What Damages Hair Extensions The Most?

Undoubtedly, the overuse of a high-temperature flat iron damages hair extensions the most!  The thermal heat from flat irons is more concentrated than a curling iron.  As the flat iron runs through the hair, at temperatures over 350 degrees, it will singe your own hair and the hair extensions.  What's even worse, is refreshing the hair and flat ironing over and over again!  

The Hair Extensions Attachment 

In addition to destroying hair, the heat from a flat iron will destroy the attachment area of the hair extensions.  The most damage occurs to the below extensions.

1) Keratin bonded

2) Any hair extensions with polyurethane (p-u)

      a) tape hair extensions

      b). silk flat wefts

      c). Veila pull-thru

  Note; fragile hand-wefts can also break with high thermal heat.

What Happens?     

As you flat iron sections of your hair, you may get too close to the attachment, and/or when you flat iron above the attachment the heated hair drops onto the hair extensions.   I have watched while a stylist flat ironed her client's hair, and the high smoldering heat from a flat iron literally destroyed the tape portion of the hair extensions.  Once the attachment area is destroyed, the hair within the extension will begin to shed at a record pace!

Thermal Heat Protectant

A thermal heat protectant will help to protect hair from hot irons, but will never salvage scorched hair.  The thermal heat protectant does not offer any protection to the attachment area.  This also applies to hot combs.

What To Do?

I recommend not using a flat iron or heat comb for any reason.  If your own hair is a bit coarse or dry, I would suggest a keratin smoothing treatment.  We use the Brazilian Blowout brand which is formaldehyde-free and will smooth the hair for up to 4 months.  In many cases, we will perform a keratin treatment prior to the application of hair extensions.

If you like to wear your hair straight, then be sure to order straight hair extensions, they still may have a subtle wave, but the wave straightens easily with blow-drying.  

Use a Ph balancing spray such as Truss Deluxe Prime on damp hair, and the accompanying finishing spray Truss Amino when your hair is dry to prevent flyaways.  Styling products will ensure your hair will lay flat and smooth while keeping your hair extensions healthy.  It is best to avoid using these products around the attachment area.  

The perils of high thermal heat are the number one factor in damaging hair extensions. Blow drying is not a major factor, but concentrating high heat from the blow dryer (especially on the ends of the hair extensions) will cause split-ends.

Remember, your own natural oils do not distribute through the hair extensions in the same way they do on your natural hair.  Your own oil is meant to protect your hair, but there is not enough to help while wearing hair extensions.

Consider a no heat roller set.  Depending on your texture, you can use rollers on wet hair under a hair-dryer (for coarse hair), or simply roll your hair when dry.  When hair is dried, it is best to leave the rollers in for one or more hours, the longer they stay in your hair the smoother your hair will be.  I love to set my hair while applying my make-up, the rollers will smooth your hair and they  will give you some added volume! 

Conclusion

The better you care for your hair extensions, the longer they will last!  Why not protect your investment? Also, taking care of your hair extensions will protect your own hair.  There are other factors that are very important such as; brushing your hair, using a hair mask on the ends of hair extensions to add moisture from dry heat during the winter, and using extension-friendly products.  

Hair Extensions Background

At Noelle Salon, we evaluate your natural hair, listen to our client's wishes on styling, color match, and look. We use human hair extensions like 100% Remy human hair, or Virgin Hair (unlike Bellami hair). Hair extensions can be used for short hair or 24 inches of a full head of hair, and have worked with different methods like tape-in extensions, clip-in hair extensions, Keratin and enjoy using our Pull-thru Veila Hair Extensions for ease of hair care. Styling can vary from flat iron, natural curl, or curly hair. Whether you are looking for a change of style or look for a day such as a Clip-in ponytail, having a high-quality ponytail extension can mix it up for you. Your natural hair journey with your hair growth can be enhanced with Hair extensions when protective styling is applied, and regular maintenance is used. You can change your hair in one day - feel free to reach out to us and explore the possibilities.