Hair extensions are the perfect way to add length and volume to your locks. They allow you to instantly transform your look and create many different hairstyles that you couldn’t otherwise pull off with short or thin hair. Yet, while hair extensions have many benefits, it’s important to avoid some common mistakes so your extensions can look fresh and last longer.
Read on to discover the most common blunders people make when using hair extensions and how to avoid them.
Buying Low-Quality Extensions
Many people buy low-quality extensions just because they’re cheap. Remember that not all hair extension brands are created equal, and a deal that seems too good to be true is likely a sign of poor quality.
Low-quality extensions are neither durable nor natural-looking. These products are more likely to tangle, shed, and become matted. Plus, they expose your natural hair to damage.
To avoid this mistake, be sure to buy high-quality Remy hair extensions from trusted brands like Zala hair extensions. While good quality extensions are an investment, they’re worth it because they look natural, blend seamlessly with your hair, and last longer.
Brushing Aggressively
Brushing your extensions aggressively can cause the hair to shed or become matted. And that’s not all; it can also expose your natural hair to damage, too. Brushing aggressively will also reduce your extensions’ lifespan and affect their shine and texture.
To avoid these issues, always be gentle when brushing your extensions. It’s a good idea to use a wide-tooth comb or a brush made specifically for hair extensions. While brushing, start at the bottom of the extensions and work your way toward the roots, slowly and carefully removing any tangles.
Using the Wrong Products
Products that contain harsh chemicals like parabens, alcohol, and sulfates can damage your hair extensions. These products promote dryness and make your extensions brittle and more prone to breaking.
What’s more, using products that are not made specifically for hair extensions, such as heavy conditioners or oil, can cause your extensions to become greasy and weighed down. Be sure to choose light products made from natural ingredients instead of dangerous chemicals.
Sleeping With Clip-in Extensions On
Clip-in extensions are popular among most people because they’re temporary, meaning you can put them on and off whenever you want. No long-term commitment to extensions here! But many people don’t take off their clip-in hair extensions when sleeping.
Sleeping with clip-in extensions on can expose the extensions and your natural hair to damage. The friction against your pillow can result in hair breakage, besides affecting the texture and shine of the extensions. With that in mind, you should always remove your extensions before going to bed. Doing so will prolong the extensions’ life and retain their fresh and silky look and feel.
Using Hot Tools Too Often
While human hair extensions can bear heat to some degree, using hot tools too often can damage them over time. The heat from tools like flat irons and curling wands can cause the extensions to become dry and brittle, leading to breakage — just like your own natural hair.
Make sure to limit using heat tools on your extensions as much as possible. Use them only when you’re in a rush and have no other options. And when you do use them, set the temperature as low as possible and apply a heat protectant to your hair ahead of time.
Washing Them Too Often
While you’ll need to wash your extensions on occasion so they look fresh and clean, washing them too often can cause damage. Overwashing can dehydrate hair extensions, making them dry and brittle. Also, excessive washing can lead to tangling and shedding. To avoid this, only wash your extensions when they are visibly dirty or oily.
Installing Extensions too High on Your Head
And finally, installing your extensions too high on your head can cause damage to your natural hair. Clip-in extensions, when installed too high on your head, will pull on your natural hair, resulting in breakage.
As such, you must avoid applying hair extensions higher than your eyebrow level. Make sure to leave about half an inch of space between the clip-in extensions and your scalp. Doing so will help keep your natural hair from being tugged on too tightly.