QuoteReplyTopic: brushing and other stuff Posted: January 05 2005 at 2:22am
Hi!
I've been reading tons of posts here, but I don't understand... how on earth do you brush your hair while you have extensions in?? Particularly with methods like shrinkies and the ones that clamp on? Are you only able to brush your ends? Can you wash your scalp w/o messing things up?
Also, what does it feel like to have the extensions? Does your head feel lumpy or heavy or does the hair feel "pulled"?
Sorry for all the questions; I'm just trying to understand how it feels to have them in.
It depends on the method and the kind of hair used, but generally it's best to wash the hair (including the scalp) two to three times a week with shampoo; use conditioner only on the lower portion of the hair.
Careful brushing a few times a day with a boar's hair or soft nylon brush is also encouraged. Hold the hair at the roots with one hand, and work from ends to tips, to avoid dislodging the bonds/locs. You should brush lightly around the bonds every 1 to 2 days to discourage matting at the roots. Don't brush the hair when wet or sleep with it wet.
Some minor slipping is normal (you may lose a few here and there), but if you're losing more than a few a week, there's something wrong. Imo, extentubes/rings/locs slip the most, pinchbraids the least, and Shrinkies and fusion fall somewhere in between. With proper application and care, generally all of these methods should be quite secure, though.
Extensions can feel a bit weird for the first few days (when they're the tightest), but they loosen up quickly, to the point where you don't really feel them at all.
I hope this answers some of your questions, and good luck!
I just got my extensions last friday. Mine have never hurt yet. THe stylist used 20" Bohymy silky straight and monkey barz , which is a type of fusion I believe.
THe bonds are pretty small and feel like small grains of rice in my hair. I have washed twice so far, used lots of conditioner - no problems. I haven't lost any bonds- though my stylist said I may lose a couple over the first week or so.
The only surprise I have had so far is that after I washed the silky straight turn more wavy than I expected- I let it dry naturally- I am going to blow dry next time just to see if it straightens out some. But the wavy looks good, too.
Brushing is weird - because I haven't had long hair since I was 12- he stylist reccomended piscking the hair from the bottom up and braiding at night to prevent unnecessary tangles.
I've used lots of different types of silky straight hair, and typically they're wavier after washing and air-drying. It's usually not a loose, large-barrel, natural wave, either--it's more like a weak S-wave.
For this reason, I usually blow-dry my hair, which gets it quite straight, but I have had some extensions hair in the past that I actually had to flatiron to get straight, and that is a pain in the a** (especially because I usually use a curling iron to add body afterward). It's a miracle I ever get out the door....
And your fusion will probably be quite secure. I had it a few times, and may have lost 2 or 3 bonds in three months, which aint bad. I've actually had pinchbraids now for about 10 months and I've never lost a single one. Generally slipping is more of a problem with link/loc methods, imo.
Most people like Bohyeme, so I think the hair was a good choice. The reviews on monkey barz are more mixed, so please keep us posted on how it's going with that.
I have a boar bristle brush and have no problem brushing from scalp to ends. It feels fabulous but I don't do it that often. I mostly bring my hair off to the side, hold it firmly at the nape and brush the length from the neck down. I swing it to the other side and repeat.
I probably only do 20% brushing and about 80% fingercombing and I really like to do the fingercombing when the hair is damp. That's the best time I find to check each individual strand and make sure there's no dreads starting to form. I always make sure each strand is not attaching to another.
No lie - extensions can sometimes be uncomfortable. I particularly find them to be the most bothersome after a maintenance. My scalp will actually be tender for a couple days. It's easily relieved with some Tylenol, though.
I have what can be described as huge hair. I also wear it long and layered at 24" so my head sometimes feels heavy. It's real heavy when it's full of water when showering. Frankly, I love it. As someone who has always wanted hair like this, I never want to do without it again. When I run my hands down my head I feel the bonds so in that sense, yes, it's lumpy. My head doesn't look lumpy though.
I always wash my scalp. I get my fingertips right in there and make sure everything's squeaky clean. I can't stand an unclean head or dirty hair. I even do what everyone says not to do -- I condition my hair from the scalp down. I always put conditioner on my scalp and the bonds.
The most important thing about brushing your hair with extensions (particularly strand by strand) is that there can be no hair sticking up through the tip of the bond. Your brush will catch that hair and bend back your extension. This is potentially damaging to your hair and can pull out your extension. If I ever find that I've installed a strand like that, I don't mess around - I take it right out and reinstall it correctly.
I take it you don't have extensions but may be curious in getting some?
I also have silky straight Bohyeme, fusion method and have never had a problem. There are little rice ( perhaps a bit bigger) bonds in my hair and the only time they have ever caused me any discomfort is when I sleep to hard on my pillow,...I can feel them.
I have noticed that when I used a lesser quality shampoo the hair didnt look as good or feel as soft. I have never had any problems brushing, and take extra caution when my hair is wet. There is a small s curl as Jen discribed, in bohyeme hair but when I blow dry it gets completely straight...and I add a bit of curl to the ends with a curling iron, still no damage to the hair. I use conditioner every day,( I like amm use it from the scalp down like everyone says not to do) and wash every day, getting inbetween the bonds making sure everything is clean... and after I towel dry, add a bit of phyto to the top and blow dry. I was really concerned about how long it would add to my morning routine however it only takes me about ten minutes from start to finish blowdrying. Im kinda a wash and wear gal and I dont like to take tons of time doing my hair cause I simply dont have lots of time. I' ve been absolutly thrilled with the results, and now cant imagine going back to life without additional hair. :) Take your time, investigate methods...what works for me might not work for you, we all have different likes and preferences. There is tons of info here and we will all help in any way we can.
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