Hair Extensions Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
When you use them the right way, hair extensions will give you thicker, fuller, longer hair that looks completely natural.
Plus, they’ll last at least several months, even when you keep them in for all your everyday activities.
Unfortunately, many people have a completely different experience. They find that the extensions don’t look at all-natural and only last for a short time.
Sometimes, the extensions are also uncomfortable. If this has happened to you, it’s likely because you’re making one or more of the most common hair extension mistakes.
Low-Quality Extensions
It’s possible to spend very little on hair extensions – but you’ll get what you paid for. Low-quality extensions are made from cheap manmade fibers and don’t look anything like natural hair.
They also last only a short time and may even damage your own hair.
The best extensions are made with Remy hair, a type of human hair. However, if that’s out of your budget, you do have other options.
For instance, you can find keratin hair extensions that are of higher quality than most artificial extensions and won’t damage your natural hair.
Poor Color Match
It’s critical that you choose a shade of hair extensions that are close to the color of your own hair. Extensions come in a wide range of shades, including dyed shades like platinum blonde.
This makes it possible to find an almost exact match – you should never need to dye the extensions yourself.
To identify the right match for you, find extensions that are close in color to the middle and ends of your hair.
This is better than matching to the roots, which may differ slightly in shade from the rest of your hair.
If you are unsure about what color to pick, ask the retailer. Many have a color matching service, which simply involves sending photos of your natural hair.
It’s even better to choose two shades that are quite similar: one slightly darker than the other. This allows you to create highlights and lowlights for a stunning effect.
Picking the Wrong Length
Many people want hair extensions to gain extra length, but it’s possible to add too much length! If you have very short hair, just 12 inches could be perfect.
However, if your hair is already quite long, you may be able to go with the maximum length of 30 inches.
It may be frustrating that you’re unable to add serious length straight away, but any length of extensions will make a difference.
Besides, it won’t be long before your natural hair grows a little more and you can increase to the next length.
Installing the Extensions Too High
After you’ve chosen the right extensions, it’s important to install them correctly. A frequent mistake is to install extensions too high on your head.
Clip-in hair extensions, for instance, need to be no higher than eyebrow level – the majority should actually be down at ear level. This will provide you with enough natural hair to cover the wefts.
Overusing Extensions
There is no right amount of extensions – the number of wefts you need will depend on the result you want and how thick your hair is naturally.
It can be tempting to add more extensions than is necessary to create an extra-full look.
However, the results will be bad. Plus, having so many extensions may hurt your scalp.
To make sure you only use the necessary amount, keep a space between each weft that’s about the width of your pinkie.
If you’re installing one weft next to another, you’re definitely using too many. If you have some wefts left over when you’re finished, just keep them for next time.
Never Treating Your Hair
Just like your natural hair, your extensions require regular maintenance. However, it’s important you use products that are designed for extensions.
For instance, the conditioner should be free from sulfates and alcohol. Otherwise, you’ll strip the extensions of their natural oils, leaving them looking dull and lifeless.
In addition, you need to avoid hot water, as this can cause the extensions to break. In fact, minimizing exposure to heat in general will keep your hair extensions strong.
This means drying your hair with a towel rather than using a hairdryer. Another way to prevent damage is to always wait until your hair is completely dry before going to sleep.
Brushing the Extensions with a Regular Hairbrush
Extensions do need brushing to avoid tangles, but using your regular brush can make the hair brittle.
If you’re using clip-ins or tape-ins, it’s extra important to brush extensions carefully – otherwise, you may pull them out.
Whereas a wide-tooth comb is suitable, the best option is a loop brush. This will be extra gentle on your hair. Whatever you use, only brush dry hair, as wet hair is weaker.
Now that you know what mistakes to avoid, you can have perfect extensions!
There’s nothing complex about using hair extensions – you just need to know the right way to choose, install, and maintain them.
