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Luscious, soft, and shiny hair extensions can completely transform your look. But over time, extensions and wigs lose their silkiness and start to tangle, frizz and look dull. With the proper care techniques and products, you can keep your hair enhancements smooth, conditioned and radiant.

In this comprehensive guide, discover how to maintain soft and shiny hair extensions or wigs whether they are made of human hair or synthetic fibers. Learn key strategies to care for and soften hair extensions, along with product recommendations for nurturing your extensions and preserving their texture.

Why Hair Extensions Lose Their Softness and Shine

Before diving into how to keep hair extensions soft and shiny, it’s important to understand what causes them to become dry and lackluster in the first place. Here are some of the top reasons extensions lose their soft, silky texture:

Lack of Moisture hair extensions and high-quality synthetic wigs rely on regular conditioning to retain moisture. Without proper hydration, they become dry and prone to tangling and breakage. The lack of moisture causes the cuticles to lift, leading to frizziness and dullness.

Heat Styling Damage

Frequent use of hot styling tools like curling irons, straighteners and blow dryers causes damage to the hair fiber structure, leaving it dry and brittle. The high heat evaporates the moisture, causing the hair to become parched.

Sun and Environmental Exposure

Just like natural hair, extensions and wigs are vulnerable to UV rays, humidity and pollution. Overexposure to these elements leaves the hair looking fried, frizzy and lacking shine.

Product Buildup

Using lower quality products or overusing certain products can leave residue on the extensions. This buildup coats the hair, making it look greasy, lifeless and matted.

Improper Detangling

Aggressive brushing or combing can cause the hair to tangle and break. This damage disturbs the cuticles, causing a loss of softness and sheen. Detangling must be gentle to avoid compromising the texture.

Poor Quality Extensions

Low grade human hair or cheap synthetic extensions are inherently prone to dryness, tangling and lack of shine. Investing in better quality hair enhancements can help avoid these problems.

How to Keep Human Hair Extensions Soft

Human hair extensions give you long, voluminous locks while matching your natural texture and blendability. But you’ll need to practice proper care to keep human hair extensions soft and supple. Follow these techniques:

1. Pick the Right Shampoo and Conditioner

Go for a moisturizing, sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner specially formulated for extensions and wigs. Sulfates can strip the hair of oils, so avoiding these harsh detergents preserves softness.

Nourishing ingredients like argan oil, vitamin E, keratin and shea butter replenish moisture, keeping the hair touchably soft.

2. Limit Washing

Refrain from overwashing, which can deplete the hair’s natural oils. For human hair extensions, wash them once every 7-10 days. Only shampoo the roots to avoid drying out the lengths.

3. Deep Condition Regularly

Deep conditioning treatments intensely hydrate the hair to restore suppleness and sheen. Apply a hair mask from mid-lengths to ends after shampooing.

Leave it on for 10-15 minutes before rinsing out thoroughly. Doing this weekly keeps the hair extensions ultra soft.

4. Air Dry Extensions

Let your human hair extensions air dry instead of blow drying. Avoid rubbing them dry with a towel – gently squeeze out excess moisture instead. The water molecules expand the hair cuticles, so air drying allows them to close naturally.

5. Sleep in a Protective Style

Braid, wrap or pineapple your human hair extensions before sleeping. Friction against pillowcases causes tangles and moisture loss. A nighttime protective style preserves softness and reduces breakage.

6. Apply Leave-In Conditioner

Lightweight leave-in conditioners provide lasting hydration between washes. Apply from the mid-lengths of your human hair extensions down to the ends. Avoid the roots, which can get greasy.

7. Use Thermal Protectant

Shield against styling tool damage by evenly spraying a heat protectant before using hot tools. The layer of protection maintains softness and suppleness. Limit tool use to preserve moisture.

8. Oil Massage to Seal in Moisture

A few drops of hair oil like argan, coconut or jojoba nourishes the hair while sealing in moisture. Gently massage oil on dry human hair extensions from the mid-shaft downwards to prevent greasiness near the roots.

How to Make Synthetic Hair Extensions Soft

Synthetic extensions don’t absorb moisture like human hair. But you can still take steps to maximize their softness and minimize tangles:

1. Wash Less Frequently

Washing synthetic extensions too often can strip any factory-applied silicone coatings that provide slickness. Wash them once every 2-3 weeks max. Use a mild, silicone-free shampoo.

2. Avoid Hot Tools

Heat damages synthetic hair fiber. Skip hot tools like curling and flat irons. Even blow drying can risk heat exposure, so air dry instead whenever possible.

3. Only Detangle Gently

Aggressive brushing or combing knots up synthetic extensions. Carefully detangle using a wide-toothed comb, working in sections from the bottom upwards. Avoid yanking.

4. Apply Silicone Serums

Silicone-based serums help reduce friction, adding slick texture to synthetic hair strands. Concentrate serums on the mid-lengths and ends instead of roots.

5. Use a Setting Spray

Spritzing synthetic wigs or extensions with a flexible hold setting spray keeps the style in place while reducing static. This helps minimize dryness and frizz.

6. Store Properly

Keep synthetic extensions tucked away in their original packaging or tightly wound in a bun when not in use. Avoid direct light, which can fade color and dry out the fibers.

Maintaining Shine in Hair Extensions

In addition to nurturing softness, maximizing shine keeps hair extensions looking healthy and vibrant. Here are tips for maintaining luminous, glossy extensions and wigs:

Use Clarifying Shampoo Periodically

Product buildup causes dullness in extensions. Use a clarifying shampoo once a month to remove residue without stripping oils or hydration. Thoroughly rinse clarifying shampoo after use.

