How to Properly Care for Hair Extensions

Whether you're new to Fortune Halo Style Hair Extensions or have used them in the past, it's always a good idea to refresh your memory on how to properly take care of them.

Read on to learn all about hair extensions care, tips and, tricks to ensure your set lives a long and happy life.

With regular care and attention, you can ensure your hair extensions last as long as possible and stay looking healthy. So, if you want to learn how to properly take care of your Fortune Halo Style Hair Extensions, watch the video below or read on to discover all of our care tips and tricks.

 

The lifespan of Fortune Extensions can range anywhere between 3 to 6 months to a year or longer, depending on the general care they receive and how often they are worn. Remember, the more you wash and heat style your extensions, the shorter their lifespan will be, so try to keep washing and using products on your extensions to a minimum. The important thing to remember is that your hair extensions don’t have a natural hydration source like your own hair does, so keeping them moisturized and reducing dryness is crucial to prolonging their lifespan.

It takes only a few minutes to put away your Fortune Extensions, and those few minutes can make all the difference to the quality and lifespan of your extensions. When prepping your extensions for storage, we always recommend brushing the set. Always make sure you store your extensions in a cool and dry place away from direct sunlight (like a closet, cabinet or dresser drawer). Also, ensure your extensions are completely dry when storing them to prevent mold and other bacteria from growing.

One option to store your extensions is in the storage box in which they come in. The Fortune Extension Draw Box is specifically designed so you can keep and reuse it as a storage container for your Fortune Extensions. Alternatively, you can also use an airtight container or a shoe box. Once you have brushed your extensions out, gently fold & roll the extensions into a circle and place them into the box.

 

Quick tip: You can also even gently knot the hair together if you want a light wave running throughout the hair the next time you wear your extensions.

One of the most important things to consider when taking care of your extensions is to ensure that you are using the proper products. This will make all the difference in whether your extensions will tangle or stay soft and manageable. Be sure to check the ingredient listing and ensure you don’t see the words: SLS, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Alcohol Denat, Ethanol, SD Alcohol 40, Propanol, Isopropyl, and Propyl.

Purchasing sulfate-free and alcohol-free products is a necessity. These ingredients strip the hair of its natural oils which, in turn, makes the hair drier and more prone to tangling or matting. Prolonged use of these ingredients can affect the integrity of the hair, shortening the lifespan of your hair extensions significantly. Remember, products that are free from sulfates might not produce much lather, as this is the specific ingredients used to create those soapy suds, however, these products will do just as good of a job cleansing your hair extensions without stripping the hair of moisture. 

Always be sure to do one simple thing before you buy any product…flip it over! Many products out there have sulfates and alcohol hidden in their formulas. Not all companies claiming to make sulfate-free shampoos are truly free of sulfates. This is why it is important to know what to look for when reading ingredients.

Additionally, using sticky products such as hair spray, hair gel, or hair wax, can and likely will clog up your extensions. Furthermore, the more products you use, the more you will need to wash them. Remember, over washing, leads to dry and tangled extensions. Also, keep in mind that the products that you use in your natural hair can travel onto your extensions from constant head movement and heat from your scalp.

Make sure that you are always gentle with your extensions and that you brush them properly as this can also affect their lifespan. Never brush the extensions when they are wet as this is when it is the most susceptible to breakage. Instead, brush them before washing or once they are 90% dry.

For brushing, we recommend using a wide-tooth comb or a soft bristle brush, since those brush types won’t cause pulling, snagging, or damage to your wefts, which you may otherwise experience with a regular hairbrush.

 While Fortune Hair extensions are made of 100% Remy Human Hair, matting and tangling is a normal occurrence with not just your natural hair but with all types of hair extensions. This can happen due to a lack of constant brushing, weather, or dryness. A common reason why extensions tangle and get matted throughout the day is because of a combination of sweat, heat, and friction. Also, keep in mind that when human hair is constantly moving around it mattes or ‘clumps’ together in pieces and should be brushed consistently to avoid this. During the day, we generate heat at the back area of our nape and scalp, and often times we sweat back there too. Your sweat is salty and acidic which can dry out your hair extensions. When you add additional hair volume to this combination and constantly move your head throughout the day, tangling and matting will occur.

Weather can also contribute to tangling, whether it is due to the wind, humidity, or heat. Humidity adds moisture to the environment, causing hair to frizz and tangle. Heat will do just the opposite as it will dry it out. Thankfully, there are some simple ways to ensure that your Fortune Extensions remain smooth and tangle-free. First, be sure to brush the extensions periodically throughout the day with, a wide-tooth comb or a soft bristle brush. Always have a brush on hand so that you can give your hair a quick brushing. If it’s a particularly windy day, you can tie your hair up.

Along with brushing your hair to prevent matting and tangling, starting at the source and using proper hair care products make all the difference in whether, extensions will tangle or be soft and manageable. Use products specifically formulated for dry and damaged hair, as they will help keep the strands healthy and nourished. Also, look for ingredients that add moisture to the hair like argan oil, coconut oil, castor oil, and so on. Purchasing sulfate-free and alcohol-free products is a necessity. These ingredients strip the hair of its natural oils and will affect their integrity. This, in turn, makes the hair drier and more prone to tangling or matting.

