Consider the Following Post Your First “Worst” Resource for Helping Your Extension Clients Out
We don’t want to sound like alarmists, but things can go wrong from time to time. From the second your clients leave your studio to the moment they return, they might accidentally be compromising the long-term performance of your handy work.
Here are the 5 worst things clients can do to extensions. We’ve put together this blog post to give you a helpful resource when it comes time to tell your clients about how prevent these things from happening.
#1: Your Client’s Common Tape-In Extension Washing Mistakes
Washing Their Hair (Read Tape-Ins) Too Soon
How long do your clients wait before washing their hair after getting your tape-in service? If the answer is before 48 hours, we’d suggest encouraging them to wait a little longer.
We create our extension tapes using a modified acrylic adhesive that grows stronger over time. If they wash their hair within two days of getting extensions, then they run the risk of making the tape slip or weaken.
After 48 hours, on the other hand, the tape is strong enough to handle a wash without weakening their bonds.
Instead!
Considering this bit of tape science, we always encourage waiting at least 48 hours after install before washing their hair. Since all of our tapes use modified acrylic adhesives, this suggestion is good regardless of the tape you and your clients go with.
Washing Too Often
Of course, there are also other things to keep in mind when your clients are washing their extensions. After those 48 hours, we’d still recommend that they take it easy on washing their hair too often. Washing too often can be tough on hair, which is all your client’s extensions have to hold on to.
Instead!
Urge them to only wash their hair twice a week. This will help promote a strong bond between their bio hair and the extensions.
Washing Too Vigorously
When washing, think about any added strain your clients might be putting on the extensions. It would be good to teach them to avoid scrubbing the wefts, where the extensions are bonded to their hair.
Instead!
Remind them to wash their hair gently by massaging sulfate-free shampoo into the scalp while avoiding the tape and then working the shampoo from the middle to the ends of their hair.
When conditioning, your clients should keep the product from seeping into the tape or roots. Keeping conditioner below the wefts along the length of the hair can ensure that chemicals don’t weaken the tape’s bond. Daily conditioners often have silicone in them, and silicone can weaken the bond if it gets on the tape.
Or Not Washing Soon Enough After Exposure to Salt or Chlorine
If your clients have exposed their hair to chlorine or salt water, caution them to wash it immediately to ensure the chemicals or salt don’t have time to mess with the adhesive. Chlorine and salt water can also be tough on their bio hair and the extensions themselves.
Instead!
The best possible thing your clients can do for extensions while swimming is to wear a swim cap.
#2: Your Client’s Common Tape-In Extension Drying Mistakes
With proper care, the hair on our heads is constantly rejuvenating itself. Hair extensions, though, lack this natural ability. So, clients need to take extra care of them to ensure they last as long as possible.
Using Heat to Dry Extensions
Using heat to dry extensions removes excess moisture and causes the hair to become dry and brittle much faster.
Instead!
Sing the praises of air drying to your clients. As it turns out, air is the best thing for our lungs and for our wet hair.
Wrapping or Squeezing Hair in a towel
To dry extensions, have your clients avoid wrapping their heads in a towel or flipping their hair upside down. Also, you want your clients to be careful to avoid squeezing or pulling hair with a towel.
Instead!
Speak to them about gently patting their hair with a towel from the bottom up and work with their fingers to gently reduce tangles. Then, they should let their hair air dry.
#3: Your Client’s Common Tape-In Brushing Mistake
Brushing Their Hair Like They Did Before Extensions
As you know better than anyone, extensions need different brush techniques than natural hair. Specifically, your clients need to take extra care to avoid pulling on the tape.
Instead!
To brush their hair with tape-ins, your client’s hair should be completely dry. Hair is the weakest when it’s wet. So, pulling on it or pulling a brush through it when it’s wet can do a lot of damage.
It might be helpful for your client to use a wide toothed comb to brush their hair. Then, encourage them to hold their hair just under the tape to ensure that they’re not pulling on the tape itself. Their best bet is to start brushing at the bottom of their hair, and methodically work their way up.
#4: Your Client’s Wild Abandon Can Cause Common Extensions Mistakes
Not Protecting Extensions While Sleeping, Exercising, & Storing
Because your client’s extensions can’t bounce back like their bio hair, they need to protect them even beyond what we’ve discussed so far. Further protection includes at least the following:
Sleeping
Exercising
Storing
For instance!
Sleeping: A low braid or loose ponytail protects their hair from excess friction.
Exercising: A higher ponytail does the best job of protecting your client’s hair from sweat and oils.
Storing: After they’re removed, gently wash, air dry, and detangle extensions. Then, tell your clients to store extensions laid out flat in an airtight container. They should be able to sit without any bending or crumpling.
#5: Your Clients Who Wait More Than Six Weeks Between Appointments Mistake
Leaving Extensions in Longer Than They Should
Remind your clients that as their hair grows the tape stays in the same place on the hair. This means their extensions slowly migrate down away from their head. While this aspect of hair growth may feel weird after long enough, there’s another vital reason for them to see you within six weeks.
After six weeks, tape-ins become tricky to remove. It’s especially true with Pro-Flex II.
Extension tape grows stronger and stronger, making it harder to remove. Since it takes longer to remove, they end up needing more time in your chair to fix the issue.
Instead!
Always invite them to come back to see you within six weeks of an install. This routine ensures the easiest and most comfortable extension experience for you and your clients.
These were the 5 worst things clients can do to extensions, and how you help them prevent these. What's your worst experience? Share with us on comment box!
