Have you ever wondered why every time you leave a salon, your hair always seems vibrant, full of life, and volume? Have you ever questioned why it is when you apply the same salon products at home you cannot replicate the same effect?

We’re also wondering the same thing and in today’s blog, we’re going to discuss the common mistakes that we do that are affecting the health of our hair.

Before we go into details, let’s talk about one of the crucial components first - conditioners. When we talk about hair care, conditioners are often brought into the conversation but how much do we know about this product? How much do we know about its effects? Most would say they only know that it has to be applied but doesn’t have any idea about the “why” and “how much” for it to be effective.

No. 1 Mistake: You are not aware of what conditioner does 

If you already don’t know, conditioners are applied to restore lost hydration in one’s hair, particularly towards the tips or ends of the hair shaft. Our hair is often exposed to the harshness of the elements. It offers protection for our scalp and this absorbs much of the damage from the heat of the sun, dust, and other elements. This causes dryness, brittleness, and frizzy hair. Conditioners restore the lost hydration to your hair to make it smooth and healthy.

No. 2 Mistake: You are not applying it correctly

If you’re the type who is applying conditioners from the roots, we don’t blame you. Logically speaking if you apply it in the roots, it’s most likely absorbed and distributed to the tips, right? Well, that’s partially true but the correct way of doing it is to apply it in the midsection of your hair towards the tips because this is where it’s needed the most. Applying it to the roots will only make your hair look flatter and possibly greasier if it's straight.

No. 3 Mistake: You're using too much of it

So now that you’ve discovered the wonders of conditioners, you may be inclined to use it too much, too often. This is also detrimental to the health of your hair. Use conditioner sparingly as the goal is for your hair to be nourished without it appearing flat or weighed down.

Another way to help your hair absorb the effects of conditioner is to try deep conditioning. Using the power of steam or moist heat, the conditioner can penetrate your hair better. This heat cap is an effective way to enjoy the benefits of deep conditioning.

Ever detangled your hair and then wondered why you wake up with frizz, knots or tangles in your hair only eight hours later? Or better yet, why some people have more wrinkles when compared to others with silk sheets and pillowcases? Well, you are not alone.

Simply put, cotton products are the culprits here. There's no easy way to say it, so let's just put it out there!

For years, most people have been using silk products to wrap their hair while they sleep and when they wake up their hair looks shinier than ever. With that in mind, scroll down to understand why silk should be a priority item on your next shopping list.

What is Silk?

Silk is the most durable natural fibre in the world. It is famous for its shine, lustre, sustainable fibres and durability. Besides that, it has a long trading history around the globe. In fact, silk is seen as the epitome of luxury, all thanks to its high production cost, elegant appearance and soft feel.

Silk is more like an indulgence, but definitely worth the price due to its many superior qualities. It's not only the finest of all fibres but also the strongest of them all. It is used to make rugs, accessories, garments, home furnishings and tapestries among other items. What's more, silk is a very popular textile in fashion design and high-end textiles.

Silk is the natural protein fibre that silkworms produce. Although other insects are also capable of producing silk, only the silk from silkworms is used for textile purposes. In the world today, we have a wide range of commercially produced and consumed silk. So let's look at some of the different types.

What is Mulberry Silk?

Mulberry silk is not only the most popular type of silk there is but also the highest quality we have in the market. In fact, mulberry silk accounts for almost 90% of the silk supply in the world. And what sets apart the mulberry silk from all other types is the production process.

Mulberry silk is mostly imported from China, where there are farmers who grow the mulberry trees. The leaves of this tree are the preferred diet for silkworms. After that, when these silkworms form cocoons they can be spun into threads and fibres of raw silk.

However, during the production process, there are strict guidelines that must ensure the silkworm larvae makes smooth, elegant, round, and uniform threads. The silk extracted from silkworm that feeds of mulberry trees is white, soft, and highly refined.

Also, it has a more uniform color when compared to other types of silk. And not only is it sturdy and durable, but it also has the most luxurious feeling.

What are the Different Types of Silk?

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1.    Charmeuse Silk

Charmeuse silk is precisely what we have in mind whenever we think of the traditional silk. Most people call it the satin silk. It features a shimmery satin weave in the front, although at the back of the fabric it has a dull matte finish.

Charmeuse silk comes with a beautiful drape to it, all thanks to its soft and lightweight nature. The qualities of this type of silk make it ideal for the production of delicate lingerie, dresses, blouses and scarves. This is the type of silk you should choose when seeking hair protection during sleep.

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2.    Chiffon

When it comes to chiffon, it's basically a very lightweight kind of silk made from fine twisted yarns. The fabric is intentionally spaced out to make it transparent. Unless when used with scarves, chiffon garments typically require backing or lining.

The fabric can, however, be used to make special occasion dresses, linings in addition to scarves. And just like most other types of silk, it offers a beautiful drape. It's just what you would go for if you need to create volume or layering.

Other Types of Silk Include:

• Brocade Silk - highly decorative woven fabric made of coloured silks & often with gold & silver metallic threads 

• Dupion Silk - distinctive pearlescent look, this material is often made in a two-tone look. 

• Georgette Silk - soft, lightweight (though not as sheer as a chiffon silk) with a slightly crinkled surface texture

• Organza - thin, sheer fabric with a sheen finish. Historically made of silk though now often made of synthetic materials to keep costs down

How to Distinguish Between Good and Poor-Quality Silk?

The worldwide reputation of silk is that it's a universal premier luxury fabric. Throughout history, silk has been used for various purposes, and to date, it still remains the fabric of choice for most high-end applications.

