There’s nothing quite like long, healthy-looking hair and there are a number of great products that can help you achieve this. However, if you have clip hair extensions, you won’t be able to use just any shampoo to keep your hair fresh and clean.
While there is no such thing as the perfect shampoo for clip hair extensions, there are certain ingredients that you should look out for while shopping.
What to Look for in a Clip Hair Extension Shampoo
If you check Jadore clip in hair extension details page, this will give you a better idea of the types of products you should be using but here is some information on the ingredients you should be avoiding.
Oil or Silicone
Oil and silicone are very common ingredients in today’s shampoos because they help keep hair smooth and shiny. Silicone is quite similar to plastic, which means it seals the hair and protects it against water and impurities, but this is not what you want. Instead of achieving a shine from plastic, you want the light to naturally bounce off the cuticle of your hair. Prolonged use of shampoos that contain silicone can weigh your hair down.
Sulfate
If you had to look at the label of the shampoo you’re currently using, chances are at least one ingredient ends with the word ‘sulfate’. This particular ingredient helps the shampoo mix with water, which is what creates that foamy texture when you use it. While it’s safe for use in low amounts, excessive use of products with this ingredient can strip away your hair’s natural oils.
Choosing the Right Shampoo
When it comes to choosing a shampoo for your clip hair extensions, the more natural you can go, the better. Being more aware of the ingredients in your shampoo will help prolong the life of your hair extensions.
Most stylists will recommend you choose organic or all-natural shampoos if you’ve purchased hair extensions. Natural products contain ingredients such as coconut oil or milk, aloe and chamomile to name a few. Nature can really provide you with everything you need to care for your natural hair as well as your clip extensions.
If you can’t find a natural shampoo that you love, there is also a variety of shampoos that are specifically designed for hair extensions. If you will be purchasing hair care products from a professional salon, they will more than likely have a good selection of shampoos that are safe for use on hair extensions.
One way to recognise a sulfate-free shampoo is that it will foam a lot less than regular shampoo once you massage it onto your scalp or into your clip hair extensions. This may seem like a small difference but you will certainly see a noticeable difference over the long term once your extensions and your natural hair looks and feels good all year round. You should ideally also pair your shampoo with a sulfate-free conditioner for the best results. Most hair care ranges will have both a shampoo and conditioner available.
Washing Your Clip Hair Extensions
Now that you know what to look for in a shampoo, here is a refresher on how to wash your clip hair extensions.
Step 1: Brush Your Extensions Before You Wet Them
It’s important to brush your clip hair extensions before you wash them. Start from the bottom and work your way up to ensure you remove all knots. Wide-tooth combs and soft bristle brushes are ideal.
Step 2: Shampoo Each Weft with Luke Warm Water
Fill your sink with lukewarm water before adding a handful of shampoo to the water. Split your extensions into smaller, manageable wefts and dunk each of them into the water before working in the shampoo. Rinse them out and place them flat on a towel.
Step 3: Apply a Conditioner
Massage a conditioner into the wefts and give it some time to soak in – an hour is usually ideal. Rinse the conditioner out thoroughly to avoid product build-up.
Step 4: Air Dry Your Extensions
Air drying your clip hair extensions will prolong their lifespan. Using heat every time you wash your extensions will cause them to become brittle much sooner.
Step 5: Comb the Extensions One Last Time
Before you store your clip hair extensions, be sure to comb them one last time using a wide-tooth comb.
By correctly caring for your clip hair extensions and using the right products, you can easily enjoy them for many more months.