I am still on my never ending quest to grow my own short, thin hair
So when I feel like adding some length and volume clip in extensions are the perfect solution
I've been using them on and off for years
and although you don't need to wash them often
It is one of these tasks that us poor girls have to do that is essentially a pain in the ass.
However, I think I have finally mastered a quick and easy method of washing and drying them
Hopefully you will pick up a few tips!
So here we go The Lazy Girls Guide to Washing and Drying your clip ins
Before we start it's important to know what kind of extensions you have
Not all extensions are suitable for washing or can be damaged easily with heat
Most synthetic extensions will frazzle as soon as heat is applied so please make sure you know before you start that they are human hair or at least part human hair and are suitable for washing and styling!
So now that you know your hair is fine to wash
You are ready to go!
I've found that this little trick seriously makes life sooo much easier when it comes to washing your extensions
Instead of washing each weft individually,
wrap your extensions together and secure with a hair tie.
Now you are left with a long ponytail
It takes much less time and effort to wash them like this
and they are actually far less likely to get damaged as they are less fragile when they are all together
rather than in individual strips.
Now rinse the hair in warm water
and pick whatever shampoo you like
I went for Aussie Take The Heat Shampoo
always try and massage the shampoo in from the top of the hair downward
if you start from the bottom and work your way up the hair will knot
Make sure you rinse out all the shampoo thoroughly
You need to look after your extensions as you would your own hair
So I always like to put a conditioning treatment in mine
This is the lazy girls guide though
So a 3 minute treat will do!
I went for the Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Luscious Long Deep Treatment
When the 3 minutes is up rinse all the conditioner out of the hair
To keep your extensions looking as good as you can for as long as you can
The best way to dry them is to let them dry naturally
Give them a quick towel dry, remember to be really gentle
Now I find that hanging the hair speeds up the drying process
you can hang them over a clothes horse or a radiator
but I have came up with something else
Now I know this might seem a little bit strange
and maybe avoid doing it if you are expecting guests
(because they will almost definitely think you are a weirdo)
but if you get a trouser hanger and put the wefts through the middle
it is a really good way to let your extensions air dry
You might need more than one hanger depending how many wefts you have
just hang them on a door handle and leave until dry
One thing to remember
most human hair extensions will dry with a wave in them
personally I like mine to be straight when I first wash them
Once my extensions are around 80% dry
I like to give them a quick blow dry to give them a sleek, finished look
Now unless you are a magician or have three hands
you will find it extremely awkward and difficult to blow dry them properly
as you really need one hand to hold the weft, one to hold a brush, and one to hold the hair dryer
I've got a tool that makes this process loads easier
The Babyliss Big Hair is a rotating brush that blows out hot air
using this means you are able to blowdry and brush the hair with one hand
leaving your other hand free to hold the weft
As you would with your own hair you should always apply a heat protectant to the hair
before using a hot styling tool
I used this one by TRESemme
and that ladies is pretty much it!
I hope you picked up a few tips along the way
I love the feeling of my extensions when they are just washed
Just make sure you don't do it too often
as over washing and styling can cause breaking and fall out!
Enjoy the rest of your weekend lovelies
Jen <3
