Hair extensions are an investment, and you want them to look perfect for as long as possible – so it can be annoying when they start drying out and getting frizzy. Extension experts Cliphair reveal how to revive dry hair and keep your extensions (and the rest of your hair!) looking their best.
Why So Dry?
Various factors can, and will, dry out your hair and hair extensions. From things you can control, like over-washing, and things you can’t, like cold weather.
Your scalp produces sebum and natural oils that keep your locks healthy and moisturised, so washing your hair too often can strip your scalp and hair of the natural oils, causing it to dry out. But no matter what type of extensions you have, they just won’t benefit from those oils as your natural hair does. Using a hairbrush with natural fibres will help to distribute the natural oils along the length of your hair for greater moisturisation along the hair strands, plus less oily build-up at the roots.
Having poor-quality hair extensions is one of the top reasons for damage and drying, and synthetic or overprocessed extensions are more like to become dry quicker. Lighter shades like a bright blonde may have been processed more to achieve the desired colour, and would therefore be more susceptible to dryness.
In the winter, your hair gets even drier, with cold air outside mixed with hot central heating. The cold air causes your hair cuticles to lift slightly, which means moisture won’t remain locked into the hair, and it will become drier. When your hair isn’t well moisturised, it’ll become dull and frizzy so make sure you combat the dryness with a really good conditioner.
When it comes to conditioners, avoid products with drying chemicals like alcohol denat, benzyl alcohol, and ethanol – but not all alcohols are bad! Some are fatty alcohols that are excellent moisturisers, so look for hydrating ingredients like cetyl, cetearyl, stearyl, and lauryl alcohols, which come from vegetable oils like coconut and palm kernels.
Read: 5 Ideal tips on how to look after dull, dry damaged hair
Oils
One of the easiest ways to bring your extensions back to life is with oils, replacing the natural oils your hair benefits from. But not all oils are right for your hair and extensions, as some can just coat the hair to mask the dryness temporarily but not actually do any repair. Using too much coconut oil can promote a protein build-up, making it brittle and prone to further damage from heat and styling. So what oils are best to use?
Coconut oil is full of hydrating omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E and can be helpful in the fight against dry hair – just don’t use it too often! Olive oil contains fatty acids and vitamin E, and emollients like oleic acid and squalene. Avocado oil is high in minerals, antioxidants, and fats which can help repair dry and damaged hair. Jojoba oil contains vitamins A, B, C, and E, plus minerals like zinc and copper. Argan oil is very moisturising, with a high vitamin E content and fatty acids that nourish the hair.
Treatments For Dry Hair Extensions
Mask
Gently brush your extensions to remove any tangles and knots.
Apply a hair conditioning mask to your dry hair, combing through to make sure all hair is covered. If you have tapes or nano-rings, make sure you don’t get any conditioner too close to the bonds as it can cause them to slip out. If you have clip-ins, the treatment can go all the way up to the clips.
If you are reviving non-permanent extensions, place them on a towel and allow them to soak in the conditioner.
Wash out the mask with a sulphate-free shampoo and conditioner – wash thoroughly to prevent product build-up on the hair.
Apply a leave-in conditioner, moisture spray, and heat protection.
Let the hair dry naturally until about 80% dry, then dry and style as desired – but keep the temperature as low as possible!
Boiling Pot Method
This method, as the name suggests, uses boiling water – so best for extensions that can be removed like clip-ins.
Bring a small pan of water to a boil and pour it into a bowl. Add ten to twenty drops of your chosen oil – argan, coconut, and even extra virgin olive oil works well for this – plus two tablespoons of conditioner.
Place your dry extensions into the water and let them sit until the water is cool, then remove them and place them on a towel to dry overnight.
Hot Water Cleanse & Oil
Pour hot water into a bowl, with a small amount of sulphate-free shampoo. Place the extensions in the bowl and gently massage them until clean, then rinse.
Pour fresh hot water, with a few drops of natural oil and leave-in conditioner and place the extensions in the water again. Let the extensions sit in the oily water overnight.
Gently comb the next morning, while the extensions are still wet. Rinse with warm water and place on a towel to air dry.
Homemade Treatments
Honey
Honey is a humectant, meaning it draws moisture in – as hyaluronic acid does for your skincare.
Mix 4 tablespoons of honey with 3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil and mix until smooth. Apply to freshly shampooed, towel-dried hair. Leave the mixture on your hair for at least an hour before rinsing.
Avocado
Avocado is full of vitamins A, D, E, and B6, as well as protein and amino acids. Peel one ripe avocado and blend it, slowly adding water until you reach a creamy consistency. Again, apply to freshly shampooed and towel-dried hair and leave for an hour to let the oils fully penetrate the hair.