If you’re new to the world of hair extensions, it’s only natural that you have questions about maintenance and aftercare. In this article, we answer those questions and explain why maintenance is so important. We also look at how often micro rings need maintenance and what you can do at home to look after them.
So, how often do micro rings need maintenance? We recommend monthly in-salon micro ring maintenance appointments during which time your extensions will be removed and resealed with a keratin bond. Your natural hair will be washed, blow-dried, trimmed and re-sectioned before the extensions are refitted.
Read on to learn more about micro ring hair extensions maintenance with an award-winning hair extension salon.
How Often Should You Maintain Micro Ring Hair Extensions?
Micro ring maintenance is one of the main factors that contribute to the longevity of your extensions. We don’t recommend wearing micro ring extensions for longer than 2 months at a time without refitting, during which we advise monthly maintenance appointments.
Wearing your extensions for longer than the recommended period (without maintenance and refitting) risks your roots becoming tangled which may damage the extensions.
What Maintenance is Required?
To maintain the health of both your natural hair and your extensions, regular maintenance appointments are required at the salon. Likewise, there are also a number of recommended aftercare procedures to help keep your hair healthy and ensure the longevity of your extensions.
In-Salon Micro Ring Maintenance
During your in-salon maintenance appointments, the extensions will be removed and resealed with a keratin bond. This helps to remove any product build-up and reduce shedding. Your natural hair will also be washed, blow-dried, trimmed and resectioned, during which time we’ll check the health of your hair and scalp. After this, your extensions will be refitted. Expect your maintenance appointments to last between 2-4 hours.
Can You Reuse Micro Ring Extensions?
Micro ring extensions can be reused. In fact, during maintenance appointments, we use the same extensions when we refit them at the end of the appointment. With proper maintenance and after care, your extensions can be reused for up to 5 years.
General Aftercare
In order to keep your micro rings in top condition (so that they do, indeed last 5 years), in-salon maintenance isn’t enough. You need to look after them at home too.
Washing
Try to wash your hair extensions 2-3 times per week, being sure to detangle them with a wide tooth comb first. Always wash your hair upright, not hanging over the bath, as this can cause unnecessary tangling.
When applying shampoo and conditioner, don’t rub it in vigorously. Instead, smooth it down the length of the hair. Note that conditioner should only be applied from the mid-lengths of the hair down to the ends. Avoid using conditioner on or around the micro rings as this can cause slippage and they may require refitting.
Products
We recommend that you use Neal and Wolf products. These are the products we use in the salon; they are sulphate, paraben, TEA, DEA and cruelty free. Additionally, they are formulated to restore your natural hair whilst simultaneously conditioning your hair extensions.
A lot of cheaper, high street brands typically contain silicone-based ingredients. These cause the bonds in your hair to weaken which will eventually lead to your extensions falling out. It’s paramount that you choose suitable products to maintain your micro ring extensions.
Sleeping
As micro rings are permanent, you need to find a way to protect them whilst you sleep. Here are a few ways we recommend:
- Detangle before going to bed
- Use a silk pillowcase
- Use a silk bonnet
- Use a silk head scarf
- Put your hair in a loose braid
- Put your hair in a low-positioned ponytail
Exercising & Swimming
Despite the common misconception, you absolutely can swim whilst wearing micro ring extensions. We recommend tying your hair back into a bun, ponytail or braid to help minimise tangling. Afterwards, be sure to detangle, wash and condition your hair. This will help to restore much-needed moisture after swimming.
For more general exercise, we recommend putting your hair into a braid to avoid tangling and lessen the chance of your hair getting caught in any machines.
Tips for Looking After Your Extensions
We’ve already touched on these throughout this blog, but the key things to remember for micro ring maintenance are:
- Don’t skip your maintenance appointments. These are essential for the health of your natural hair and the longevity of your extensions.
- Choose the right products. Cheaper high street hair products often contain harsh chemicals that can damage both your natural hair and your extensions. We recommend Neal & Wolf.
- Protective hairstyles are key. We recommend trying to get to grips with braiding your hair; braids are perfect for sleeping, swimming and exercising. Plus, they look super cute!
- Invest in silk or satin items for sleep. A pillowcase, headscarf or bonnet is ideal.
- Be gentle with your extensions. Whatever you’re doing, try to be as gentle as possible when handling your extensions. This includes brushing/detangling, washing and styling.
Hair Extensions at The Hair Alchemist
The Hair Alchemist is an award-winning hair extension salon, specialising in luxury Russian hair extensions. We offer a number of types of hair extensions, including micro rings, miniature micro rings and clip-in extensions. We only use quality Russian and Slavic hair for our extensions due to its health, strength and quality.
Take a look at our options online today or get in touch for more information.