How to Start Using Hair Extensions Without Damaging Your Hair

Hair extensions are only growing more popular with every passing year and 2021 is no exception. If you haven’t yet joined in the trend that’s hot with celebrities, now is the time to start. But you also need to remember that while hair extensions you can buy today are amazing and can look completely natural you also need to use them right. Otherwise, you might damage your hair greatly. So, use the following guide to avoid making any mistakes when applying different types of hair extensions.

Invest in high-quality from the beginning

Today you can buy hundreds of hair extensions online and apply them yourself. The majority of them are very easy to use and don’t require any special skills or tools. However, it’s essential to understand that when not used right, any hair extensions can do a lot of damage. In some cases, it can get so bad you’ll develop a case of hair loss.

It’s the same when considering the quality of extensions. For example, cheap tape extensions might contain poor-quality glue that will get stuck in your hair or burn and damage it severely.

Therefore, the first thing you need to do is to buy top-grade extensions. Usually, it’s best to invest in salon-grade products as you can be sure of their quality. You can find many types of those online so you can buy them piece by piece to experiment with. Of course, you can go all out and get an entire kit of pro-grade extensions, for example Hey Stacey Starter Bundle comes with a selection of all colors, lengths and types. These sets are used in salons, so one should set you up with enough extensions to create any look you can think of.

This type of professional-grade package should include everything you need. Therefore, you won’t have to invest in additional supplies.

That said, remember that some types of extensions should only be applied by professionals. For example, microbeads and weaves are only safe when made by an experienced person with specialized training. These are long-term extensions you can wear for months at a time. But you’ll need to do maintenance on them regularly to reposition the connections.

These types of extensions are expensive because of all work involved in their maintenance. Therefore, consider your budget before you decide what type of hair extensions to use.

Remember to remove the extensions when needed

Even products advertised as “permanent” hair extensions can only be worn for the maximum of 8-12 weeks. After this time, you’ll need to remove them and either reapply or let your hair take a break before doing it.

Simple tape and clip-in extensions that you can apply at home can only be used for a short time. You shouldn’t wear clip-ins for more than 12 hours. At the very least, you’ll need to remove them before going to sleep. Tape extensions can last for up to eight weeks. At this point, you can remove them completely or reapply them without issues if your hair takes to them well.

It’s imperative to comply with the requirements regarding the length of time you can wear extensions. It’s because if you go overboard, they will start to genuinely damage your hair and follicles.

Please bear in mind that extensions aren’t likely to fall out but they will look less natural when your hair grows out. The main reason to remove them is that they will start to impede the blood flow in the scalp to a severe degree. This is a big problem with more permanent extensions, like the weave. If this happens, you might develop bold spots and the hair loss might be permanent.

Learn how to maintain your extensions

The final big mistake to avoid is not learning how to maintain the type of extensions you choose in advance. If you do it in a salon, the stylist should give you instructions. But if you apply them at home, be sure to research the type of extensions yourself to learn all you can about it.

Usually, human hair extensions can be cared for the same way as your natural hair. However, synthetic extensions might require specialized haircare or styling products. No matter what type you choose, you should also switch to a sulfate-free shampoo and a hydrating conditioner. In general, your hair will require more hydration to stay healthy with extensions. Therefore, you might need to change your regular products completely.