You’ve invested in high-quality, 100% Remy human hair extensions because you want to look great and feel confident. But after spending that money, you can only get the most out of your investment if you commit to thoughtful hair extension care. If not, you might damage your gorgeous extensions, which can result in thinning and fallout.  

We’ve created this guide to ensure you understand what not to do while taking care of your hair extensions. Continue reading to discover the most common hair extension mistakes people make, and how you can avoid them to extend the lifespan of your extensions.  

Mistake #1: Sleeping in Your Extensions 

We understand that you need your beauty sleep! Even so, one of the biggest mistakes to avoid with hair extensions is sleeping in your clip-n extensions.   

Although we designed our clips to be gentle on your scalp and existing hair during wear, sleeping is a different story. Many women use extensions to add volume due to thinning or hair loss. But if you sleep in your clip-in extensions, the clips will tug on your hair, which can then make the thinning or loss even worse.  

Sleeping in extensions leads to pulling a tugging on the hair and scalp. This might cause thinning, breakage, and even balding, which is stressful and unnecessary. Your extensions should make you feel confident and stylish, not cause you extra stress!  

Thus, we advise you to remove all extensions before hitting the hay for the night. Comb them out and store them safely until the next day. This will extend the life of your extensions and your natural hair!  

Mistake #2: Not Storing Extensions Correctly 

Speaking of storing extensions, another common hair extension mistake is not storing them correctly. It’s the end of a long day of working, socializing, or partying, and you’re getting tired. You want to crawl into bed the minute you get home! You read the previous tip, however, and know you shouldn’t sleep in your extensions.   

Instead, you remove them and throw them in your purse. You’ll deal with that later!  

Unfortunately, the bottom of a purse, or the glove compartment of a car, is not the ideal environment for your extensions. They are more likely to tangle, which requires maintenance. The more you need to untangle the hair, the more damage your extensions will sustain. 

Over time, this can impact the appearance of your extensions, making them look dry and damaged. It will also shorten the life of your clip-ins.  

Instead, brush out your hair extensions with a wide-tooth comb or detangling brush. Keep them in a cool, dry location, out of direct sunlight. Make sure they are completely dry before you store them. Most women keep their extensions in a shoebox, hair hanger, or hair storage bag.  

Mistake #3: Not Washing Your Extensions 

You wouldn’t go months without washing the hair on your head. Why would you go without washing your extensions?  

Although extensions don’t tend to get greasy or oily, we still expose them to the elements during wear. Like your natural hair, they can pick up scents and germs from the environment. If you want to keep your clip-ins looking fantastic, you need to wash them about once a month.  

Here are our must-follow tips for how to wash and care for clip-in hair extensions:  

• Use lukewarm water  
• Handle your extensions gently 
• Don’t scrub vigorously near the clip 
• Choose sulfate-free shampoos only 
• Condition the middle and ends with a sulfate-free conditioner 
• Gently squeeze out the moisture before air drying on a microfiber towel 
• If you need to speed up the process, use a blow dryer on low heat 

Mistake #4: Styling with Sticky Products 

Your extensions make it possible to achieve styles that you couldn’t manage with thinning hair. We don’t blame you for reaching for all your favorite tried-and-true styling products. We recommend pausing before taking out the hair spray, gel, and mousse, however.  

While these styling products get the job done, they tend to be sticky. Over time, they leave residue behind, which coats the hair. If you use these products often, your extensions might show visible build-up.  

You can combat this build-up by washing your extensions more often – but as we just mentioned, washing your extensions too often can also lead to damage.  

To avoid this hair extension mistake, save the sticky sprays and gels for special occasions, or omit them entirely. Your bouncy volume will look so spectacular that you won’t need many products!  

Mistake #5: Not Using Heat Protection 

One of our favorite benefits of 100% human hair extensions is that you can style them like your natural hair. That means you can straighten, curl, or crimp them for a night on the town.   

All human hair is susceptible to heat damage, however. Too much heat with too little protection makes hair brittle and can lead to breakage. Constant heat styling is one of the quickest ways that shiny human hair extensions lose their luster. You might accidentally singe those delicate locks. 

One way to avoid this problem is to limit how much you use heat tools. Opt for heatless options like foam rollers or other heatless curlers, and let your extensions air dry as much as possible. When you do use a hot product, try to use it on the lowest heat setting to avoid burning or drying out your extension.  

Another way to avoid this hair extension mistake is to pick up a heat protectant spray. Both your natural hair and your extensions will thank you! Choose a natural, sulfate-free product for the best results, and always make sure you use it before using a heated product on your extensions.  

Mistake #6: DIY Color Treatments 

Although you can color human hair extensions, you should avoid trying so at home. At-home box dyes or inexperience can lead to uneven tones, mismatched colors, or even irreversible damage to your extensions.  

To avoid this hair extension mistake, always bring your extensions to a professional to help you color them. They’ll be able to seamlessly blend your colors and will know exactly what to do to help your extensions last longer and look as natural as possible.  

Extend the Life of Your Extensions with Thoughtful Hair Extension Care 

The secret to long-lasting human hair extensions isn’t magic—it’s basic, consistent hair extension care. Familiarize yourself with the mistakes above so you don’t accidentally damage your hair or your luxury extensions. The right maintenance will ensure your gorgeous clip-ins provide confidence and style for years to come!  

Wondering how to avoid mistakes with hair extensions? Arguably the easiest way to do this is to simply use the right products and some extra care. If you do this, you can help your extensions look healthy for years to come. 

Are you ready to make an investment in your hair? Women across the country are falling in love with The Lauren Ashtyn Collection’s luxury hair extensions. Shop our collection and discover why luxury and confidence go hand-in-hand.