As promised, I’m checking in with an update on my hair extensions! It’s been about three months now and I’m thrilled to report that my relationship with my hair extensions is much better than my first date with eyelash extensions. đ
For those of you who missed the memo, my mermaid perfect hair was expertly applied by my friends at RPZL in August. I got the RPZL NEXT service, a set of keratin bonded extensions applied using ultrasonic waves instead of heat. (More on that here.) This type of extensions is supposed to last for “three months or more” and it has definitely lived up to that promise. Upon application, I received 125 groupings of hair and have only lost about three over the past three months. My hair is still full and wonderful even through coloring, styling, and everyday wear.
I’ve learned a lot while wearing these babies and I’m happy to share my tips on how to maintain hair extensions…
BRUSH YOUR HAIR, I mean it
When the experts at RPZL first mentioned this to me, I was like, âUm, who doesnât brush their hair?â Well, it happens. Like on Halloween when I thought it was a good idea to tease my hair up and then crash right after. I had a hot mess to deal with in the morning and it was a production to comb out. If you donât regularly brush your extensions, they can get tangled and matted (and become more likely to fall out before their time). Seems like common sense, but when you have lots of extra hair, you might get a little lazier with your grooming routine. Donât be lazy! Brush when you wake up and before you go to bed with a boar bristle brush.Â
Donât go to sleep wet
Seriously, dry your hair. If you go to sleep with wet hair it can jack up your life. The dampness can cause the hair to rub together resulting in unnecessary damage, tangling, and matting at the roots. No bueno. Keep in mind that drying your hair will now take much longer than it used to, so if you wash your hair at night be prepared to take the time. It’s best to braid your dry hair before bed to keep everything neat and pretty. Youâll wake up with a perfect wave, too! If you want to go the extra mile, you can get a silk pillowcase to create a better environment for your extensions to rest.
Commit to your style
Keep in mind that the texture of your extensions might be different from your natural hair. My extensions are thick and curly while my natural hair is fine and straight. Air drying makes me look like a crazy person, so investing the time to style properly is important. Fair warning: It is going to take a LOT longer for you to style your hair. My regular hair took about five minutes to blowdry, but it takes almost a full half hour to properly dry my extensions. The result is totally worth it, but it’s important to keep in mind. I’m guilty of wearing my hair in a messy bun too often because I haven’t managed my time properly. Don’t do that! Your new hair deserves to see the world.
Donât shampoo too often
This is a good rule whether you have extensions or not. Don’t shampoo every day. Extensions should be shampooed 2-3 times a week, not daily. Dry shampoo is your friend! Daily shampooing can strip your extensions of oils and cause dryness. (The less you shampoo, the longer your color will last, too.) Keep your conditioner from the mid lengths to the ends and avoid getting any too close to the bonds.
Get a haircut
I know this seems counter productive, but treating your extensions like your own hair is important. Extensions get split ends just like the hair growing out of your head and should be dealt with accordingly. Obviously you don’t want to cut a lot off since you’ve just added hair, but getting a trim every so often will keep your extensions looking healthy. As time goes on and they start to grow out, you can continue to cut shorter until you want to get them removed.
Stay tuned for another update! I’ll check in again after I have them removed. Until then, I’m excited they’re still going strong!