Hair Care Guide - The Hair The Lace

Complete Care for Bundles, Closures & Frontals

Important Notice

All our hair products are carefully handcrafted. Due to the manual nature of this process, each piece may display slight variations in color, dimension, and overall appearance. These natural differences are inherent to handcrafted products and reflect authentic craftsmanship.

Products may appear slightly different from website or social media images due to lighting conditions, photography techniques, and screen display settings. Natural human hair also varies in tone depending on indoor versus outdoor lighting.

Professional Installation Required: For optimal results and hair longevity, installation should always be performed by a licensed or extension-certified hair stylist. Self-installations or installations by unlicensed individuals are undertaken at your own risk. We cannot be held responsible for results or experiences from improper installation.

Understanding Your Hair Type: Virgin vs Raw

Before diving into care instructions, it's important to understand the difference between virgin and raw hair, as this affects longevity and maintenance requirements.

Feature	Raw Hair	Virgin Hair
Donor Source	2- 3 donors per bundle (100g)	Multiple donors (3+ per bundle)
Processing	100% unprocessed, natural state, Steamed depending on texture	Lightly processed for uniformity
Cuticle Alignment	Naturally aligned, intact	Aligned, intact cuticles
Expected Lifespan	3-4 years with proper care	2-3 years with proper care
Texture	Natural, may vary slightly	Consistent, uniform
Best For	Long-term wear, repeated installs	Consistent results, ease of use

Important: Both raw and virgin hair are premium quality. The choice depends on your lifestyle, budget, and how long you plan to wear the extensions.

Washing Instructions

Frequency: Wash your extensions once every 1-2 weeks, or as needed. Over-washing can strip natural oils and cause dryness.

Step-by-Step Washing Process:

1. Pre-wash preparation: Gently detangle your extensions using a wide-tooth comb or paddle brush, working from ends to roots. This prevents matting during washing.

2. Wet the hair: Hold bundles or wefts together at the top and wet thoroughly with lukewarm water. Avoid hot water as it can dry out the hair.

3. Apply shampoo: Use a sulphate-free, gentle shampoo. Apply in a downward motion, massaging gently. Never scrub or bunch the hair as this causes tangling.

4. Rinse thoroughly: Ensure all shampoo is completely rinsed out with lukewarm water. Product build-up can weigh hair down and cause stiffness.

5. Condition: Apply a moisturizing conditioner from mid-length to ends, avoiding the weft. Leave for 3-5 minutes, then rinse with cool water to seal cuticles and add shine.

6. Deep condition: At least twice a month, use a deep conditioning treatment or hair mask. Leave for 30 minutes to 2 hours for maximum hydration.

Product Recommendations

While you may use products from your preferred brands, we recommend the following types of products for optimal results:

Essential Products:

• Sulphate-free shampoo (gentle cleansing without stripping oils)

• Moisturizing conditioner (hydrating, not heavy)

• Deep conditioning treatment or hair mask (for intensive moisture)

• Leave-in conditioner (lightweight formula for daily moisture)

• Heat protectant spray (essential before any heat styling)

• Lightweight oil (argan, coconut, or jojoba for sealing moisture)

• Wide-tooth comb and soft bristle brush (for gentle detangling)

Look for products labelled "color-safe," "sulphate-free," "paraben-free," and "for chemically treated hair" if your extensions are pre-colored.

Drying Your Extensions

Air drying: Allow extensions to air dry whenever possible. Gently squeeze out excess water with a microfiber towel (never rub or twist). Lay flat or hang to dry naturally.

Blow drying: If using a blow dryer, always apply heat protectant first. Use the cool or low heat setting. Never brush extensions while blow drying when they're wet - use your fingers to separate hair instead. Only brush when hair is 90% dry to prevent breakage.

Important: Never brush or comb wet extensions vigorously. Human hair extensions are most vulnerable when wet and can stretch or break easily. Use a wide-tooth comb for gentle detangling only.

Heat Styling Advice

Heat styling is safe for your extensions when done correctly, but excessive heat will shorten their lifespan.

Heat Styling Guidelines:

• Always use heat protectant before any heat styling - no exceptions

• Keep heat settings between 150-180°C (300-350°F). Higher temperatures cause damage

• Never straighten or curl wet or damp hair - this causes permanent damage

• Pass the styling tool through each section only 1-2 times to minimize heat exposure

• For straightening: After styling, wrap hair in a silk scarf overnight to allow cuticles to settle and cool

• For curling: You can style and go - no need to let hair rest

Maintaining Curly Texture & Hydration

Curly textures (body wave, deep wave, water wave, kinky curly) require extra moisture to maintain their pattern and prevent frizz.