Just like your natural hair, extensions will shed. Shedding is a common occurrence with hair extensions and because they are made of human hair, you can expect some shedding throughout their lifespan. As you brush and style your Fortune Extensions, some fall-out may occur so don’t be surprised or worried when this happens. This, however, does not mean to reduce the amount you brush your extensions as you can minimize shedding in other ways. Keep in mind, extensions are more likely to shed when they are dry and brittle.

The first and quite possibly one of the most important steps is to brush your extensions out before washing them and only once the hair is 90% dry. This helps minimize the possibility of breakage and shedding during the washing and because the hair is at its weakest point when wet. Always be gentle when brushing your extensions and be sure to brush them before and after each use to reduce shedding and breakage.

Washing your extensions too much or using products that contain sulfates and alcohol will strip the hair of its natural oils which will likely cause them to shed. Additionally, using a high temperature when heat styling, runs the risk of damaging the hair which can then cause breakage and shedding. This is why we recommend to only use a low heat setting of 120C/250F. While our own hair may be able to handle a high heat setting, our hair is also constantly getting revitalized from the scalp, whereas hair extensions don't receive the same amount of nutrients or oil to look silky and shiny.

Also, take into consideration that the more products you use, the more you will need to wash your extensions, so the best way to reduce shedding is to use a minimal number of products. Your extensions have a beautiful, healthy finish already so you shouldn’t need much product to enjoy them. If you want more hold when curling your extensions, try pinning up the curls and leaving them overnight or even just for an hour to ensure the curls stay in place without the use of hairspray. If you do want to reach for hairspray, consider a lightweight formula which you can still easily brush through. Extra strength hair sprays will clog up your extensions, which means more washing.

Since your extensions aren't subject to the oils produced by your scalp the way your natural hair is, you don’t have to wash them as often. As a general rule, the less you wash your extensions the longer they will last. You can use your best judgment on how often to wash them, however, we recommend only washing them once there is a lot of product build up. If your extensions feel like they’re becoming increasingly difficult to style, this is likely a sign that there is product build-up, and they need to be washed. We recommend washing them after every 30 wears or once a month.

When washing your extensions, it's important you hydrate them as much as possible. Since hair extensions don't receive the natural nutrients and oils like our own hair does, it's important to ensure that your Extensions are always nourished and moisturized by using, alcohol and sulfate-free shampoos and conditioners. Sulfate and alcohol, strip the hair of its natural oils which, in turn, makes the hair drier and more prone to tangling or matting.

We highly recommend applying a moisturizing sulfate-free and alcohol-free conditioner before and after shampooing. Sometimes, even skip the shampoo and only co-wash your extensions with conditioner! When washing, make sure to handle the extensions gently and to not rub them vigorously. Always be sure to rinse the extensions in cold water at the end to lock in moisture. After you are finished, carefully squeeze any excess water from the extensions and make sure that you never rub your extensions dry with a towel.

We don’t recommend blow-drying your extensions after every wash as doing this constantly, will make them dry and more vulnerable to breakage. If you must blow-dry your extensions, be sure to use a heat protectant spray prior to blow-drying to extend the lifespan of your hair extensions. If you need to use your extensions immediately after washing them, the most important thing is to ensure that you are blow drying on a cool setting to prevent any heat damage, and that you don’t brush the hair until it is 90% dry. This is because the hair is at its weakest point when it's wet. Instead, use your fingers to gently loosen any tangles.

When blow-drying, start by focusing on drying the root of the weft first and then working your way down to the ends. Always blow-dry downwards as this will help to not only smooth the cuticle, but it will also prevent the hair from getting tangled since it is being blown in lots of different directions.

We highly recommend air-drying your extensions wherever possible. When air drying, be sure to invest in a micro-fibre towel as it will remove excess water faster and it won’t rough up the hair (which can also cause tangles). Lay out all of the wefts on a flat surface and gently pat the excess moisture from the hair. A trick to preventing any frizz once the hair dries is to apply a small amount of hair oil to each weft to ensure the hair remains manageable and silky smooth.

 

Fortune Extensions are offered in 14+ beautiful shades ranging from Dark Black to Platinum Blonde. Our extensions are made with a multi-tonal adapt coloring system, which means that there are subtle highlights and lowlights, lighter strands and darker strands throughout each set. This gives the shades movement, dimension, and depth. It also ensures that the extensions blend with your natural hair even if your hair color is a few shades off.  If you are ever uncertain of your ideal Fortune Extension match, simply e-mail our Support team at support@fortunewigs.com with a photo of your hair taken in natural lighting. It will be our pleasure to help you!

If you happen to have a hair color that we don’t offer you can always have your extensions dyed a darker color since they are made of 100% Remy human hair. If you do decide that you want to color your extensions, it’s always best to head straight to the salon and find a professional who is experienced in working with extensions as you’re unlikely to run into problems this way. 

We do not, however, recommend bleaching your hair extensions as they have likely already been dyed at the manufacturing level. Forcing bleach on hair that has already been dyed can be difficult, and finding alternatives like increasing the concentration of bleach or leaving it in longer to soak will only lead to damaged hair. Also, keep in mind that the color may not come out as intended because of the existing hair dye.