We love extensions. No, really—we’re kind of obsessed. If you haven’t had a chance to read our post all about how to care for your extensions, definitely brush up on that because today’s post is an extension about caring for your extensions!
One of the most important things you can do to ensure your new locks thrive is to brush them daily to avoid tangling and matting. However, you can’t just use any old brush so today we’re sharing exactly what hair extension brushes we love and why we’re so particular about them.
Why is Using the Right Hairbrush So Important?
Hair breaks. We all know this. Even if you have a lot of it, it’s fragile so using tools that will help to slow the breakage is imperative. The right hairbrush is a mane-changer. Unfortunately, most run-of-the-mill hairbrushes you find in drugstores and the like have incredibly stiff bristles that actually do way more damage to your hair than good. They pull and snag and have no regard for your extensions’ feelings. In short, they’re disrespectful.
Not only that, but using the wrong hairbrush often results in the aforementioned breakage as well as split ends, which will ultimately have you back in your stylist’s chair for damage control sooner than you’d like! Therefore, getting a stylist-recommended hairbrush is so important and will give you the best ROI on your hair extensions.
What Hairbrush Should I Use on My Hair Extensions?
Three words: Boar’s hair bristle. The bristles in this brush are incredibly gentle and capable of brushing out even the toughest of tangles without causing breakage. They’re also able to evenly spread out the natural oils your scalp creates among your extensions so everybody gets hydrated. Note: the boar head bristle brush works best on dry hair.
If you’re a big proponent of brushing out your hair while in the shower or right out of the shower, Indigo Child highly recommends a wet brush. Contrary to our beloved boar’s head bristle, wet brushes are super flexible, which allows easy movement through the hair and extensions to get it detangled without damage. Wet brushes are also extremely lightweight, so you can throw it in your pool or beach bag to ensure it’s at-the-ready post swim!
Brushing Tips
Remember how Marsha from The Brady Bunch would brush her hair 100 times on each side to ensure maximum shine and softness? What’s that? You don’t know what The Brady Bunch is? Wow, we’re old.
Anyway, Marsha was onto something. There are certain brushing techniques that will work to maintain your hair extension’s softness and promote a frizz-free look. Here are our top favorites:
- Brush your extensions 2-3 times a day to prevent tangling and matting
- Start brushing at the ends and work your way up
- When hair is wet, apply a detangler or leave-in conditioner before brushing (we recommend Shu Uemura Wonder Worker Leave-in Conditioner or L’Oreal Professional 10 in 1)
- Carry your boar’s hair bristle brush and wet brush with you for quick touch-ups throughout the day
- And, as always, when in doubt—ask your stylist!
Taking care of your hair extensions and using the right tools can help you maintain the integrity of your hair and make your investment last a long time. At Indigo Child Dallas, you can find the best tools and products for your hair extensions.