Hair Extension Care

October 13, 2024

10 Things You Didn’t Know About Hair Extensions

Extensions are a fast way to add length, volume and style to your hair. But more importantly, they’re one of the fastest ways to boost your confidence.

Over the years, we’ve seen hair extensions change women’s lives. From regaining their confidence after cancer treatments to falling back in love with themselves just by looking in the mirror, we’ve helped thousands of women on their hair extension journey.

We believe that hair extensions are an investment, and it’s important that they’re not something you rush into. It’s important to understand the different types of extensions and the upkeep and maintenance that each type requires.

So stick around because today we’re sharing 10 things you probably didn’t know about hair extensions.

10 Things You Didn’t Know About Hair Extensions

#1: There are many different types of hair extensions (and they’re not all created equally)

When most women begin their hair extension journey, they’re not really sure what style or type of hair extensions to go with. In reality, a lot of women don’t realize just how many choices they have. In the past, we’ve done a deep dive into the different types of hair extensions, which you can read here.

Today we’ll give you a very quick recap. These are the most typical or most popular hair extension methods:

Clip-In
Halo
Tape-In
Sew-In (Weft/Weave)
Keratin Fusion (K-Tips)
Microbead Extensions (I-Tips)

At our two New York Salons, we love i-tips, and if you’ve been on our blog before, you probably already know that. We find that i-tips are the safest and most natural-looking extensions. That’s because when we install i-tips, we take a small bundle of extension hair and attach it to your natural hair using beads: no heat, no glue, and no heavy weight pulling on your natural strands.

#2: You get what you pay for

You’re going to hear us say this a lot: not all hair extensions are created equal. That’s just the truth of the extension industry. There’s not enough hair to meet demand, which means you can end up with synthetic hair extensions or hair that has been wrongly taken from women around the world.

This is why it’s so important to go with a salon that sources quality, real-human hair from distributors that compensate women fairly. Again, at our two New York salons, we know all of our suppliers, and we know the full journey of our hair, from the women who grow it, to the women who use it.

Yes, that means there’s going to be a higher price tag. But that means the woman who grew that hair for you was fairly compensated, and it will ensure that the hair is virgin, full-cuticle, and without any processing by the time it gets to you.

It also means with proper care and maintenance, the hair should last for up to 12 months.

#3: Extensions require a bit of extra care and attention

Speaking of proper care and maintenance, each of our clients leaves the salon with detailed instructions on how to care for their extensions. And because we only use full-cuticle, human hair, installed with i-tips, you can style and wear your hair like normal. You can also exercise as normal, but you do need to take extra care when washing and maintaining your extensions.

Each of our clients comes in every 6-8 weeks for maintenance appointments, and there are a few popular products you can’t use anymore.

We always tell our clients that hair extensions are a high-maintenance way to have low-maintenance hair.

#4: Good hair extensions should look like your natural hair

Read that again. Good hair extensions should look like your natural hair.

This is another place where you’re going to see the difference in the quality of hair extensions. In other words, quality hair extensions should never look like hair extensions. They should genuinely look like an extension of your natural hair.

We love that each client who walks out of our salon looks like she has fuller and longer natural hair. There’s no obvious extension line, and instead we’re all left wondering where her natural hair ends…and the extensions begin. And yes, even with transformations like this one.

#5: Hair extensions aren’t just for length

One of the most common misconceptions about hair extensions is that they’re only for women who want longer hair. In fact, a lot of the women who come to see us want volume just as much (if not more) as they want length.

Hair extensions help your natural hair look healthier and fuller, so if you’ve always struggled with volume, book a consultation to see how we can help.

The other secret benefit of having hair extensions is that they can actually help your natural hair grow while you’re wearing them. But more on that in another article.

#6: Hair extensions are faster to install than you think

Another common myth that we hear about hair extensions is that they take hours to install and maintain. This can stop women from even coming in for a consultation, because they feel busy enough…and they don’t need high-maintenance hair added to their list.

So let’s bust this myth. Our first-time installation can be done in an hour-long appointment. And your routine maintenance can be done in an hour every 6-8 weeks. It doesn’t have to be a huge commitment to have full, beautiful hair. You need to make sure you’re choosing the right salon.

And that’s just installation and maintenance. Hair extensions will also save you time during the week. Our extensions help hold your style longer, which means those Sunday curls will still look good come Tuesday or even Wednesday!

#7: Hair extensions should be comfortable

If your hair extensions are hurting, they’re either installed incorrectly or they’re the wrong method for you. Our clients who switch from a weft to i-tips always comment on how much lighter our extensions feel. Because that’s the thing: hair extensions shouldn’t be heavy. They shouldn’t leave you with a headache at the end of each day. That’s not “just the way extensions are.”

If you’ve never had comfortable extensions, or if you’ve always been scared of getting extensions because you thought they’d be uncomfortable…get in touch with our team! We’ll be able to show you a whole new world of hair extensions.

#8: Good hair extensions won’t damage your natural hair

One of the most common questions we’re asked as hair extension specialists is: “Will hair extensions damage my natural hair?” This is such a common myth about hair extensions because it’s rooted in truth. Too many women’ve had their natural hair damaged by extensions. And that shouldn’t be the case. In fact, hair extensions should promote your natural hair to grow and be as healthy as possible.

When installed properly, hair extensions actually protect your natural hair and improve its appearance.

However, if you get poor-quality extensions, or you have them installed by someone who doesn’t know what they’re doing… that’s a surefire way to ruin your natural hair.

#9: Hair extensions can be good for your hair

We already touched on this slightly, but hair extensions can be really good for your natural hair. We’ve seen women post-cancer treatments come in for extensions, and over time, their own hair grows back beautifully. This is because our extensions are lightweight and act like a natural shield for your hair.

