How to Take Care of Really Long Hair Extensions

Super Long Hair is Timeless

For thousands of years, a woman's long hair has been a symbol of beauty and grace.

In modern times, wearing long hair is a trend and a fashion statement.

Take a quick scroll through Instagram, and you will see many of today's favorite stars are wearing human hair extensions that hang at their waist and some stars are even wearing thigh length hair.

Style icons like The Kardashians and Atlanta Housewife, Porsha Williams, are known for their butt-length locks.

These "it-girls" are not the pioneers of rocking inches. Icons like Cher and Diana Ross are known for their exceptionally long hair looks that have spanned across decades.

While many women struggle to grow their natural hair long, some prefer not to and choose to wear weaves when they are craving length. Regardless your situation, you can still wear long hair with extensions.

Private Label Extensions has hair extensions up to 40 inches long in colors and textures. Whatever your interpretation of "long" hair is, PLE has you covered!

Why Wear Long Hair Extensions?

Long hair is not only a current trend, but it's also low maintenance. Long hair is a style that styles itself; Meaning, merely allowing the hair to hang is enough to make a statement.

It also provides versatility. Long extensions are the perfect hair look for a subtle outfit paired with natural make-up.

Lengthy extensions can bring just the right amount of drama to an understated ensemble.

Long cascading hair is a very romantic wedding look and also doubles as a fun style for an all-girls trip.

Stars like Beyoncé and Nicki Minaj wear long hair as an accessory to their already flamboyant outfits.

Wearing long extensions is a bold fashion step, and the style allows you to express yourself in a variety of ways.

How Long Can You Go?

If you are new to extremely long hair, you should experiment with shorter lengths until you become comfortable enough to go longer.

Schedule a consultation with your stylist and discuss the different hair lengths you can test out.

If you are installing your extensions or have purchased seamless clip-in or tape-in extensions, you need to understand how to measure your extensions before installing them correctly.

When deciding how long to wear your hair, you should measure from the lowest point of installation.

Tip: Take the hair weft and place it right above the nape of your neck or at the lowest point of installation.

Continue holding the hair in place with one hand.

With the other, turn around and use a handheld mirror to look at where the longest length of your extensions lays.

That lowest point is the full span of length you will get from the extension.

It's essential that you don't measure the hair extension from the crown of your head.

That will be the shortest length.

I've personally made the mistake of measuring from the top of my head only to end up with super long hair that I had not planned to have.

If you don't intend to cut your extensions, then make sure you measure from the lowest point of weave installation to get a better idea of what kind of length you will be wearing.

Once comfortable with the length you see, then you're ready to, literally, go the distance.

Keep in mind that curly and textured extensions seem shorter than straight hair extensions. Don't be deceived.

The length is there! So, if you will be straightening your curly or wavy weaves, be prepared to inherit a few more inches.

Long Hair Requires Daily Maintenance

You may not have to fuss with your long hair during the day, but it still requires a reasonable amount of extensions maintenance to maintain a beautiful style.

You need to create, and stick with, a regimen that will keep your long extensions in tip-top shape throughout your style.

Keep in mind that the way you handle your extensions will affect your natural hair. Clip-in and tape-in extensions are meant to be temporary.

Master stylists advise that you remove them at night and minimize styling them.

Celebrity stylist, Mylo of the Rita Hazan hair care line warns not to wash or style clip-in extensions too often or while you are wearing them.

Doing so could potentially be damaging your natural hair as well.

Drama-Free Extensions

Sure, there are a few things to consider about keeping your natural hair healthy and your extensions beautiful but maintaining your extensions can be a drama-free experience.

Don't go locking yourself up in a tower like Rapunzel. Instead, follow these four tips to taking care of your length so that you can enjoy your inches.

Tip #1: Keep Your Long Extensions Clean

Summer '18 is upon us, and if you are anything like me, you've already planned out your pool days.

Before you go all Michael Phelps on us, your best bet is to keep those extensions out of chlorinated or salt water.

Roll your hair into a cute top knot or wear a stylish turban or head wrap. If you couldn't resist the urge to take a full-body dip in the water, then you will need to rinse your hair after swimming immediately.

