How Long Do Hair Extensions Last?

There are many factors which contribute to how long a set of hair extensions last, including the colour, origin and brand you have selected, however the most important factor is how well they are looked after.

Even the most expensive extensions on the market will not last a very long time if they are not cared for correctly, and here we go through out top tips on getting your hair extensions to last a long time.

There is no set time that a set of hair extensions should last, as manufacturers and brands will advise that their hair extensions can last from anywhere from 1 month to 2 years.  As a good rule of thumb, you should expect to get 3-5 months out a good quality set of hair extensions, with Glam by Lexx lasting much longer if they are looked after well.

Contrary to popular belief, the origin of the hair extensions you select will have little impact on the duration of time your hair extensions last.  Whether you chose Indian, Brazilian, Russian, Mongolian etc these are all essentially the same product.  We all grow human hair in the exact same way, therefore it is how the hair is cared for by the donor, and processed once it is sourced by the manufacturer in terms of how well it is coloured, and whether or not it remains 100% human and 100% remy which will help determine how long the hair extensions are likely to last.

Top Tip: When selecting hair extensions, focus on the manufacturing process of the hair, rather than its origin.  You want hair that is processed slowly, as this will mean that the hair has been treated well and much more likely to last.

As detailed above, the best way to make your hair extensions last as long as possible is to care for them correctly.  Hair extensions are relatively easy to look after, however you need to know what you are doing in order to prevent them from becoming dry and damaging quicker than you would have hoped.

Most hair extensions will come with a recommended shampoo and conditioner, and as long as this is of a high quality, then most shampoos and conditioners will do a pretty decent job of keeping your hair extensions clean.  What shampoos and conditioners can’t do however is keep your hair extensions nourished, which is why it is very important to be using a hair oil on your hair extensions at all times.

Oil is a very important part of haircare, which is why our scalps produce sebum.  Sebum, more commonly referred to as “grease” whilst annoying, actually helps to keep our natural hair soft, nourished and healthy.

Unfortunately once hair extensions are cut away from the scalp, they no longer have access to sebum, which will mean they are prone to dryness and the texture will inevitably change over time.  In order to help correct this, oils are used on the hair to help replace the sebum, and prevent the hair extensions from becoming dry.

When selected an oil to use on your hair extensions there are a few important factors to consider.

1. Ensure the hair oil you have chosen does not contain silicones.  Many commercial hair oils will list silicones in their ingredients, and more often than not this will mean that your hair oil is more chemical than it is actual oil.  Silicones sit on the hair shaft, coating the hair giving the illusion that your hair is silky soft, however once washed away the hair will have remained unchanged, and will continue to suffer from its lack of oils.  The silicones in the formula will also prevent any of the actual oil in the product making its way through to the hair.
2. Opt for all natural.  Instead of choosing an oil which is full of silicones, chose an oil which is all natural.  This will help the oil to act in the same way that sebum does, working its way into the hair shaft to keep the hair nourished, rather than just coating the outside.
3. Opt for hair friendly oils. Not all natural oils are the same, and many will weigh you hair down.  Oils such as Jojoba are a great example, as although regularly used in beauty and skin care products, Jojoba has an almost waxy consistency which means the oil molecules are too large to penetrate the hair shaft and will instead sit on top, weighing the hair down.