“Treat your extensions like silk: delicate cycle.”
washing.
Before getting into the shower, make sure to brush your hair thoroughly starting from the ends and working your way up. Hold the attachment point with one hand while brushing with the other.
Shampoo your hair with warm water and professional shampoo; wash twice. Please do not create unnecessary friction during this process. If you have 2 rows, make sure you gently wash in between your rows and lightly on top of your wefts. Use a scissor finger motion over your weft line. Do not rub the attachment point; the hair is more fragile when wet.
Rinse the shampoo really well and follow with conditioner throughout. Leave the conditioner in for 5-7 minutes. Concentrate the conditioner on the ends. *Please make sure you have enough time to complete this process thoroughly. Styling hair with extensions can take a lot of time when done properly, so allow for time accordingly.
drying.
Gently squeeze the excess water out of your hair with your hands and a towel until your hair is damp and no longer soaking. Do not rub the towel.
Gently detangle your hair with a Wet Brush. Always have one hand at the installation point and carefully brush with the other hand. Make sure to separate your rows if you have more than one. Thoroughly brush both your natural hair and extensions starting from ends and working up the hair shaft. This process should be done with extra care as not to disturb the point of installation. Put in a leave in conditioner thoroughly. I recommend Goldielocks Leave in Conditioner and Serum.
Next, blow-dry with your fingers until 80% dry, then smoothly blow dry with a brush. You must dry the weft line of your extensions, always. Excessive moisture on the weft line will create swelling and will result in shortening the lifespan of your wefts. While blowdrying, keep the air flowing down the hair shaft, not shaking your hair or blow dryer too much. Take sections to ensure total drying before putting a hot tool on the hair.
styling + more
Extensions can be styled just like normally with hot tools. The less heat you put on, the healthier your hair and extensions will be. You must brush your hair daily to maintain the integrity of your extension hair and your scalp. Please use salon quality products to keep the hair from drying out. Braid your hair before bed or put in a low pony. Sleep on a silk pillow case. Only put your hair in a high pony or low pony, not in the middle. If you engage in water activities, prep your hair by spraying it with a mixture of clean water and conditioner in a spray bottle, comb and braid your hair before entering a pool, ocean or lake. Rinse your hair immediately afterwards and thoroughly dry your hair. Please use caution when you are applying sunscreen, most sunscreens contain chemicals that will cause discoloration to the hair that is difficult to remove! And again, always always keep the weft line of your extensions dry!
extras.
The secret to keeping your length and keeping the hair for a really long time is less heat on the lengths of your hair! Try new things like braiding your hair, stretching out the days that you go in between your washes (but not too many), use dry shampoo (a lightweight one is imperative to not create buildup. I love the Living Proof Dry Shampoo!), enjoy ponytails and top knots*, etc.
You do want to be careful of over washing your hair and leaving moisture on the weft line (where your row is sewn on). Too much moisture/not getting those wefts dry can create mold and start to disintegrate the wefts causing them to be more fragile when brushing.
Brush, brush, brush your hair! This is super important so you can avoid any matting of your hair and the extension hair. Remember the hair is more fragile when wet, so be extra careful when brushing. Do not brush on top of the weft line, rather underneath the weft line. If you are too aggressive with brushing it can disintegrate the wefts making it be so they need to be replaced much sooner than normal.
*Do a nice top knot, not the one where you rake the hair through the scrunch a bunch of times 😉 Think Ballerina bun, with a nice coil.
If you have to use heat, please use a heat protectant thoroughly!
Sleep with a silk or satin pillowcase and/or bonnet as well as satin/silk scrunchies. This will help preserve your style and keep your hair feeling new and maintain the longevity of the hair.
Please do not wash or blow-dry your extension hair upside down.
When you are pulling your hair in a ponytail, the weft must flip completely up, this means your ponytails are either up high or down in your nape-not in the center back of your head.
For my blonde extension ladies: use sunscreen that does not contain avobenzone. Bare Republic is a good brand. When the hair touches your skin with the wrong kind of sunscreen, it turns the extensions peach and it will result in likely having to buy new hair! Please be careful with sunscreen and pull your hair up and off your body.
I strongly believe that everyone, especially if you have blonde or light extensions, should have a shower head filter. I recommend the Raindrops by 901 filter.
Please also consider using all of the Goldielocks products! They were all designed with extensions in mind and are super hydrating for the hair. I am loving heir performance!
LINKS FOR MORE SUPPORT:
Curling Dreadlock Curl Tutorial from IBE
Maintenance How to Maintain Your IBE
Washing How to Wash Your IBE
SHOP Goldie Locks®
LINKS FOR MY FAVORITE TOOLS: