by Pixie Clearwater

Created on: February 23, 2008

Getting a thick long mane of hair is now not only the thing of celebrities or those with a few dollars but it is becoming an increasingly popular activity among us normal folk.
But once you have got the luscious locks that you desire, how do you take care of them? Is it any different to having your own hair? Will they stay in? These are all questions that are vital for anyone to learn who has decided to choose hair extensions.

1) Your hair care treatment when washing your hair extensions is different to having your own hair because the extensions do not receive the natural oils and vitamins from your own scalp that keep your own hair soft and moisturized. Therefore it is vital that at least every three days you wash your hair with a shampoo rich in essential minerals and vitamins but that is gentle enough not to damage the hair, try an organic shampoo. With the shampoo make sure that you move the shampoo from your scalp to the tips of the extensions, in a downward smoothing movement, this will reduce the risk of accidentally pulling any extensions out and reduce knotting. Then use a conditioner to soften the hair and make it silky to the touch. Finally, add a leave in conditioner that can be kept in and keep your hair looking fresh. If you only use a shampoo your hair extensions will become dry and brittle making them look not only fake but knotty and basically like straw. This will also increase the risk of the hair extensions breaking off from your natural hair. In addition to this, do not forget to wash your real hair underneath the extensions to keep it healthy and the scalp will also need to be washed to keep it clean and bacteria free. However, if you go to a professional hair extension artist they will provide you with a range of after care products made to make those lovely hair extensions last.

2) Once you have washed your hair, be careful not to use excessive heat on it. For example, it is much better to allow your hair to dry naturally (if you have the time) rather than drying it with a hair dryer. The use of hair straighteners and curling tongs will also further dry out your hair extensions and may contribute to them falling out. It is a common hair extension statistic that the more heat that you put onto the hair the shorter that they last. You are therefore better when getting your extensions to get the same texture as your natural hair eg. if you have straight hair go for straight extensions and if you have curly hair go for curly extentions. They

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