How Do I Care for My Hair Extensions At Night?

Hey we get it, the day is done, you’re winding down from another day with gorgeous hair (thanks extensions) and you just want to hop into bed and slip into slumber. But before you do, did you know that the morning and evening are when your hair extensions are most subject to damage? Check out our 3 Simple Steps to Perfect Locks At Night:

Step 1: Brushing is essential, make time for it.

Before you head to bed, we can’t tell you enough how important it is to brush those hair extensions! Here’s why:

• Distributes beneficial hair oils from your scalp to your hair extensions.
• Gently detangles the hair and prevents knots, frizz and matting.

Now before you get brushing with that boar bristle brush, not ANY brush will do. Loop Brushes are SPECIFICALLY designed for hair extensions as they use loops instead of bristles. The result? No tugging on your extension bonds as the hair slips and slides through the brush without any friction.

One last thing: never brush your hair when it's wet!

The Two Step “Damage Free” Brushing Technique:

1. Start from the END of your hair first, which might sound out, but you want to address tangles in your hair first so it won’t tug on your bonds. Simply separate the hair into horizontal sections and brush each section at a time.
2. Finish by gently brushing from the root of your scalp to the ends in long, fluid gentle motions to really help distribute the natural oils of your scalp and real hair into your extensions. Continue until your hair looks smooth, shiny and stunning!

Step 2: Showering before bed? Hold up…

• Earlier when we talked about most hair extensions happening in the morning and night, one of the primary culprits is shower routine. Even your own real hair is most prone to damage when it's wet, and with extensions pulling, tugging and “lather and balling” can weaken your bonds. Here’s what to do:
• In the shower, use the right shampoo for your hair type (designed for hair extensions) and only shampoo your hair gently IN BETWEEN your extension rows. 
• If your hair is a little tangled, you can also use a loop brush to pull the shampoo gently through your lengths and ends.
• Curly haired gals take note: leave that shampoo off the ends of your hair to keep your locks hydrated without drying them out.  

The RIGHT way to condition…

Deep conditioners are a lifeline and can be used once a week to restore hydration and elasticity to your hair extensions. Apply it only from the mid to ends and brush it through thoroughly but gently. 

• For tape-ins: don’t apply conditioner to your scalp as it can cause the tape adhesive to weaken and slip off over time. 
• Section your hair in between your wefts with a wet Loop Brush or a wide tooth comb. 
• Let the conditioner sit at least 5 minutes before you rinse it out to get maximum benefit.
• Rinse it out gently (remember not to ball your hair).

Use a microfiber towel to dry your hair. Make sure your hair extensions are 85% to 90% dry. The reason this is important is that going to bed with wet hair extensions can lead to possible mold, mildew or hair breakage. 

Step 3: Wrap, Tuck or Braid that hair before hitting the pillow!

If you love clean, crisp cotton pillowcases, it’s time to tuck them away. Cotton fabric is coarse even with fabric softener and the tossing and turning in your sleep will rough up the cuticle and lead to mechanical hair damage, tangling and frizz.

Satin pillowcases on the other hand have a fine weave that won’t grab your hair, gently cradling it while you sleep. We also recommend you braid your hair before bed to keep it clustered and composed. The bonus to this is that in the morning you’ll have some lovely wavy hair from that overnight braid.

The Satin Bonnet Option

Alternatively, if you can’t break up with cotton and don’t have time to braid, a satin bonnet is the next best thing. You simply tuck your gorgeous hair gently up into the bonnet, fasten and head to sleep. The fine weave is just like the pillowcase, so it won’t harm your hair extensions. 

Follow these guidelines and you’ll keep your extensions damage free!

Sweet dreams!