If you are one of the many women who have invested in Brazilian hair extensions, you will want to make sure that you are taking care of them properly and know exactly how to wash your Brazilian hair.
Washing your hair extensions correctly is essential to keeping them looking shiny and healthy.
In this blog post, we will walk you through 10 easy steps on how to wash Brazilian hair extensions!
1) Start by combing through your hair to remove any knots or tangles.
Your Brazilian hair weave is human hair and is prone to knots and tangles just like your natural hair. So, it goes without saying that you must start with a good detangling session.
Use a wide-toothed comb or brush to work through the knots and tangles, starting from the bottom and working your way up.
Be gentle as you work through, especially with curly hair, as raking through your Brazilian hair extensions too harshly could cause excess shedding.
Shedding is one of the biggest enemies to the longevity of your Brazilian virgin hair bundles, so handle it with care!
As a general rule, it is best to detangle first and then brush in a downward motion with a good-quality paddle brush or detangling brush.
A good way to prevent unnecessary snagging or pulling while detangling is to apply oil to the hair just as you would to your real hair.
Applying your favorite essential oil, to the ends of your hair especially, can do wonders for the detangling process prior to shampooing.
2) Next, wet your hair extensions in lukewarm water.
Avoid using hot water as this can damage the hair. You want to lift the cuticles but not blast them open when washing.
Get a bowl of water, or soak your hair strands in a bath tub, until completely wet.
This is the best way to ensure that all of the hair gets saturated with water.
You can also pour a little quantity of the shampoo into the water as well.
3) Apply a small amount of shampoo to your hands and massage it into the roots of your hair extensions.
This is a simple process if done correctly.
A big problem that a number of people encounter when washing their own Brazilian hair is not shampooing correctly, causing the hair to knot and tangle.
Apply your sulfate-free shampoo to your hands first and gently work it into the hair extensions from the weft to the ends.
You’ll want to avoid rubbing your human hair extensions from the ends to the weft, disrupting the cuticles and making the hair more prone to tangling.
Shampoo works to open the cuticles and prepare the hair to receive the good ingredients and water that it needs to stay soft and manageable.
If your Brazilian human hair feels especially dry, use a highly moisturizing shampoo to replace much-needed moisture back to the hair.
If your extensions are really dirty, it might be a good idea to shampoo with a clarifying shampoo first, followed by a moisturizing hair shampoo.
I like to use Design Essentials Oat Protein and Henna to clarify, followed by their Honey Creme Cleansing Shampoo.
Try to avoid getting shampoo on the weft of your hair as this may weaken the stitching over time, causing the hair to shed.
Applying product to the wefts can also cause unnecessary tangling or matting.
4) Rinse the shampoo out of your hair thoroughly.
After you have shampooed your hair, it is now time to rinse it out.
Use lukewarm water and rinse until all of the suds are gone. You may need to do this a few times to make sure that all of the shampoo is removed.
Remember to hold your human hair extensions by the weft (top) and continue to rinse in a downward motion toward the ends.
5) Apply a conditioner to your hair and focus on the ends.
Once all of the shampoo is rinsed out, apply a good conditioner to your Brazilian hair extensions.
As with the shampoo, avoid applying conditioner directly to the weft of your human hair weave as this can cause tangling and matting.
Instead, apply it evenly throughout your hair from the middle shaft to the ends.
Conditioning is important as it helps to restore moisture, shine, and softness to the hair.
If your extensions are particularly dry or damaged, you may want to use a deep conditioner or leave-in conditioner for added moisture and protection.
I make my own wigs and, like a lot of veteran wig and extension wearers, I SWEAR by Silicon Mix Deep Intensive Hair Treatment to bring ALL the moisture back into my Brazilian hair.
For added penetration, place your extensions in a plastic bag and allow to sit for 15-30 minutes prior to rinsing out.
6) Rinse the conditioner out with lukewarm water.
Rinse the conditioner out of your hair thoroughly.
You can either rinse with cool water to help seal the cuticles or lukewarm water to open them up and prepare for the next step, which is applying a leave-in conditioner.
Letting the hair sit in a bowl of warm water for a 2-3 minutes can also help remove excess product from your extensions prior to final rinsing.
7) Gently squeeze excess water out of your hair extensions and wrap them in a towel.
Use a soft, dry towel, specifically made for hair, to remove water from your virgin hair extensions.
Microfiber towels are a good way to dry your hair without ruffling delicate cuticles.
The soft and absorbent material of a microfiber towel makes it the perfect way to dry your hair without causing damage from frizzing or using heat-styling tools.
8) Allow your hair extensions to air dry or blow dry them on a low heat setting.
Once your hair is about 80% dry, you can either allow it to air dry the rest of the way or blow dry it on a low heat setting.
If you choose to blow dry your hair, be sure to use a diffuser attachment to help distribute the heat evenly and prevent frizzing or damaging the cuticles.
Applying a heat protectant prior to blow drying is never a bad idea.
I really like Beyond The Zone Turn Up The Heat Protection Spray. It gives the hair such a lovely sheen and smells amazing!
Laying your hair extension out on a flat surface, under direct sunlight, is also a good method of drying wet hair.
Be sure to do a final detangle before doing this to avoid your bundles drying in matted clumps.
9) Once they are completely dry, comb through your hair extensions and style them as desired.
Your Brazilian virgin hair bundles are nice and clean and ready for styling. No smelly weaves over here!
The next step involves sealing the moisture into the hair, just as you would your own.
Your extensions aren’t going to get the benefits of your scalp’s natural oils (just like your natural hair) so you have to add it.
Apply your favorite oil to the hair strands, paying close attention to the ends as this will be the driest.
There are many different kinds of oils you can use. Some popular faves are:
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Jojoba Oil
- Sweet Almond Oil
You can also add a hair serum to the ends to seal as well. Apply as much serum as you would to your own hair and be sure to work it in well.
10) Enjoy your beautiful, healthy-looking hair!
The final step in the proper steps to washing your Brazilian hair bundles is to work it, sis.
Hooray! You’ve now mastered all the steps on how to wash Brazilian hair extensions the right way.
You’ve spent all this time and effort making sure your hair is clean, hydrated, and moisturized so take the time to style it and show it off!
I hope you found these tips on how to wash Brazilian hair extensions helpful.
Until next time!
Your favorite Kurlie Gurlie,
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