subject: Hair Extensions: Storing And Caring For Your Purchase [print this page] Not all hair extensions are meant to be woven in by a professional. Increasingly, those who are on a budget or simply want to change up their style every now and then are opting for the clip-in option. While certainly cheaper and less elaborate, they can be inconvenient to store and care for when you aren't wearing them. If you just toss them in a drawer and forget about them, they could easily get tangled and matted, which may make them unusable next time you want to try something a little different. Here are some tips that will extend the life of your purchase.
Cleaning
As it is with your natural locks, you can't allow your hair extensions to get endlessly dirty or they will not be appropriate for wearing. If you use a lot of product when you style your locks, the need for a good cleaning regimen is even more essential. For most types, a mild shampoo should do the trick nicely, though they do sell special cleansers you can use specifically for this purpose. If you are hesitant about ruining your purchase with any other soaps or shampoos, you might do well to stick with a specified product.
Drying
Don't store your hair extensions before allowing them to dry from the cleaning. This is best done by laying them out on a towel. If you don't have the counter space for that, you can always clip them to a clothes hangar or any other attachment that will let them hang freely and dry. You don't want to use a hair dryer to speed up the process if you're dealing with synthetic products. Heat can quickly destroy the fibers, rendering the product useless and ruined. It is, however, important to make sure they are fully dry before putting them away. Otherwise, you are inviting mold growth and a lingering smell.
Storing
How you choose to store your hair extensions is largely up to your discretion, though there are arguments to be made for putting them out of the direct sunlight. After enough exposure to sunlight, the color could fade out of the material, ruining the careful match you doubtlessly made when you picked them out. Most beauty supply stores sell special containers designed to store hair extensions, though it isn't necessary to buy one. A plastic bag or sturdy box will do the job just as well. You can even fold them up into a drawer. Just be careful not to bunch them up, or you could find a mess of tangles when you fish them out.