Choose Shine Enhancing Products

Conditioners, masks and serums containing ingredients like silicone, glycerin, jojoba and argan oils boost shine. Smooth a tiny amount of serum onto your strands before styling for maximum radiance.

Avoid Overstyling

Excessive heat styling and over-manipulation damages the cuticle over time, causing dullness. Limit use of hot tools and handling to preserve shine.

Dry Hair Thoroughly

Trapped moisture causes lackluster hair. Blot wet extensions gently and allow to fully air dry. If blow drying, use the cool setting to lock in shine.

Dust Extensions Regularly

Product residue and pollutant particles settle on extensions, making them appear dirty and lifeless. Use a soft bristle makeup brush to dust extensions, removing dulling buildup.

Deep Condition Extensions

Weekly deep conditioning treatments help boost radiance and remove any coating. Apply mid-lengths down and leave on 10-15 minutes before rinsing thoroughly for vibrant shine.

Brush With Natural Bristles

Plastic bristles cause static and frizz, ruining shine. Use brushes with natural boar bristles to redistribute oils for a luminous finish. Make sure to hold hair below the roots when brushing.

Best Products to Keep Extensions Soft and Shiny

Using the right hair care products helps maintain the best texture and luster for hair extensions. Here are the top recommendations:

Shampoos

• Olaplex No.4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo – Sulfate-free cleansing and bonding for strength, softness and shine
• Pureology Strength Cure Shampoo – Gentle protein rebuilder fortifies while hydrating
• Caviar Repairx Hydra-Strength Shampoo – Contains caviar extract, vitamin C, biotin and seaweed for softness

Conditioners

• It’s A 10 Miracle Leave-In Product – Detangles, softens, and adds silkiness
• Alterna Caviar Repairx Instant Recovery Conditioner – Intense hydrator infused with caviar extract
• Redken One United All Soft Mega Mask – Deeply nourishes and strengthens strands

Hair Masks

• Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask – Rosehip, coconut and vitamin E nourish and soften
• Verb Ghost Conditioner – Lightweight yet ultra-hydrating mask
• Moroccanoil Restorative Hair Mask – Repairs and deeply conditions for softness

Oils and Serums

• Olaplex No.7 Bonding Oil – Reparative oil that smoothes frizz and flyaways
• TGIN Rose Water Smoothing Hair Serum – Infuses hair with nourishing moisture
• Moroccanoil Treatment Original – Argan oil-based serum boosts shine and manageability
• Kérastase Elixir Ultime L’Original Hair Oil – Softens and adds luminous shine

Setting Sprays

• Kenra Volume 25 Working Hair Spray – Strong yet flexible hold with shine
• Ouai Texturizing Hair Spray – Lightly texturizes while controlling frizz
• R+Co High Dive Moisture & Shine Crème – Conditions and enhances shine

Common Mistakes That Ruin Softness and Shine

Some common hair extension mistakes promote dryness, tangling and lackluster hair. Avoid these pitfalls:

• Washing too frequently – Leads to dryness
• Brushing when wet – Causes breakage and frizz
• Sleeping with wet hair – Invites tangles, matting and moisture loss
• Using harsh shampoos – Strips oils, leaving hair parched
• Overusing hot tools – Damages and dries out hair
• Applying oil to the roots – Causes greasy, limp hair
• Skipping conditioning – Results in dry, brittle texture
• Rubbing hair dry – Disturbs cuticles, damaging hair
• Using low quality accessories – Poor quality combs, brushes or ties cause breakage

With some diligent TLC and the right products, your hair extensions can continue looking soft, silky and healthy. Avoid overwashing, heat damage and friction while regularly conditioning the hair. Handle gently, store properly and touch up shine for hair extensions that maintain their texture and brilliance.

Frequently Asked Questions About Soft and Shiny Extensions

Can I use my regular shampoo on hair extensions?

It’s best to use a sulfate-free shampoo specially formulated for extensions, wigs and weaves. Regular shampoos can be too harsh and drying. Always pick a hydrating, nourishing shampoo.

How often should I condition my extensions?

Condition extensions whenever you wash them. For extra softness and shine, apply a hair mask treatment weekly focusing just on the lengths and ends of the hair. Avoid over-conditioning the roots which can get greasy.

What is the best oil for hair extensions?

Light, nourishing oils like argan, coconut, almond and jojoba work great to hydrate extensions. Only use 1-2 drops applied mid-lengths downwards. Avoid getting oils on the roots or scalp area to prevent greasiness.

Can I use a detangling spray on extensions?

Yes, a lightweight detangling spray can help gently separate knots and tangles in hair extensions. Avoid heavily coated, greasy formulas. Separate hair into sections before spraying detangler evenly onto dry extensions, then gently comb through.

How do I make dull extensions shiny again?

Deep condition dull extensions with a hydrating hair mask. Clarify hair by washing with a chelating shampoo. Apply shine serum from mid-lengths to ends. Dust extensions with a clean makeup brush to remove residue. Limit heat styling and overhandling.

Summary: Caring For Soft and Shiny Extensions

• Pick shampoos and conditioners specially formulated for extensions and wigs to avoid stripping
• Limit washing to every 7-10 days for human hair extensions and 2-3 weeks for synthetic
• Apply hair masks weekly and leave-in conditioners to deeply nourish strands
• Let hair air dry thoroughly and sleep with hair protected to prevent moisture loss
• Gently detangle extensions with proper brushes, combs and techniques
• Apply oils, serums and thermal protectants to boost softness and shine
• Avoid overwashing, excessive heat styling and rough handling
• Deep condition regularly and use shine boosting products for radiant extensions

With the proper maintenance strategies and highest quality hair enhancements, you can rock soft, smooth and shiny locks. Show off your extended lengths or voluminous wig with touchable texture and maximum sheen using these useful caring tips.