Congratulations on investing in Schwan Hair! We understand that luxury raw hair extensions are an investment and not an expense. Therefore, our support doesn't end with the sale. We are committed to helping you maintain your extensions and ensuring they last as long as possible with the proper care. Follow our comprehensive hair care guide to maintain the health and beauty of your raw hair extensions.

Understanding Raw Hair Extensions

Schwan Hair extensions are cut from a real person's head, meaning they no longer are in constant supply of natural nutrients like proteins, vitamins, and oils responsible for hair health and continuous cell repair. Therefore, it's up to you to maintain their moisture and health.

Unboxing Your Extensions

When you receive your Schwan Hair extensions, here’s what you’ll notice:

• A natural hair scent and the fragrance of a gentle conditioner. Our hair smells fresh and has been sanitised by our factory before you've received it. Sometimes our extensions were air-dried with a small amount of conditioner to keep the hair soft during storage (especially steamed textures). 
• Curls and Waves appear flattened. This is completely normal due to the packaging and shipping process. To restore their natural texture, gently co-wash at minimum, then allow to air-dry or use a diffuser to bring back the curls and waves to their full, beautiful shape.

How to Wash Raw Hair Extensions

Pre-Installation Care: 

Before installing your raw hair extensions, it's crucial to wash and prepare them for use. Here's a step-by-step guide to pre-installation care:

1. Detangle: Use a soft bristle brush to gently detangle your extensions, starting from the tips, working your way to the roots. Avoid wide-tooth combs, as they sometimes create a pull instead of detangle. 
2. Shampoo: Thoroughly wet each strand with lukewarm water before gently massaging in a mild shampoo. Don't vigorously scrub your extensions as it may cause tangling and avoid using hot water to prevent split ends. 
3. Conditioner: Thoroughly rinse out any shampoo before applying a generous amount of conditioner. Then use the Denman D3 Definition Brush to evenly distribute the conditioner, let it sit for 5-10 minutes before rinsing with the "wash & brush" technique to keep your hair tangle-free and defined.
4. Serum: After washing, apply a coin-sized amount of a lightweight, nourishing hair serum to lock in moisture.
5. Drying: Air-dry for best results or blow dry on low heat before styling. 

Washing Curly and Wavy Textures

Occasional co-washing enhances the natural texture and prolongs the lifespan of your curly and wavy hair extensions, such as our Raw Indian Deep Curly, Raw Indian Natural Curly, Raw Indian Wavy, and Burmese Curly Hair. Follow the steps in the video below to achieve the best results.

Post-Installation Care:

After installing your raw hair extensions, it's essential to maintain their beauty and integrity. Here are some post-installation care tips:

1. Gentle Styling: Use a soft bristle brush or paddle brush to detangle and style your hair daily, minimising tension and breakage.
2. Moisturise: Apply a lightweight hair serum to nourish your hair, keeping it soft and supple. You may also refresh your curly hair textures using fresh water and a Denman D3 Definition Brush to evenly distribute a leave-in conditioner of your choice to keep your extensions hydrated and healthy.
3. Avoid Heat Damage: Minimise heat styling and always use a heat protectant when necessary. Excessive heat can cause dryness and damage to the hair.
4. Nighttime Protection: Protect your extensions while sleeping by using a satin bonnet or scarf to prevent friction and tangling.
5. Regular Maintenance: Maintain your extensions with weekly or biweekly shampooing and conditioning using high-quality products.

Click here to shop: Smooth & Shine Brush by Schwan Hair

Recommended Hair Serum

Click here to shop: NOIR Hair Serum

Things to Avoid

Avoiding certain practices is crucial to maintaining the health of your raw hair extensions:

• Harsh shampoos: Shampoos containing alcohol, parabens, and sulphates can strip the hair of its natural oils, resulting in dryness, brittleness, and hair breakage.
• Products containing oil: Carrier oils are great for locking in moisture; however, they can sometimes have the opposite effect by drying out your hair over time and attracting product buildup, which can lead to tangling.
• Silicon rich conditioners: While silicone-rich conditioners create a smooth, shiny finish and provide a protective barrier against heat damage and environmental factors like humidity, they are also difficult to wash out, often requiring a strong clarifying shampoo. Regular shampoos are not sufficient to break through the silicone barrier. Consequently, this can lead to product buildup and prevent moisture from entering the hair, eventually causing dryness and breakage.
• Hot water: Boiling or washing your raw hair extensions with hot water will lead to significant damage. It weakens the hair strands and strips away essential oils, resulting in frizzy, dry, and brittle hair. Additionally, if your hair is coloured, hot water will dull the vibrancy of the dye and cause the colour to fade.
• Vigorous scrubbing: Scrubbing whilst washing can cause tangling and hair breakage; especially in lace closures or frontals. 
• Excessive heat: Too much heat from flat ironing or blow-drying can damage the hair.
• Over-bleaching: Bleaching can weaken the hair textures and cause balding lace.
• Improper tools: Using the wrong brushes can loosen the wefts and pull hair out, causing excessive shedding, damage hair and cause breakage.

Things to Do

Proper care practices can extend the life of your raw hair extensions:

• Be gentle: Raw hair is delicate and needs gentle handling.
• Wash with care: Use cold to lukewarm water and avoid aggressively scrubbing the hair.
• Air-dry: Whenever possible, let your hair air dry for best curl and wave formation.
• Low-temperature blow drying: If you must blow-dry, use a low temperature to avoid damage and prolong hair health.
• Regular hair masks: Develop a healthy conditioning routine and be mindful not to over-condition your hair as it can have a drying effect longterm.
• Regular trims: Trim the hair occasionally to prevent split ends.
• Seal your wefts: This helps to prevent shedding and prolong the life of the extensions.
• Proper storage: Store your hair away from direct sunlight, humidity and dust. We recommend our luxury satin-lined storage boxes. 

Hair Tools

The right tools can make a big difference in maintaining your hair extensions and prolonging its lifespan:

• Heat Protectors: Always use a heat protector before applying heat.
• Soft Bristle Brush: We recommend to Use our Smooth & Shine Brush by Schwan Hair to detangle hair gently from the ends to the roots.
• Denman D3 Brush: Ideal for washing all hair textures and defining curls and waves.

Nighttime Care 

Proper nighttime care can significantly impact the longevity of your extensions:

• Satin Bonnet or Scarf: Protect your hair while you sleep by wearing a satin bonnet or scarf.
• Satin Pillowcase: Sleeping on a satin pillowcase can also help reduce friction.
• Flexi Rods or Braids: Use these to maintain curls or wave patterns overnight.

Tag us in your photos and share your looks with @schwanhair and #schwanhair. We love seeing your beautiful styles! For any additional questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact us at info@schwanhair.com.

By following these guidelines, you'll ensure your Schwan Hair raw hair extensions remain beautiful and healthy for as long as possible.

Happy styling!