Hair Care for Extension Braids

When wearing hair extensions of any kind, it's important to care for your own hair and the extensions. This keeps the extensions looking good and your hair healthy. While some women view extensions braids as a no-maintenance style, looking at them as a low-maintenance style is a better option.

How to Shampoo Extension Braids

Extension braids need be washed on a regular basis. This may be once a week or once every two weeks.

The best way to cleanse your extensions without over-manipulating them and causing frizz is in the shower. Let the water soak your head and use your hands to squeeze the braids to make sure they're saturated. Apply shampoo to your hands and work it into a lather. Put your hands onto your scalp, not the braids. Massage the shampoo into your scalp where the braid partings are. Once your scalp is clean, let the shampoo run down the length of the braids, using your fingers to work it down. There's no need to rub shampoo into your extensions. Fully rinse your scalp and hair, letting the water's downward motion rinse all of the shampoo away.

Synthetic hair extensions don't need a follow-up conditioner, but human hair extensions can benefit from it, so which type of extensions you have determines whether you need conditioner.

Keep Extensions Tangle-Free

If you have braid extensions that end in a secure end, keeping your braids free of tangles is pretty easy. If you have braid extensions that end in free-flowing hair, however, you'll need to keep these ends combed so that they don't mat and tangle.

Before going to sleep, loosely tie your extensions back with an elastic band and cover with a silk or satin cap or scarf. You can also braid the loose hair into one braid--this will further prevent tangles.

In the morning, comb through braids with your fingers and then use a wide-tooth comb on any free-flowing ends. If your extensions are made of human hair, you can spray a little water/leave-in conditioner mixture on them to make detangling easier.

Take Care of Your Scalp and Hair

While wearing braid extensions, you have to take care of your scalp and underlying hair. Sometimes, wearing braids makes your scalp feel itchy. If it isn't time for a shampoo, one thing you can try to alleviate the itching is to apply an astringent to your scalp partings. Simply soak a cotton ball in an astringent and put the wet cotton ball wherever your scalp itches. You can follow this up with a natural oil spray. After spritzing your scalp, gently massage the oils into it.

You can also spritz your extension braids with oils. After spraying, gently squeeze the braids to work the oil into your hair inside the extensions. This ensures that your natural hair gets the moisture it needs.

References

• Caring for extensions