Stop Hair Extensions from Matting

Of all the ways you’d like your admirers to describe your hair, “rat’s nest” isn’t probably what you have in mind. Unfortunately, hair extensions are prone to matting and tangling, and once matting occurs, fixing it is difficult. The good news is that matting is completely preventable.

First, it’s important to understand why matting happens. Hair strands shed naturally, but when your hair is in hair extension bonds, it’s trapped there until you get a touch up. When the bonds are released, all the shed hair is able to fall.

It’s these shed hairs that are the troublemakers. The key to preventing matting is keeping those hairs from tangling with each other.

The most important thing you can do is brush. Brush 2 to 3 times every day with a Hair Extension Brush. (Ordinary brushes will pull on the bonds and make matting even worse.) Often clients don’t brush because it’s hard, but that’s when it’s most important to brush anyway. You can read more about hair extension brushing techniques here.

Don’t sleep with your hair wet or damp. Satin or silk pillowcases are great, too, because they don’t cause a lot of friction and static while you’re rolling around in your sleep. It also helps to braid your hair in a single plait down the back to keep hair in line while you’re asleep.

Keeping your hair clean is important. Although it’s not necessary to wash your hair every day, using a dry shampoo and brushing keeps unwanted dirt and oil from making the matting problem more complicated.

You also want to make sure you have a good start by having extensions installed correctly by an experienced professional. All the hair in the bonds should face in the same direction, and there shouldn’t be flyways and stray hairs caught in the bond. Every connection point should be neat and orderly, and every strand should lay straight down. This will help prevent matting.

It’s tempting to use conditioner on the roots to detangle, but conditioner can loosen the bond and make the extensions fall out.

Preventing hair extension matting is completely possible. The biggest key is brushing, keeping your hair clean, and sleeping with dry hair.

This Blog Post - thanks to Donna Bella Hair: http://www.donnabellahair.com/wordpress/category/hair-tips-tricks