Follow up with a clarifying shampoo like Barracuda Aquia Dechlorinating Shampoo.

This shampoo is affordable and is great for removing product buildup and odors. Even if you are not swimming, you should be cleansing your extensions regularly. Long hair tends to touch everything.

Debris from your clothes, places you've sat, and other surfaces will build up on your hair and cause dullness and odors.

Being mindful of how your hair is blowing in the wind is one line of defense. The next is a great moisturizing shampoo.

PUREOLOGY Hydrate Shampoo is a great shampoo that doesn't completely strip the hair of its necessary oils.

This shampoo has PUREOLOGY'S unique Antifade complex that fortifies the hair against the elements allowing your locks to shine.

Tip #2: Keep Your Long Extensions Soft

My stylist once told me that, "every time your hair touches something, it loses some moisture."

Aside from normal hair stroking, super long locks are continually rubbing across your clothing, your desk chair, and who knows wherever else.

The last thing you need is to rock a dried-out weave. Keep your hair soft and supple with a regimen of weekly conditioning treatments, oils, and leave-in conditioners.

Deep Conditioner

Just like your natural hair, your hair extensions require a little TLC. But, you don't always have to rush out to the store.

Treating your extensions to a deep moisturizing or protein treatment might mean a walk to the kitchen. Check out our blog post on deep conditioners.

Oils

Oils are great for sealing moisture into the hair. Your scalp and the ends, or the oldest part of the hair get the most benefit from hair oils.

Make sure you're using a hair oil that is compatible with human hair bundles. Keep in mind that heavy oils like castor oil, jojoba oil, and even coconut oil might be great for natural hair but are too heavy for extensions.

Instead, opt for lighter oils like grapeseed or almond. Rub a small amount in the palm of your hands and on your fingertips.

First, massage the oils into the ends of your hair, then, massage the rest into your scalp. I like to use a wide-toothed comb to distribute the excess into the hair shaft.

Don't overdo it! You don't need to apply oil to your hair every day. I usually do it every few days or once I notice my hair feels a little drier than usual.

Leave-in Conditioner

Think of leave-in conditioner as the "virus protector" of hair care. It's the gift that keeps on giving.

Conditioners fortify our hair and help protect the shaft from future damage. Leave-in conditioners do that same thing but are a lighter formula that doesn't weigh the hair down like a traditional conditioner.

Leave-ins also help fight against heat damage. I love It's a 10 Miracle Leave-In Product.

There are several variants of this product to suit many different hair care needs. I usually toggle between the Original Miracle Leave-in or the Silk Express Leave-in.

The product line smells terrific, and just a small amount will provide your long hair with antioxidants to protect hair from environmental damage as well as boosting softness and shine.

Tip #3: Tangle-Free Hair is Happy Hair

Hair that hangs down to your bum is prone to tangles. Even if it's straight, the longer the strand, the more likely it can get knotted up.

The number one way to take care of your long hair is to keep it tangle-free!

Straight Hair

If you're wearing straight extensions, then you have the easiest road to detangling.

Start by sleeping pretty. In my blog on hair extensions with split ends, I discuss the importance of keeping your hair wrapped up at night.

Sleeping on super long extensions will only promote tangling and matting.

Instead, keep your hair covered with a silk bonnet or satin scarf to eliminate the need for detangling in the morning. Here's How:

Step 1:

Put your hair in two low pigtails

Step 2:

Wrap the band or scrunchie loosely so that you don't wake up with creases in your hair

Step 3:

Take the length of your hair and twist it around the base of the ponytail or ponytail extensions. Secure the ends by tucking them into the bands

Step 4:

Put a satin or silk bonnet over your hair to protect it from the friction of tossing and turning all night.

Or, you can sleep on a satin or silk pillowcase. In the morning, take the ponytails down and gently comb through your lengthy strands.

Straight hair is less likely to tangle during the day, but you may have to comb it out at least once more before the end of your day.

It's best to stash your comb in your purse or bag to keep your hair smooth all day long.

Wavy Hair

Wavy hair gives you the best of both worlds. You get to wear long cascading hair with a touch of texture.

