Hair Extensions, Decoded: 9 Types Actually Worth Your Investment
Quality is hard to determine online, but generally speaking, you wouldn’t want to have synthetic hair permanently installed (some synthetic brands are heat resistant, but otherwise “it would melt with heated tools.”) Saunders recommends, “buying from a reputable brand that has great reviews or getting advice from somebody who’s had it.”
How long do extensions last? Saunders said this is not down to the method per se, but by the individual’s natural shedding rate, aka how quickly you lose hair from your head. “If you’re a fast shedder, or you’re having hair loss, extensions can last around eight weeks. Generally, wefts last around six to eight and tapes, eight to 10. If you’re a slow shedder with bonds, you could go four or five months in some instances, but I would say the average is between eight and 10 weeks. These can sometimes go longer in people’s hair because they are density-matched and lighter, so there’s less pull.” But she notes, and it’s an important one, “As your hair naturally sheds, it falls out, but with extensions, it can’t because it’s stuck. With every hair you shed naturally, it’s losing more and more support, so, if the extensions stay in for too long, you’re going to get potential damage just because there’s not enough natural hair to support that extension.” For new extension users, “I won’t let it go past 12 weeks as a maximum because shed is unpredictable. Rather be safe than sorry.”
Whether you need breaks between your extensions, Saunders says this is “only necessary for hair showing signs of strain or stress on the scalp.”
Caring for your extensions is of the utmost importance to protect your natural hair, while giving the added lengths longevity. You need to adapt each stage of your haircare routine, from how often you wash your hair (“I always say a maximum of three times a week, minimum once a week for hygiene reasons”), to the products used. The expert advises that sulphate and paraben-free shampoos are favourable, while conditioner should only be applied on your mid-lengths and ends, not on roots. “You don’t want conditioner near the attachment side of your extensions, it can cause them to slip, but also you can get product buildup that could compromise the life of the extensions in your hair.”