AFTERCARE
Prestige Hair Extensions can be washed, dried, straightened and curled in almost exactly the same way your natural hair. The chemicals you apply to your extensions in addition to the heat used to style your hair can cause damage over time (details below). Correct aftercare will prolong the condition of your new hair extensions.
Real Human Hair Extensions can be heat styled at any temperature but high temperatures can cause colour fading in the same way your own hair colour fades with heat.
All hair unless stated as "Virgin" is coloured with various hair dyes. Sometimes these hair dyes can be seen washing out on the first couple of washes - unless the colour fades this is not a fault but can cause people with allergies to react to the hair dye - due to this we do not claim our extensions to be suitable for people with allergies to hair dye.
Hair extensions (especially blonde) can discolour over time or when exposed to various environmental factors and even standard beauty products. Extra care should be taken to avoid the extensions coming into contact with sun protection creams and false tans which can rapidly change the hair to a pink/peach/copper colour which can be very difficult to remove. Argan oil can also stain the hair especially when combined with heat. When travelling abroad high mineral content in the water and swimming pools can also stain blonde extensions. This is not a fault with the extensions and will not qualify for a refund or replacement.
Extensions require ongoing maintainence and refitting sometimes at short notice in the event of an accident (for example - using conditioner on tapes or micro rings makes them more likely to fall out) If the client can not afford to pay for unexpected extra maintainence or removal they are not a good candidate for extensions.
APPLICATION
Do not mix different brands of hair extensions as this increases tangling and matting. No two brands are the same.
Your hair must be clean and dry before application of extensions. Deep cleansing products can be used on your natural hair before extensions have been applied. Do not use conditioner or other styling products such as serum, heat protector, hair spray ect prior to fitting, these can make the bonds / rings slip.
Application takes upto an hour. Bonds will need to have 48/72 hours to seal - at this point you must NOT wash hair. (if the client ignores this - it will result in no fault but there own if bonds slip - Stylist will charge additionally to rebond & refit)
Maintenance
Extensions will need to be checked for any issues. It’s normal to lose a few bonds and these can be refitted..
-Your natural hair will grow approximately ½ inch a month so your extensions will need refitting as they grow away from your roots. Maintenance appointments are performed between 4-12 weeks depending on the type of extensions you have fitted and your hair type. Your stylist will advise you of the exact time frames - being 6-8 weeks depending on clients Hair Growth.
Washing and Conditioning
-It is best to use professional shampoo and conditioners not cheaper over the counter products, the quality of the formulas vary greatly.
-Avoid non professional products containing sulphate, paraben or silicone after application. These ingredients depending on their formulas can strip the hair extensions of oils and diminish life expectancy. Some harsh products like anti dandruff shampoos can also strip the colour from your extensions. Professional products with these ingredients usually have higher quality formulas and are often ok to use with your hair extensions. Please ask us for any advice choosing products or try our tested products in the Aftercare Section.
-If you have had bonds fitted, do not wash your hair for 48 hours to allow the bonds to settle in. the longer you wait the better.
-Do not wash hair extensions every day, if needed use dry shampoo or only wash the section of your natural hair at the top.
-Brush your hair before washing to minimise tangling.
-Use a shower, do not wash your hair in the bath or over a sink. Gently apply shampoo in downwards motion to reduce tangling. Rinse away all traces before using plenty of conditioner avoiding the roots and bonds.
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DRYING
- NEVER go to sleep (or tie hair in a bun) while your extensions are wet, they WILL matt together.
- Do not towel dry the extensions with a scrubbing motion. Instead, blot and squeeze the hair in a towel to remove excess moisture.
- Do not leave your hair to dry naturally, the moisture will soften the bonds and cause them to fall out. It will also create “fluffing” of your extensions. Heat seals the hair cuticle creating a nice sleek look, so extensions should be blow dried then straightened as necessary (using a thermal heat protector designed for extensions).
- It is important that you use a hair dryer to dry the Keratin bonds after washing but use a cool / low setting, excessive heat can melt the bonds.
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Brushing
It’s ok to brush hair extensions from root to tip as the sections above the bond will grow with your hair, if it is not brushed it will start to Matt. ALWAYS use a cushioned, bristled brush or Tangle Teaser available from all good hair and beauty shops. DO NOT over brush the hair extensions when wet. If the extensions tangle, do not pull, carefully brush from the ends of the hair gradually moving upwards. A wide tooth comb is recommended to use when wet . Never backcomb your hair.
STYLING
It is ok to straighten or curl your hair extensions, please keep any heat appliances away from the bond / attachment as they will melt if you get too close
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Regular aftercare
- Regulary separate the bonds. Hair that sheds naturally on a daily basis can become trapped in the bonds and causing matting. Skipping this step is what causes the birds nest or dreadlock appearance.
-Extension hair, although human no longer receives oils from your scalp so needs revitalising with specialist products to ensure the hair looks and feels silky. This should be done about once a week.
-It is vital to only use compatible products with your hair extensions. Products for natural hair contain silicone coating and oils which are too heavy for extensions and WILL destroy the appearance of the hair.
- When playing sports or going to bed, tie in a loose plait or scrunchy pony tail to avoid matting and minimise excessive brushing in the morning.
- Do not pick at your bonds and always have them removed by a professional if you need to, or risk snapping and losing your own hair.
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PRODUCTS
-Your hair is built up of keratin and treated with its own natural oils system called sebum. Sebum coats your natural hair assisted by brushing, this process is disturbed by hair extensions so a little extra help is needed.
- to moisturise your extensions a conditioning serum works best. Oils on their own form a barrier creating a silky look but a good quality serum / oil blend will also be absorbed into the hair.
-Do not use hair oils near your roots or bonds, use a pea size amount on the ends of the extension hair only. Ensure the oil is properly washed out to prevent product build up.
-Always use a heat protector that’s compatible with extensions before styling.
Swimming and Holidays
It’s important to keep your hair extensions up and out of the water when in a swimming pool or the sea. The salt and chlorine will severely dry out your extensions. Other chemicals present can react with lighter hair extensions changing their colour to pink, green or orange. Use a swimming cap if necessary and / or apply conditioner as a barrier. If you do accidently get seawater or chlorine on your hair extensions - wash immediately / never allow pool or seawater to dry into your extensions.
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Colouring Hair Extensions
Colouring, Tinting, Dying or Bleaching of the Hair Extensions is not recommended. Hair Extensions have already been through a lot of processing. This makes it difficult to change their colour. Although the extensions can be dyed successfully with some salon semi permanent colour houses, this reduces their life expectancy and can have varied or unpredictable results. The darker shades usually will not lighten. The blondes having already been bleached may not reach the colour depth required or fade very quickly. If necessary, dye your own hair to match the extensions.