Curly Hair Care Tips:

• Deep condition weekly to keep curls hydrated and bouncy

• Apply leave-in conditioner while hair is damp to lock in moisture

• Use a lightweight oil or curl cream to define and separate curls

• Avoid over-brushing curly hair - use fingers or a wide-tooth comb only when necessary

• Scrunch hair gently when applying products to enhance curl pattern

• Air dry or use a diffuser on low heat to preserve curl definition

• Refresh curls between washes with a water spray bottle and curl refresher

Night Routine & Protection

Protecting your extensions at night is crucial for preventing tangling, matting, and dryness.

Night-time Protection:

• Always sleep on a satin or silk pillowcase to reduce friction

• Alternatively, wrap hair in a satin or silk scarf or bonnet

• Gently brush hair before bed to remove any tangles

• For straight styles: Wrap hair around your head and secure with a silk scarf

• For curly styles: Gather into a loose pineapple on top of your head using a satin scrunchie

• Never sleep with wet extensions - this causes severe tangling and matting

Storage Guidance

Proper storage between wears helps maintain quality and extends the life of your extensions.

Storage Guidelines:

• Always wash and condition extensions before storing

• Allow hair to dry completely - never store damp extensions

• Gently brush and detangle before putting away

• Store in original packaging, a satin bag, or a breathable storage box

• Keep in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and heat

• Avoid humid environments like bathrooms which can cause mildew

• For closures and frontals: Store flat or on a mannequin head to maintain shape

Daily Maintenance

• Brush your extensions at least 2-3 times daily using a soft bristle brush or wide-tooth comb

• Always brush from ends to roots, working in small sections

• Never brush aggressively or when hair is wet (except with a wide-tooth comb)

• Apply a small amount of lightweight oil to ends daily to maintain moisture

• Avoid exposing hair to chlorine, salt water, or harsh chemicals without protection

Understanding Shedding

Some shedding is completely normal with all human hair extensions. Here's what you need to know:

Normal Shedding:

• Losing 5-15 strands per day is normal, especially during washing and brushing

• Initial shedding in the first few washes is expected as loose hairs release

• This decreases significantly after the first 2-3 washes

• Proper installation by a professional minimizes shedding

Preventing Excessive Shedding:

• Do not cut through the weft - this breaks the seal and causes shedding

• Do not pierce the weft with needles during installation

• Consider sealing wefts before installation for extra security

• Handle hair gently during washing and styling

• Avoid excessive heat and chemical treatments

Maximizing Longevity

With proper care, your extensions can last their full expected lifespan and sometimes beyond. Here's how to maximize longevity:

Key Factors for Long-Lasting Extensions:

• Professional installation and removal every time

• Consistent maintenance routine (washing every 1-2 weeks, deep conditioning biweekly)

• Minimal heat styling (or use low temperatures with heat protectant)

• Gentle handling during all stages - washing, drying, styling, sleeping

• Proper storage between wears

• Using quality, sulphate-free products

• Protecting from chlorine, salt water, and harsh environmental conditions

• Avoiding chemical treatments unless done by a professional (and understanding this may reduce lifespan)

Chemical Treatments & Color Services

Important Warning: Any coloring, bleaching, toning, or chemical processing of your extensions is done entirely at your own risk and immediately voids our exchange and refund policy.

We strongly recommend against chemical processing by unlicensed individuals. Hair extensions are a significant investment, and chemical services should only be performed by qualified professionals experienced in working with extensions.

If you choose to chemically alter your extensions:

• Always consult a licensed professional colorist

• Perform a strand test first to check how the hair reacts

• Understand that chemical processing will shorten the lifespan of your extensions

• Be prepared for increased maintenance needs (more frequent deep conditioning)

• Accept that we cannot be held responsible for damage resulting from chemical treatments

Potential reactions to improper chemical processing include extreme dryness, breakage, shedding, matting, tangling, and complete loss of hair integrity.

Final Care Reminders

• Treat your extensions as you would treat your own hair - with care and respect

• When in doubt, err on the side of gentleness

• Consistent care is better than occasional intensive treatments

• Listen to your hair - if it feels dry, add moisture; if it feels heavy, clarify

• Professional advice is always worth seeking when you're unsure

• Your extensions are an investment - protect them accordingly

___

Questions about caring for your extensions? Contact us at www.thhairthelace.com

© 2026 The Hair The Lace. All rights reserved.