smith’s Hydrating shampoo and conditioner works well.

Balance Moisture

When it comes to wash day, you want to make sure to balance the moisture in order to keep the bounce and volume in your hair. Mr. Smith’s Balancing Shampoo & Conditioner are the perfect pair to hydrate your hair extensions to increase their longevity while nourishing your natural hair and stimulation to the scalp to encourage new hair growth.

Avoid Hot Showers

Hot water can strip hair and scalp from its natural oils and moisture, making it dry and more vulnerable to breakage. Take lukewarm showers and end with a cold rinse to smooth down cuticles.

Incorporate a Hair Mask

Hair masks can make a significant difference when it comes to dry, damaged hair. They can replenish moisture and reverse the effects of dryness and damage from heat styling, indoor heating and cold winter winds. Make sure to wash your hair in this order: shampoo, mask, conditioner. We recommend using the mask in the middle so the conditioner can assist with closing the cuticle. Our favorite mask for the winter months is Iles Formula’s Hair Mask or Mr. Smith Luxury Masque, as it nourishes and strengthens strands while also promoting excellent scalp care, without weighing your hair down.

Avoid Heat Styling

Your hair is already delicate during winter months and using heat styling tools can make it brittle and cause breakage. If you can’t resist heat styling, make sure to use a heat protectant and keep your hot tools on a medium to low setting to avoid any damage. We recommend avoid heat tools completely and incorporate heatless styling into your hair routine. Try a French or Rope braid or create heatless perfect waves with Sleep by Covet & Mane set which includes a silk WaveRod and turban to protect your hair.

Don’t Step Out with Wet Hair

Cold air expands the hair shafts, making them prone to breakage, and may cause color fading. Always make sure your hair is completely dry before stepping out in freezing temperatures.

Get a Humidifier

While outside winter temperatures can zap moisture from your hair, indoor heaters can also dry hair out, causing more damage. Humidifiers help balance the moisture levels inside and prevent any dryness.

Have a Brush and a Detangler on Hand.

Lack of moisture combined with friction from hats, scarves, and coats often cause static hair as well as tangling and matting. Make sure to separate your hair and rest it towards the front of your body to minimize friction when wearing a hat or coat with a hood. If you can, try and carry a detangler or leave-in conditioner and a brush to use throughout the day to remove any tangles before they form.

Overall, winter can be rough on your extensions. It’s up to you to moisture, maintain and repeat to protect Full Widthyour investment.