Whether you’re rocking clip-ins, weaves, or wigs, neglecting your hair while you have hair extensions on is never a good idea. Your curls end up brittle and dry, and they might even start to break off by the time you take down the style. But if we’ve all been guilty of making that mistake at least a few times, either out of sheer laziness or not knowing what to do. In this article, we’re here to simplify your hair routine while rocking extensions. Keep scrolling for easy tips on keeping your curls moisturised.
1. Prep Properly Before The Install
The most important step for making sure your hair is moisturised with extensions is the prep before the install. If your hair is clean and hydrated before the extensions are installed, it will reduce the possibility of extreme dryness and breakage. Start by cleansing with a hydrating shampoo and follow up with a deep conditioner to infuse your curls with long-lasting moisture, and then apply a leave-in conditioner to soften your curls and lock in the hydration before the extensions are installed.
2. Use Lightweight Moisturisers
Hair extensions do not always give you full access to your strands once they are installed, so it is very easy for your natural curls to dry out if all you’re doing is rubbing thick moisturisers on them. Instead, opt for water-based, lightweight leave-in sprays or hair mists that can easily penetrate the extensions and reach your hair. Doing this will also make sure you do not end up with a buildup of heavy creams and butters that make your hair flaky and cause further dryness.
3. Nourish Your Scalp With Oils And Serums
It’s not just your hair strands that need moisture; your scalp needs hydration too, especially when it's covered with hair extensions, not getting enough airflow. The natural oils in your scalp often travel down your strands to help lubricate your curls with natural hydration, but if your scalp is dry, it will leave your curls even drier and likely result in itching and flaking. Using an applicator bottle with a nozzle tip or a dropper that can easily fit through your extensions, apply lightweight oils like jojoba, grapeseed, and almond oil on your scalp and gently massage them in for a few minutes, at least once a week. You can also use a dedicated scalp serum, but ensure it is not too thick.
4. Don’t Neglect The Extensions
Hair extensions—especially good quality human hair extensions like To All My Black Girls Extensions act like sponges if they are left brittle and dry. They pull the moisture out of your natural hair and leave your curls parched and brittle. So, although it’s easy to focus only on your real hair, it is important to give the extensions some love as well. They do not need to be moisturised as often as your real hair, but applying a hair serum or leave-in spray keeps them smooth, shiny and well-hydrated and also ensures they do not pull moisture away from your curls.
5. Don’t Skip Co-washing
We know it’s a common myth that you should not get your hair wet while wearing extensions, and while this can be true for extensions like tape-ins with adhesives, it is not entirely true for all extensions. You can definitely wash your hair, just be sure to use a gentle conditioner instead of a shampoo. Co-washing with a conditioner after a few weeks of wearing your extensions will refresh your hair and scalp. Just be sure to use a lightweight conditioner that can be easily rinsed off. Additionally, focus on only your scalp when washing and rinse thoroughly before using a blow dryer to dry the hair from root to ends.
6. Don’t Wear Your Extensions For Too Long
It can be very tempting to delay your touch-up or take-down appointments, especially if your extensions still look good, but if you want healthy, hydrated hair, avoid wearing your extensions for more than 6-8 weeks. Most temporary extension methods like clip-ins can even be taken down after a few days, but if you’re rocking long-lasting extensions like microlinks, do not leave them on for too long. The longer you push the takedown, the less your hair gets a proper hydrating wash day to keep it nourished. This leaves your curls super dry, matted, and by the time you eventually remove the extensions, you will end up with a tangled mess and a lot of breakage.
7. Protect Your Hair With A Bonnet
Nighttime hair care is where most people mess things up, but all you really need is a good protective regimen. If you have natural hair, you already know cotton pillowcases are not great for your curls and often leave them dry, frizzy, and tangled. Well, the problem doesn’t disappear just because you have hair extensions on; the friction from the cotton pillowcases can still dry out your hair and the hair extensions, resulting in a frizzy mess. So, it is extremely important to cover your hair with a high-quality bonnet like our satin bonnet that prevents friction and keeps moisture in your hair for longer.
So there you have it, all you need to keep your natural curls hydrated and healthy while rocking your extensions. Your routine does not have to be complicated; just follow the tips we’ve discussed in this article, and your hair will be in good shape. Most importantly, be sure to use good-quality extensions that don’t shed or tangle easily, and that can make it easy for your knots and split ends to form on your hair. Opt for high-quality human hair extensions like our afro-textured extensions, which come in different curl types to match every natural hair type.