Your Halo finally came in the mail, congratulations! Now you can give your hair extra volume and length whenever you want.
But, learning how to style your Halo is only half the battle. The other half? Caring for it. It's no secret that Halos are more affordable than other hair extensions, but if you're not careful with how you use, style, and store it, you could end up spending more.
Since The Halo is made of 100% ProGrade Remy Hair—the finest quality of human hair—you can't treat it like you would with the hair on your head. It's more fragile than our strands.
Keep scrolling for tips on caring for your Halo hair extensions, so it lasts longer and looks brand new with every use!
How To Lengthen Your Halo's Lifespan
Hair extensions, in general, can last anywhere from a few weeks to a few months, while costing hundreds to a few thousand dollars each.
At Sitting Pretty, we're proud to say that The Halo lasts a minimum of 6 months, to up to 24 months! Let's say you spend a total of $375 for The Halo, which already includes having it cut at the salon. If you took care of it well, you'd only have to buy one every year or two.
So, how can you get more for less with The Halo?
1. Avoid using hairstyling products—with the exception of two
The Halo is technically made with human hair, but it's been chemically straightened and processed to preserve its colour and keep that smooth, shiny look.
While it looks and feels like natural hair, it won't behave like one if you apply hair oils, serums, and leave-in conditioners on it. This is because these products are meant to be absorbed by our strands. But, since The Halo already has a chemical coating over it, it confuses the hair oil or conditioner, leaving the hair extensions sticky and tangled.
The only hairstyling products that are okay to use on The Halo are: a heat protectant spray to use before using a straightener or curling iron; and a texturising spray to add more volume and grit.
These two naturally sit on top of the hair, so they don't disrupt the extensions' cuticles.
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2. Don't wash it too often
The Halo doesn't need to be washed all the time, and we really mean it. Every 3 months (or longer) is the sweet spot for cleansing your Halo hair extensions.
You can't use any shampoo and conditioner on it, too. Normal shampoos and conditioners contain a lot of butters and oils that can ruin The Halo's texture. From smooth and straight, it could turn frizzy and dry after just one wash!
To be on the safe side, use a Halo-approved cleanser and conditioner, like our Gentle Halo Shampoo and Conditioner. It's formulated to enhance your Halo's lifespan, softens it, and preserves its colour.
How To Properly Wash Your Halo
- Run your water on warm and soak the hair.
- Once The Halo is wet, take the Gentle Halo Shampoo and squeeze out enough product to cover the top half of the hair extensions.
- Gently massage the shampoo into The Halo. Don't scrunch it up or rub the hair together to prevent tangles.
- Put a bit more water on The Halo to help spread the shampoo from root to tip.
- One wash is enough. But, if it's really dirty you can wash it twice!
- Rinse The Halo under warm running water. Make sure to position it vertically against the water so it's running in a downward motion.
- Grab the Gentle Halo Conditioner next and run your fingers through the extensions to distribute the product and remove any knots.
- Rinse it well and squeeze the excess water out.
- Hang it on a coat hanger or a drawer and let it air dry.
Take note that washed Halos dry with a bit of a wave, just like natural hair! Don't panic if you see the waves. You didn't do anything wrong. It just means The Halo is now clean and ready to be styled.
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Store it in a safe, dark place
No, we don't mean your fridge. As much as possible, don't just store your Halo anywhere as this can lead to tangling and friction with the hair.
You can keep it in your drawer, closet, or our favourite: either The Halo Travel Pouch or in the original box the Halo hair extensions came in.
This will protect your Halo and its colour, which can fade if it's exposed too much to the sun.
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3. Don't DIY your Halo's cut
Unless you're a professional hairstylist, of course. Cutting hair may seem simple on paper, but in reality (especially with hair extensions), there are layers, shapes, lengths, and ends to consider.
The last thing you want is to cut your Halo too short or in a weird length. Save time and effort and enlist your go-to hairstylist for their expertise.
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4. Don't bleach it
You can tone your Halo darker, but never bleach it to lighten it. We've found that using dye and bleach on Halo hair extensions leave the hair with patchy and uneven colouring/fading. Plus, it unpredictably alters the texture and look of The Halo.
This is why we recommend that if you're not sure about your Halo shade, go a bit lighter. You can always tone it darker or use a temporary colour spray to help it better match your natural mane.
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Why You Should Invest In Halo Hair Extensions
Now that you know how to properly maintain and style your Halo for months or years to come, there's no better time than now to find your colour match and add it to your cart.
The Halo is not only more affordable than clip-ins, sew-ins, and tape-ins per year, it's also the gentlest on your natural hair and scalp. Since Halo hair extensions don't attach to your hair—they sit on your head instead—they don't tug on your hair, preventing you from experiencing future hair thinning, hair damage, and hair loss!
If you're still not sure how to get the most out of your Halo, you can always read our beginner's guide.