Aftercare Instructions   

:: WASHING ::

It is recommended that you do not wash your hair for at least 48 hours after the extensions are fitted. This allows time for the glue/tape to properly set. Washing your hair sooner can cause the bonds to soften, become weak, or even fall out.

You should wash your as least as possible, once or twice a week is best as the less stress put on the extensions the better, and the less drying through heat the better. Always use a hair extension shampoo to avoid softening the bonds. You can use conditioner on the hair but do not put any conditioner on the bonds. Do not rub or twist the hair as this can cause it to tangle. Always pat wet hair gently with a towel.

If you find your own hair needs to be washed more often as it becomes greasy very quickly then tie the extensions back in a ponytail, wash the top of your own hair and then style as normal, this will give the appearance of a hair wash without interfering with the extensions too much.

:: BRUSHING :: 

When brushing extensions it is best to use a hair extension brush as this will cause minimal damage to your extensions. A hard brush can often pull hair out. Do not use brushes with balls on the end of the bristles as these will rip and tear at the extension hair. You will lose strands of hair whilst brushing and it may look like a lot, but bear in mind that everyone loses around 100 hairs everyday naturally, and these are hairs which have not been caught up properly in the glue and have come loose. Try to sleep with your hair in a loose plait as this will minimise the chance of knots.

:: STYLING ::

The hair can be straightened, curled, cut, and blow dried. When straightening, try to avoid straightening over the bonds/tape although you will probably find that this part of your hair is missed anyway due to it being so close to the scalp. Hair can also be cut and styled but when  cutting please take into consideration where the bonds/tape are so you do not get the hair cut in a way which will expose the bonds. You can dye hair but do a strand test first as different hair types dye differently e.g. your own hair may not dye the same as the extension hair or the extension hair may not dye as expected. You can however dye your roots while extensions are in. The best way to do this is to dye around the hairline (where hair is seen if in a ponytail) and down the centre parting. Usually this is the only hair seen. If however, you wish to dye all of your roots then this is also possible but remember that the less stress put on the extensions the better.

:: DAMAGE ::

Do not believe all of the horror stories you hear. As long as extensions are properly maintained and properly removed they will cause little or no damage to your own hair (depending on the quality of your hair to begin with).  Picking and rough brushing causes the most damage. Some people find that extensions have helped their own hair grow quite a bit over the time they are in and also improved the condition of it. Please take extra care in all aspects of maintenance if you have naturally fine or thin hair as the extensions and bonds do put a slight added strain on the roots. By being as gentle as possible minimises damage to your own hair, and although extensions should cause little or no damage, it helps to treat them with respect as it is an un-natural process which may take your scalp time to adjust to.   

Beware of hair extensionists who use silicon based glue as this glue is extremely hard to remove and may cause damage when removing. The glue I use is Keratin based, which is a natural product and is very easy to remove. The removal solution just disolves the bond, turns it powdery, and lets the extension hair slip away freely. This glue causes no damage to your natural hair and is painless to remove.

:: MAINTENANCE ::

Some people choose to leave extensions for around 2 months without maintenance and then have them removed and a full set put back in. It is recommended that you have a maintenance appointment around halfway through your extensions at week 4-6 and have a certain amount removed and replaced, and have more added. Maintenance allows extensions to stay looking good for longer as it creates a cycle, as there are always new bonds with new hair added and old ones which may have malted or been picked at can be removed.  It is not advisable to keep extensions in for longer than 3 months as your re-growth can get matted and make them harder to remove after this period.  It is also good to remove them after this time to give your hair a good wash and colour if needed.

:: REMOVAL ::

If you choose to have your extensions removed elsewhere please ask for a removal info sheet. I sell removal products if you wish to do it yourself but you must be very patient and gentle so as to not damage your hair. If you have another salon remove them then make sure the correct remover is used as most removers are designed for different brands / types of glue. I can sell a bottle of remover for your salon to use if required. Please make sure your chosen salon removes them properly as I will not be held responsible for any damage caused. Extension removal should cause very little or no pain at all if done correctly and it should never hurt or tug at your own hair and roots. This is what causes damage and is the reason extensions get a bad reputation for ruining hair.  As the salon didn't fit the extensions they may be rough during removal then place blame on the extensionist for any damage caused. Please do not hesitate to ask for a free removal guidance sheet.

:: GENERAL ::

Extensions need maintaining and looking after - you cannot have extensions because you think it is an easy way out of doing your own hair. They need conditioning, gentle brushing and straightening. You have to be willing to spend time on them and have patience to look after them otherwise they will not stay in good condition. Longer extensions tend to be harder to look after than shorter ones and at first it may be difficult to sleep as your head is not used to the bonds. It will not always be like this, after a few days you should not even know they are in.