written by kimberly gueldner, founder & owner voël hair extensions
BEST PRODUCTS AND BRUSHES TO USE AND TIPS & TRICKS TO KEEP THEM LOOKING LIKE NEW
I find that new hair extension clients can be surprised about the maintenance and extra care needed to keep extensions looking fresh. “It is human hair after all, so why wouldn’t my normal routine be enough?” That’s a good point but since you’re increasing (sometimes doubling) how much hair you have, you need to make a few adjustments to your regime and you’ll actually save some time while getting the most life out of each set of extensions. With these tips you wont have to wash your hair as much (less shampooing is very in right now and for good reason!) and you’ll notice your daily styling will last longer than without extensions.
+ BE GENTLE!
+ Yes, please. I’ve found that women with fine hair are usually rougher on their hair. I call it “vigorous brushing”, where you vigorously rake through your hair with a brush. “Why so rough,” I say “what did your hair ever do to you?” So I can’t stress this enough, brush gently. And more importantly, only brush your roots after they are dry. Because Voël Extensions are applied with very small beads, if you brush hard when the root is wet the beads will get snagged. And even if you have k-tips or tape-ins, rough brushing can actually cause the adhesives to break your hair.
+ USE PRODUCT
+ I know it seems pretty basic but a lot of my customers don’t think to, and many more don’t even use conditioner (which is a bad habit). You’d never leave the house without moisturizer on your face, it’s the same for your hair. Hair products protect your hair from the elements (heat, humidity, sun, air pollution) just like a face cream with SPF. Everyone should use a hair mask but also a cream or oil after your hair is towel dried. Extension hair can dry out very easily because it doesn’t have live cuticles, so keeping them hydrated will make them last so much longer. If you have fine hair, like the bulk of my clients, make sure you’re not just using product on the top but are applying it mid-shaft all the way to the ends.
• PRO TIP: JUST WASH THE TOP •
You can just wash your top or bangs if they start to look greasy in between full washes. My Lead Stylist, Christina, calls this “washing the toupee.” Section your top out, put the rest in a mid/low bun and tip your head forward in the shower (or your bathroom sink if it’s big enough). Shampoo and condition the top, towel dry and restyle. It’ll look like you just got a fresh blowout!
+ My favS
+ My go-to brand for all product is Milbon. I have been using this line for years on extensions and wigs and it never disappoints. Milbon is only available for purchase in salons including the Voël Hair Studio. I’ll be writing another post soon about why I love them so much, which products we use in the backbar and carry in the salon. Not all products work well with extension hair, if your hair is matting or drying out try switching up products to see if it helps.
+ Another favorite at Voël is L’Oreal Wonder Water. It’s basically a gloss you use in the shower after you shampoo and before you condition. It coats and strengthens your natural hair and the extension hair while adding great shine.
+ My favorite kind of brush to use is a mixed bristle brush. I developed a brush for Voël Extensions for my clients that is similar to the classic mixed bristle design but without balls at the end of the bristle. Those little balls can snag and pull the hair and often break off anyway. Also my bristles are soft, cause stiff bristles can damage hair as well. If you brush too hard and too close to the root, a stiff bristle brush can snag hair right out of the beads. Mine has softer bristles that wont snag the beads and will gently detangle without breakage.
• CLIENT TIP: CONDITION PRE SHOWER •
+ Sounds backward but it really works. If you apply a small amount of conditioner on dry hair before you shower, it helps tame your hair and keeps it smooth before you shampoo. It’s a great trick and I highly recommend it to clients with a half or full head of extensions.
+ bedtime
When sleeping there are a few things you can do to help keep your extensions lux and cause less friction while you sleep
+ Silk pillow cases. Old school, very effective and oh so classy.
+ Hair wrap or silk scarf/turban. If you have curly/frizzy hair, it’s a great way to combat the tossing and turning.
+ Wear braids to bed. Something I do often to wakeup tamed and with a nice wave. You can wake up like this!
•HAIR EXTENSTION CARE - STEP BY STEP•
+ Pre-shower brush (gently please). Better to have no tangle before you shower. Optional: add conditioner to mid shaft and ends before stepping in.
+ Always shampoo hair from top down. NEVER ball hair up in circular motion. It’s best to direct your hair and the water downward when shampooing and scrub your scalp with your fingertips. Rinse well.
+ Apply Wonder Water all over, leave in for 8 seconds and rinse.
+ Apply conditioner and rinse.
+ Towel dry. Split you hair into two sections down the middle. Apply a dime size of Milbon Oil for Fine Hair on one side, repeat on the other side.
+ Gently brush or comb. Starting at the ends and working your way up but DON’T BRUSH THE ROOTS! Stop right below the beads.
+ Rough dry or air dry till about 80% dry.
+ Blow dry smoothing hair with a round brush if you want smoother ends.
+ Style as usual.
Disclaimer: As an affiliate, I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases made through some links provided in this article. Please note that this does not affect the price you pay for the product, and I only recommend products that I personally love and believe will be beneficial to my readers.