But, wavy hair like the Spanish Wave Hair mattes easier than straight hair; however, it's not as challenging to detangle as curly hair is.

The key to keeping your wavy hair smooth is to relieve it from its style every so often.

Waves like to clump together, every so often you need to disturb the curl pattern to help them avoid them from becoming one big clump. There are two ways to detangle wavy hair: wet and dry.

Wet Detangle

Step 1:

After shampooing, slather your extensions in conditioner

Step 2:

Section your weave into two or four sections (depending on how much hair you have)

Step 3:

Use a Denman Brush or a wide-toothed comb and start at the bottom of your hair. Gently detangle a few inches at a time in a downward motion. After you can effortlessly glide through that section, move up higher on the hair shaft

Step 4:

Rinse the conditioner out of your hair without tangling your extensions and allow the hair to air-dry

Dry Detangle

Step 1:

Section your hair into two or four sections, depending on how much hair you have

Step 2:

Coat your hands with a light oil

Step 3:

Rub the oil down one part of your hair

Step 4:

Softly use your fingertips (not your fingernails!) to pull apart any tangles in your hair, then move to the next section

Kinky and Curly Hair

If you're wearing inches upon inches of Kinky Curly Hair Extensions, let me say: YOU GO GIRL! Keeping up with all that billowing texture is a task in itself and keeping it in order is a whole other story!

Curly hair is the most challenging hair type to detangle, but the feat is not impossible!

Detangle your kinky hair in the same fashion that you do wavy hair. The key to detangling curly hair is patience.

The main thing to remember to keep kinky hair tangle free is not to over manipulate it.

Because kinky hair likes to clump, too much fuss will result in frizz and tangles. We have an article on keeping kinky curly extensions lit which is packed with tips and tricks to slay your style from install to take down.

One of my favorite tips for keeping your kinky curly hair detangled is to use an excellent deep conditioner.

Moisturized hair behaves. Keeping your super long curly hair soft and hydrated will give you weeks of hip-length slayage.

Here are two of my favorite deep conditioners for textured hair:

Shea Moisture Coconut and Hibiscus Curl and Shine Conditioner

This conditioner is packed with goodies and natural ingredients like Silk Protein to promote silky, smooth hair.

It smells fantastic and is also gentle on your extensions.

Just one use and your hair will be soft as butter with all the body you crave. Many curly girls love the Shea Moisture line. Try this conditioner out for super soft curls.

One Condition Original Daily Cream Conditioner

This conditioner is a staple among the curly community, and if you're wearing long curly extensions, you should order a bottle asap!

This cream conditioner has natural botanicals for softness and Olive oil for a boost of hydration.

The scent of lemongrass as you rinse your hair will take you away and leave you with the soft and supple texture.

Protect Your Long Extensions

There's just something about all those inches that makes you want to play in your hair all day.

Your best bet for taking care of your super long hair extensions is to keep your hair protected.

Tools

Avoid using fine-toothed combs, also known as, rattail combs.

These tools tear and snag the hair pulling the extension from the weft and damaging your natural hair.

Even if you're wearing straight extensions, opt for a wide-toothed comb.

Heat

It doesn't matter if you're wearing a 3-inch wig or PLE's 40-inch Vietnamese Straight Hair, too much heat will damage your extensions and any leave-out blend you have.

Always use a Armor Heat Protectant Spray and minimize heat styling tools to no more than twice a month to save your hair from damage.

Sleep

You should never sleep on your extensions. Always sleep on a satin or silk scarf or pillowcase.

Sleeping on your extensions is the fastest way to dry out your hair, create tangles, and promote split ends.

Long Hair is Versatile

Wearing super long hair extensions can be a fun way to explore a new style. Your long hair can make a fashion statement or can be a feminine touch to a romantic event.

Your hair journey should be fun and full of discovery. Keep experimenting until you create a regimen to keep your hair clean, tangle-free, and healthy while using products that protect and restore.

Are you looking for some hair inspiration for your next style?

Follow PLE on Instagram @privalelabelextensions.

Ready to start styling? Visit our website www.privatelabelextensions.com and comment below and tell me what is the longest weave length you have worn?