Also, when you have extensions you’re going to be caring for your hair more than normal. You’ll be coming into the salon every 6-8 weeks for maintenance appointments, you’ll be using better products, and you’ll be more conscious of decisions that affect your hair. All of this is going to lead to stronger, healthier natural hair.

#10: Hair extensions require different haircare products

The last thing you probably didn’t know about hair extensions is that they’re going to require that you switch up your routine a bit. You won’t be able to use any popular product that you see on social media, because a lot of those products can actually cause damage, buildup or slippage on your extensions. Going forward, you won’t be able to use things like hair oils and you’ll need to be careful with hair masks and heavy products.

Luckily, we’ll always leave you with a haircare routine that’s going to help you prolong the life of your hair extensions. You’ve just invested in beautiful, high-quality new hair extensions; you’ll want to make sure you have the products you need to make them last.

Whatever your reasons for wanting to get hair extensions, remember that this is a great chance to try a new hairstyle, regain your confidence, and fall back in love with your hair. We’ve seen hair extensions help thousands of women regain their confidence, and we’d love to help you too.

The health of your natural hair is the most important thing, so don’t compromise. Make sure that you’re choosing the right salon and investing in quality hair extensions. When you invest in the best hair extensions and expert installation, you can expect amazing results.

Book a Consutlation

If you’re ready to explore getting hair extensions, make sure to book a consultation with our founder, Christina.

The Importance of Hair Extension Maintenance

Let’s talk about the importance of hair extension maintenance. Quality hair extensions aren’t cheap but when they’re properly cared for, they should last for years.

We recently talked about the importance of quality hair extensions and why it’s so important to know where your extensions are coming from. But we also shared that our extensions typically start at $1,500 and can go up to $6,500.

We recognize that your hair is a big investment and that’s why we send all of our clients home with detailed (and pretty strict!) care instructions and follow-up, maintenance appointments. So let’s dive into why maintenance appointments are so important – and what you can do at home to better protect and care for your extensions.

The Importance of Hair Extension Maintenance

Did you know that you shed around 45-98 hairs each day? YUP. When you feel like you’re constantly ‘shedding’, it’s because you usually are.

However, when you have extensions, that shedded hair gets trapped in the small beads/links that are applied to hold the extension strand. That’s why it’s so important to come in for regular hair extension maintenance appointments.

We have our clients come in every 4-8 weeks depending on how well they maintain their extensions at home.

When you come in for your hair extension maintenance appointment, we comb through the ‘shedded’ hair. It may feel like a lot of hair fall – but remember that all of this shedded hair is from 4-8 weeks.

Once we’ve combed through the shedded hair, we then apply a new bead or link and retip the bonds to ensure that they are encapsulated and secure. This process helps keep your hair extensions intact so that they can be reused. But it also means that each time you come in for your hair extension maintenance appointments, we have to essentially start from scratch.

We do this to maintain the quality of your hair – so that you can continue to use these extensions for years to come!

How to Care for Your Hair Extensions at Home

Besides your regular maintenance appointments, we also send our clients home with strict care instructions.

At Olivia Christensen Salon we use only real, quality human hair extensions, which means that you can style them as you would your normal hair. However, you need to take better care of your extensions and your hair overall when you have extensions.

Here are some of our top tips for maintaining your quality hair extensions so you can wear them for years to come.

Attend Regular Hair Extension Maintenance Appointments

As we said above, one of the most important things that you can do to maintain your hair extensions is to come to regular maintenance appointments. Our clients come in every 4-8 weeks for hair extension maintenance. We schedule these appointments to comb out the shedded hair but also to protect the bead/link of each extension.

If you leave your hair extensions in too long with these maintenance appointments, the beads can bend and distort. This can lead to the extensions getting ruined and in some cases, natural hair loss as well.

Have Your Hair Extensions Installed Properly

Similar to the sentiment that not all hair extensions are created equal or of the same quality – how you have your extensions installed is just as important.

At Olivia Christensen Salon we’ve developed a special installation technique that blends your extensions to naturally match your hair. This technique also ensures that your extensions are being installed correctly every time.

Wash Your Extensions Carefully

Oftentimes people feel like they can’t wash their hair when they have extensions in – but that’s far from the truth. In fact, it’s important to wash your hair like normal – but you need to wash your hair less frequently and with greater care.

We recommend brushing your hair carefully before washing, being extremely gentle with your scalp, and avoiding harsh chemicals in your products.

Sleep on Silk or Satin

Whether or not you have extensions, we recommend that you switch to a silk or satin pillowcase. Silk pillowcases prevent dryness and hair loss. We also recommend against sleeping with your hair in a bun, or ponytail or leaving it flowing freely. Instead, put your hair in two loose braids and wrap a silk scarf around your head.

Avoid Using Too Many Products

When it comes to the number of products you use on your hair – more does not equal better. We recommend using fewer products on your hair and instead focusing on the quality of those products and how you use them. Things like dry shampoos should be used sparingly (because they tend to dry your hair out) and we don’t recommend using a heat protectant as most of them contain harmful ingredients that may cause the extensions to slip out.

Brush Your Hair Often

Lastly, make sure that you are brushing your hair often. There’s nothing worse than tangles and knots in your hair extensions. So one of the best (and easiest) ways to maintain your hair extensions is simply through brushing them. Brush your hair when you wake up, when you style your hair for the day, before you shampoo, and before bed every night.

Different types of hair brushes work well for different hair types, so make sure to ask your stylist what they recommend for you.

With proper care, your high-quality hair extensions should last you for months. It’s so important to make sure that you are attending your hair extension maintenance appointments and following strict hair extension care instructions to maintain your beautiful new hair.

If you’re ready to take the leap and get high-quality hair extensions, make sure that you book a consultation appointment with us today.