HairX extensions are made with 100% remy human hair, which means they can be washed and styled just like your own natural hair. Since HairX extensions do not receive natural oils from the scalp like natural hair does, however, they do not need to be washed as often, as they will not get oily or greasy like natural hair.
We recommend to only wash your HairX every 15-20 wears or only when there is a lot of product build-up to the point where they become unmanageable to style. Watch the video below for full instructions on how to wash to properly wash your HairX, or scroll down for step by step instructions.
You will need...
1. A sink which can be plugged
2. Alcohol / sulfate-free shampoo
3. Alcohol / sulfate-free deep conditioner
5. Hair oil
4. A wide tooth comb
Why alcohol / sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner?
Some hair products are loaded with alcohols and sulfates, which are extremely drying on the hair. Since hair extensions do not receive natural oils from the scalp, they are already dry by nature, and it is best to preserve moisture in the hair as much as possible. This will ensure that the extensions look healthy and luscious, as opposed to dry and dull. You can also use a shampoo and conditioner specifically designed for coloured treated hair or for hair extensions.
Step 1: Brush your extensions
Have you ever taken a shower, emerged with wet, tangled hair and have to wrestle to detangle it? Brushing your hair before showering will prevent this, and hair extensions are no different. Before washing your extensions, give them a good brush with a wide tooth comb or paddle brush from bottom to top, gently removing any knots and tangles in the hair. Then, place each weft neatly on top of each other similar to when you first receive them, to keep them tangle free during the washing process.
Step 2: Prepare your sink
Ensure your sink is squeaky clean to avoid existing dirt transferring to the extensions. Then, plug the drain and begin to fill it up with lukewarm water – we don’t want the water to be too hot or too cold.
Pump 2-3 dollops of shampoo into the water, and swish the product around in the water so it's nice and soapy.
Step 3: Shampoo each weft
We recommend to wash your hair extensions one weft at a time (1-clip wefts can be collected into one bundle). This will ensure that each weft gets washed thoroughly without the set tangling. If you are short on time, however, you can bundle the extensions with an elastic and wash it all carefully in one go.
Hold the weft is one hand at the top, submerge it into the water, and gently wash the hair, working the shampoo in with light strokes. Be very careful to not tangle the hair. Once you have washed the weft with shampoo, set it aside neatly on a towel and repeat the same steps for the rest of the wefts.
Step 4: Deep condition each weft
Once all the wefts have been shampooed, it's time to condition them. This is a very important step, as it helps ensure that your extensions remain moisturized, nourished, and soft. We recommend to use a deep conditioner for this step, to really penetrate the hair shaft.
Take a generous amount of conditioner and apply onto each weft from top to bottom, massaging the product thoroughly into the hair.
In order for the product to really soak in and work its magic, we recommend to leave it on overnight. Bundle your extensions and carefully coil them and place them in a shower cap to leave overnight. This will help to seal in the moisture throughout the night.
Step 5: Rinse out each weft
The next morning, thoroughly rinse out each weft, ensuring that there is no conditioner residue left on the hair. A common mistake is to only wash the hair halfway, leaving it with "the slip"–that slippery, soft feeling after conditioning. This is a no-no, as it actually leaves product on the hair, which weighs it down or causes it to look greasy when dry.
When washing out each weft, rinse it again with cold water, which will help close the cuticles of the hair to seal in the moisture and make the extensions more shiny. This is a great trick to try with your natural hair as well for that extra gloss and shine!
Step 6: Lay each weft out to air dry
We recommend to air dry your hair extensions rather than use heat, as the hair does not get revitalized at the scalp, and using high heat can harm the extensions in the long run.
Before setting up your extensions to dry, be sure that the hair is completely wrung of water. Then, lay out all of your wefts separately on a towel on top of a flat surface. A trick to preventing any frizz once the hair is dry is to apply a small amount of hair oil to each weft to ensure the hair remains manageable and silky smooth.
Step 7: Comb each weft
We usually recommend not to comb through wet hair as it is more elastic and can break easily, however, in order to ensure that your extensions dry straight with little to no tangles, we recommend to gently brush through each weft with a wide tooth comb from bottom to top.
And that’s it! Leave the wefts to dry, and come back to clean smooth, hair extensions, ready to clip into your hair.
FAQ About Washing Hair Extensions
Do I need to wash my HairX extensions before I wear them?
No, HairX extensions are ready to wear straight out of the box! Hair extensions are a hygienic product and have been thoroughly sanitized at our factory. They are completely safe to wear right out of the box.
What products should I use on my HairX extensions?
We highly recommend to use natural, and organic hair products if possible. Make sure the hair products are sulfate free, alcohol free, and are designed for color treated hair or hair extensions. This will ensure that your hair extensions have a longer lifespan.
Do I need to wash my hair extensions after curling to make them straight again?
Unless the hair has a lot of hairspray or other product buildup, this is not needed. Instead, you can gently brush out the curls with a soft bristle brush from bottom to top, and use a hair straightener to straighten the extensions. Be sure to use a heat protectant spray prior to straightening, and to use a low to medium heat setting.
Do these hair extensions dry straight?
HairX extensions are of Chinese origin, therefore, should dry straight. Be sure to brush the extensions straight before air-drying overnight. Some sets could be potentially dry with a slight wave, however, can be styled with hot styling tools to achieve any desired look.
Why aren’t you washing the actual clips/wefts in this video?
The fabric base of the weft does not need to be washed, however, if you use a lot of product and feel that the fabric and clips also need to be washed, you can do so.
As always, if you have any other questions about how to wash your hair extensions, be sure to email us at info@HairX.com. We'll be happy to help.
