Preserve Your Edges While Wearing Hair Extensions

Wearing hair extensions can be a great option because it provides a variety of styling options without having to style your own hair. If you want to try a new cut or color, hair extensions are one way to take it for a test drive without making a permanent change. For those who have a busy and active lifestyle, hair extensions can drastically cut down on time spent on daily styling. But it is crucial to know how to preserve your edges while wearing hair extensions.

Many have experienced hair loss, especially around the perimeter of their hair line aka their ‘edges’ and it’s sad. Not cute, and sad. This is not just a tragedy that can be blamed on YouTubers or bloggers; even professional, licensed hair stylists and cosmetologists are partly to blame. Ultimately, it is your fault. Yes, you – you, the person wearing the hair extension. It is your responsibility to preserve your edges. We are going to give you a few tips to help you put some respek on your edges, and make sure your stylist does too.

See a professional stylist beforehand.

You don’t want to go into a protective style with any hair issues you may not even be aware of. See a professional stylist to make sure your hair is in a healthy state beforehand. This can be done by the stylist who is installing the hair extensions or another stylist, but either way just make sure it is done. If your hair is in need of a trim or other treatments, take care of that before doing the protective style. If there are any existing scalp or hair issues that might worsen if you install hair extensions, you want to know and treat those things as soon as possible.

Read More: Halo Twist Hairstyle Tutorial

Be a champion for your own edges during the styling process.

Do your research to find a stylist who cares as much about your edges as you do. As Black women, we’ve been sort of conditioned to believe that ‘tight is right’ and that having extensions or braids installed is supposed to be painful. That’s just not the case. Pain, itching, and irritation are all signs that something isn’t right. If you find yourself in someone’s chair and you feel your hair is being braided too tightly, speak up. If they don’t listen, get up. Get up, and walk out, and don’t go back. It’s your time, your money, and your edges – so stand up for them.

Now this picture above may look a little crazy, but this was part of a demonstration done at Ms Nikki J’s Build, Bond & Braid tension/foundation class. The tip is, if you can’t do this without causing discomfort, your hair is braided too tightly.

Watch this video: Build, Bond, & Braid Class | In the Salon Series

Follow the hair care instructions given by your stylist.

Whether it’s instructions on how to cleanse your hair, or when to come back in for maintenance, follow the instructions carefully. It is important to continue to care for your natural hair while wearing extensions to ensure the health of your hair is maintained. Seeing your professional stylist regularly while your extensions are installed ensures that no harm is done to your natural hair. Waiting until it is time to remove the extensions may be too late.

Give your edges adequate time to recover and strengthen.

Leaving hair extensions in past the recommended time, or having them reinstalled to soon, does not give your edges time to rest and recover. Be sure to give your edges time to strengthen, so that you don’t run the risk of experiencing hair loss due to tension, aka traction alopecia. If you do experience traction alopecia, all hope is not lost as long as give your edges time to recuperate at the first sign of thinning. If not, you could develop scar tissue around the hair folicle, which results in permanent hair loss.

Wearing braids, sew-ins, crochet, and other hair extension should not equate to snatched edges or hair loss. Hair extensions should be an option for hair styling that everyone can rock if they want. Just make sure that the health and integrity of your own hair is always maintained.

Did we miss a tip that you think is important for protecting your hair while wearing hair extensions? We’d love to hear it! Leave it in the comments below, and let’s keep the conversation going.