Megan CurtinHair extensions are among the more expensive splurges a woman has in her beauty routine. But, unfortunately, not having the right products to take care of them is throwing away your money…and hair.
Using the right tools and products is essential to keep the hair in the best possible condition, which will allow you to have them for years. They will make all the difference in whether your extensions will tangle or be soft and manageable.
Below are all the must-have products to keep your hair extensions in the best possible state.
From someone who has had every type of extension and has their cosmetology license, I will help you have the best hair ever!
Contents
What products should you not use in hair extensions?
Knowing which products to steer clear of is just as important as knowing which ones to use.
Avoid all hair products that contain sulfate and alcohol and any consequences that have the following on the ingredients list SLS, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Lau.
You can find the ingredient list on the back of the product.
You will also want to use professional-grade products and nothing from your local grocery store. Products that aren’t professional contain wax and other fillers that are harmful to hair in general, especially on extensions.
Don’t Use SPF Spray
If you use an aerosol SPF spray make sure you don’t get it on your extensions because if they are blonde the SPF will turn them orange.
Use Heat Protectant Sprays
Heat protectant products are crucial and one of the most essential products you can use. It is wise to use it before blow-drying and using any hot tool.
Using these sprays is critical for your natural hair and keeps your extensions in tip-top shape. Unfortunately, heat is one of the worst things for your extensions, and once heat damage occurs, it is irreversible.
What can you use instead of a heat protectant spray? Nothing, the answer is nothing. Some search results will tell you to use oil, but that can be worse for your hair than using nothing.
Does heat protectant spray actually work? Duh. Using a heat protectant works as a barrier, keeping a layer over the hair. They are made
Why is heat protectant so important for hair? Keratin found within your hair can get damaged at just 160°C, which means that your mane is weakened every time you use a heated appliance, making it less resistant to styling and brushing. This keratin is found in hair attached to your head and in human hair extensions; therefore, you need to protect it at all costs.
Best Hair Products For Extensions
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | DETAILS | |
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Use On Dry Or Wet Hair  |
BondiBoost |
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Best Before Blow Drying  |
Lange Glass Hair Thermal Blowout Primer |
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| My Top Bran Pick |
Kenra – Silkening Heat Crème |
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CHI – Iron Guard Thermal Protection Spray |
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Perfect Defense Heat Protectant |
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Wet Style / Detangler Brush
A wet or detangler brush will be your new best friend in helping you keep your extensions tangle-free. It’s essential to keep your hair tangle-free so that you don’t develop any knots. Knots can result in pulling on the hair weft, which will ruin the extensions.
Knots also lead to more shedding because they pull down the hair on the weft.
In a few cases, knots or tangles are so bad they need to be cut out, resulting in holes throughout the extension wefts, thus causing bald spots. Typically, you will have to get new extensions if you get nasty knots.
I suggest this over a wide-tooth comb because combs can begin to pull on the extensions causing hair to be ripped out from the weft.
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | DETAILS | |
|---|---|---|---|
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EPIC Professional Quick Dry |
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| Multiple Sizes |
FingerBrush Vented Hair Brush |
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Cult Following  |
Crave Naturals Glide Thru |
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Wet Brush Hair Brush |
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TANGLE TEEZER The Original Detangling Hairbrush |
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I recommend getting two of these, so you always have them on hand. I keep one in my bathroom and one in my gym bag.
You want to brush your hair anytime it gets wet, including when it gets wet from sweat after the gym. I love having one of these in my gym bag, so I am ready to brush it out after my workouts.
If you go to the beach or spend a ton of time in the pool than a brush is a must! Even if you don’t think your hair needs a brush through it’s a good idea to take a second and brush through it anyways.
Detangler/ Leave-In Condtioner Spray
You should always use a detangler and leave-in conditioning spray on your extensions alongside your detangler brush. Without a detangler spray, a detangler brush can tug on the weft of the extension.
Using one of these sprays is an easy step that helps the brush to easily and gently glide through your hair.
Most detanglers also work as leave-in conditioners, which means they will help keep your hair hydrated and prevent dry ends.
The most crucial part of using these sprays is to do so right by the root of the weft.
As always, remember to brush from the ends up, or you will have a hell of a time brushing out the knots.
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | DETAILS | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Knotty To Nice Conditioning Detangler |
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My Top Pick  |
UNITE Hair 7SECONDS Detangler |
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OUAI Detangling and Frizz Fighting Leave In Conditioner |
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| Clean Product |
The Honest Company Conditioning Detangler & Fortifying Spray |
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Moroccanoil All-in-One Leave-In Conditioner |
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If you have extensions that you clip in and out, you can spray directly onto the extensions.
Hair Oil
Hair oil is a lifesaver for hair in general but is needed even more for extensions.
I suggest using the oil every night, especially on the ends. If you have clip-in or halo extension, you don’t need to use oil every day unless you wear your extensions daily.
Even if you have oily hair, don’t be nervous about using oil on your hair extensions because they need it. If you put it mostly on the ends, you won’t even both the oils at the top of your hair.
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | DETAILS | |
|---|---|---|---|
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OUAI Hair Oil |
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Satin Elastic Scarf Ponytail Holder |
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Kérastase Mini Elixir Ultime Hair Oil Serum for Frizzy Hair |
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Gisou Mini Honey Infused Hair Oil |
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Kenra Professional Platinum Silkening Gloss |
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Hair Extension FAQ’s
Is coconut oil good for extensions?
If you want to use more natural ingredients on your extensions you can use coconut oil, especially on the ends.
How do I keep my extensions soft and silky?
Besides using the suggested products above you can do a few other things to keep your extensions soft and silky.
-Use a low heat setting on all of your hot tools.
-Don’t leave your extensions in sunlight
-Don’t over-wash your extensions
– Lay them flat to dry
Is apple cider vinegar good for hair extensions?
NO. The apple cider vinegar will dilute the glue that holds the extensions together and can also dry them out.
Megan Curtin
