Hair extensions offer the freedom of adding length and fullness to your natural hair.
Unfortunately, these beauty products come with their drawbacks. They can lead to breakage, cause thinning, and even result in hair loss.
Most extension damages result from traction or pulling of the hair follicles.
For this reason, they should be correctly applied without too much weight on the hair strands.
Today, we outlined some simple tips to help repair hair after extensions removed.
Let’s get to it!
9 Ways to Repair Your Hair After Extensions Removed
Extensions can have a stressful and aggressive effect on the hair follicles. Even safer options like tape-ins and clip-ins can result in damage over time. Eventually, they could lead to breakage, thinning, and even hair loss.
Here are some simple and natural tips to help repair your hair after removing extensions.
1. Hairdresser Advice
You can look for the help of a hairstylist if you are looking for solutions to repair damaged hair.
Hairstylists have extensive knowledge of various styling techniques and hair care products. They can offer advice depending on your needs and recommend a good hair care routine.
Besides, avoid removing the extensions by yourself. It helps to have a hairstylist remove the fusion extensions, Micro ring extensions, or clip-ins style extensions. Extensions apply pressure to the roots of the hair. Therefore, if not removed correctly, they pull the hair follicles and cause breakage.
Furthermore, a hairstylist can assess your hair and decide whether to trim the split ends. This is necessary to rejuvenate the strands and stimulate hair growth.
They can also observe and talk about how much stress the extension exerted on your roots. Typically, the hair should be strong enough to hold the weight of the applied extension.
I recommend taking a break from hair extensions. You can try wearing lace front wigs to give the damaged hair time to recover.
2. Wash and Condition
Keeping your hair clean is one of the best hair care after extension removal. It ensures the hair stays healthy and promotes growth.
However, you should avoid overwashing. Wash only as needed to avoid ripping off natural oils from the scalp. Consider using a no poo, low poo, conditioner-only cleansing formula as they are not harsh on the scalp.
Besides, you can wash using water only, conditioner, or a diluted shampoo formula. This will avoid causing extra trauma to the delicate roots. Ensure you evade chemical products when washing damaged hair to help minimize breakage.
Moreover, hydrate your hair to keep it moisturized for a long-lasting repairing effect. Consider using moisturizing conditioners and shampoos.
Note: It is better to use a shampoo containing coconut oil, glycerin, and panthenol to nourish your hair. For one reason, coconut oil seals the hair to prevent dryness. Second, glycerin reduces scalp inflammation. And finally, panthenol helps improve the texture of damaged hair.
3. Hair Mask
Hair masks can moisturize your hair since the scalp can get very dry after taking out extensions. They act as intensive hair conditioners or deep conditioning treatments.
These masks are beneficial to boost the condition and health of brittle, dry, or damaged hair. They get deep into the cuticle and hair strands to repair breakages.
On top of that, hair masks help hydrate hair and tame frizz. In return, they reduce damage and strengthen the hair follicles.
Applying a hair mask once a week and leaving it for 30 minutes to an hour is better. But if your hair is severely damaged or dry, consider using it thrice a week and let it sit for about 4 hours.
4. Detangle Your Hair
Detangling natural hair is beneficial in preventing knots that would otherwise cause breakage. The more tangled the hair is, the harder it is to comb through without excessive shedding or tearing hair.
Therefore, brush your hair gently to keep damage at bay. Before combing, run your fingers through the hair to remove most of the tangles.
Then, use a wide-toothed comb or a detangling brush to remove the knots. This way, you will minimize tension and prevent aggressive pulling. It would help spritz hair detangler to make the hair soft and easier to detangle.
Additionally, consider having scalp treatments to keep the hair healthy. The oil helps to nourish your hair, seal the hair cuticles, and lock in moisture.
5. Avoid Heat
You should use sun protection on hair after extension removal to keep it less prone to breakage. The harmful UV rays from the sun can cause the hair to dry, frizz, break, and even lead to thin hair with split ends.
Likewise, lay off using hot water, blow dryers, and hot irons or rollers on your hair. Heat can cause damage to the keratin that strengthens the hair. It can also crack the cuticle and strip moisture from the hair strands.
Instead, rinse your hair with cold water and fully air dry afterward. Also, consider using heatless curls by leaving braids or a bun overnight. As a result, you will prevent further damage, and the hair will recover faster.
However, if you must use heat, use a heat protectant spray. Ensure you regulate the heat to around 200 °F to 300 °F. Any temperature above this will cause breakage.
6. Silk Pillowcase
Resting your head on a silk pillowcase can be a great way to care for damaged hair. They are smooth and gentle on hair, unlike other fabrics, such as cotton, that can ruin your hair.
Cotton pillowcases can cause extra damage after extensions. Especially if the hair is already dry and prone to breakage.
Fortunately, silk pillowcases reduce friction that could cause tangles and breakage while sleeping.
Moreover, it helps hair retain moisture and natural oils more than cotton pillowcases. This prevents the hair from drying out and also reduces frizz.
7. Dietary Tips
A healthy diet can help the hair stay vibrant and strong. This only means that you should take the right vitamins and minerals to aid the hair repair cycle.
The hair, for instance, is primarily made up of proteins. That is why it is crucial to incorporate protein into your daily diet to improve the health of your hair.
You can eat beans and lentils as they are a good source of protein. They are also rich in zinc, biotin, and iron. Protein and iron nourish the hair follicle to help the hair grow stronger and fuller.
Moreover, studies suggest that biotin and zinc aid the hair repair cycle and help regrow hair. [1]
Furthermore, one study reveals that taking vitamins and supplements with vitamin E or black currant seed oil can reduce hair loss. They offer a higher concentration of specific nutrients. These increase blood circulation and stimulate hair growth. [2]
Note: First consult with a specialist before starting any supplement regimen.
8. Go To a Dermatologist
See a dermatologist if you experience traction alopecia or excessive hair loss. They can provide a sustainable plan for your condition.
Typically, changes in hair thickness could be a sign of underlying health conditions. A dermatologist can give a more effective and tailored treatment regimen.
The good thing about traction alopecia is that it is reversible when diagnosed early. All you have to do is avoid hairstyles that cause pulling and tension on the roots of the hair.
Moreover, hair loss after removing the extension could be due to your home care regime. An expert will help you find the right balance to minimize damage to your natural hair.
However, sometimes do not get alarmed at how much hair you shed after extension removal. Dermatologists explain that the average head loses about 50-100 hairs a day. In your case, you could be shedding the hairs that couldn’t freely fall out due to bead locks. [3]
9. Be Patient
You should be patient, as new hair growth takes time before noticing any progress.
For instance, most humans can grow new hair at a rate of half an inch per month or six inches each year. You can couple the rate at which the hair regrows with hair treatment and supplements.
However, it can take up to four years to regrow hair if the hair follicles are extremely damaged.
In the meantime, as you wait for the hair to grow, take good care of it. Consider avoiding hair products with chemicals and only go for natural ones.
Quick Tip: As you wait for regrowth, massage the scalp at least once daily. This helps to stimulate blood flow to the follicles and promote hair growth.
Final Thoughts
Now you know how to repair hair after extensions removed. Consider following the above tips to achieve the best outcome. Remember that it takes time to notice new hair growth; therefore, you should be patient.
Leave a comment below and let us know how you care for hair after removing extensions.