The best thing about silk is that it is a very high-quality fabric. However, several factors set apart expensive silk fabrics from the cheap ones. These include:

• Mulberry Cultivated Silk vs. Wild Silk:

  First of all, cultivated silkworms create a smoother finish, higher quality and is often more expensive than the silk created by wild silkworms. Cultivated silk has a brightness that may be difficult to replicate in wild silk due to the non-uniform texture.

• Momme Count:

  Another factor that helps you distinguish excellent and poor-quality silk is the momme count. In case you are wondering what this is; it's a unique weight measurement used for high-quality fabrics. Typically, good quality silk should not be less than 12 momme. A higher momme weight means that more silk was used in the production process of the fabric.

• Thread Count:

  The thread count of the silk is the other distinguishing factor. Generally, good quality silk should exceed a thread count of 400. The thread and momme count are the leading indicators of the durability of that particular silk fabric.

So, what is the Momme Count and How Does it Affect Fabric Quality?

As we've already mentioned, momme is like the measurement of the weight, and therefore the thickness of the silk fabric. It helps to determine the silk quality. It's similar to how we use thread count to assess the quality of cotton. Given that silk is such a fine fabric, using thread count would be inaccurate.

And when it comes to the momme count, a higher momme weight means the thicker the fabric and the better the quality of silk fabric. If you are a first-time silk buyer, 19 momme is a good option for bedding that will experience a lot of use. It's generally the industry standard weight for sleepwear, headscarves and lingerie.

It's perfectly light enough to give you ultimate comfort but at the same time durable enough to last. However, when it comes to other silk products, the momme count could be pushed even higher to offer an even better silk quality.

What is Satin?

You probably know satin as just a soft, shiny fabric used to make fancy dresses. However, there's more to it than just that. The satin weave could comprise many other types of materials. Also, it can be used in many different ways besides being the go-to fabric for bride's maid gowns and dresses.

Mostly, satin refers to the weave itself and not the textile as most people think. Most fabric that we refer to as satin in items from upholstery to bags is not natural and comes with a soft and shiny finish. While satin has a lustrous outer surface, it comes with a duller surface on the other side.

Silk vs. Satin: What is Better for Your Hair?

Satin is a much cheaper option compared to silk. However, if you aim to use an all-natural fibre, then silk is the best fabric for you. A satin pillowcase or headscarf might provide you with similar benefits as silk when made with a better-quality woven technique such as charmeuse satin.

Is Silk Good for My Hair? Does it Make a Difference?

Of course, silk is great for your hair. In fact, silk is one of the best ways to protect your hair in 2020 just like it would have been in thousands of years ago. Take time and imagine the luxurious feel of running your fingers across a piece of silk fabric; it feels insanely smooth, right? That's the same gliding sensation that your hair experiences and the reason why silk causes less abrasive friction as it protects  your hair compared to other materials.

Actually, that is why silk is popping up in most of the fashionable hair accessories that you have in mind. This material plays an essential role in the health of your hair. That's because silk allows your hair to move smoothly, unlike other materials. And that's not all!

Silk helps to preserve the blow dried stretch in your hair for days. And this means you don't have to continually expose your hair to heat to maintain its flawless look. All you have to do is use silk as an accessory, especially when you sleep, and your hair will be perfect for a simple brush in the morning.

When you use silk your hair will look smoother and shinier than ever before. It will almost feel like you blow-dry your hair every other day. But the truth of the matter is that; you've been using silk. 

How Can I Use Silk to Protect My Hair and Skin?

There are several ways you can accessorise with silk to your advantage. With that in mind, let's take a look at some of the best ways you can use this fabric to protect your hair and skin.

1.    Pillowcase

Well, truth be told, sleeping on a silk pillowcase will not only make you feel like a member of the royal family, but it will also do wonders for your skin and hair. And that's why most experts will recommend the use of silk.

Silk typically has little to zero absorbency. What that means is that the silk pillowcase will not transfer or absorb your hair's natural oils. Therefore, maintain the fresh and moisturised hair look.

The second thing is that if you use a silk pillowcase, it will help reduce friction. Your hair will naturally glide over the pillow as you sleep hence reducing tangles in your hair. Natural hair is quite delicate, no matter the type of hair you have. We all spend close to eight or more hours in sleep. So, ensuring that your hair is protected using quality fabric is crucial.

Smooth fabrics such as silk will encourage your hair to grow strong and healthy without any split ends or less frizz. Another major factor you should have in mind is that cotton pillowcases lead to premature wrinkles on your face.

2.    Silk Scarf

Most people love using silk scarves. It's an accessory that you could literally spot any time of the day. During the day, silk scarves are a fun way to add some playfulness to your outfit.

And at night you can use silk scarves to wrap your hair to protect it. That's mostly because silk scarfs reduce the friction between your hair and any surfaces hence eliminating damage to the shafts of your hair, or "hair burns". More importantly, wrapping your hair in silk will ensure it doesn't fall out of place like, for instance, if you sleep with rollers on.

3.    Scrunchie

Using a scrunchie made out of silk will help prevent the breaking or pulling of hair when you take it down or put your hair up. On the other hand, elastic bands hurt the health of your hair as they cause unnecessary and excessive tension on the strands.

4.    Silk-lined Hats

Well, we all know that hat hair is never an easy look to pull off. But if you wear a silk-lined hat, you can improve your style and still look fresh. And on top of that, the silk lining is far less harsh to your hair when compared to other materials, for instance, cotton, wool or even polyester mixes.

5.    Headbands

Headbands are currently making headway in trends and fashion, and we can all get behind it. That's because headbands are great when washing your face or when using your skincare treatment. More importantly, silk headbands are a cool accessory, and at the same time, it can pull your hair back without any damage.

6.    Silk Proteins

I know this might be outside the realms of what you'd consider when thinking of silk, but  bear with me for a moment, deal? Most, if not all, of the products we use today, have an element of silk proteins. From shampoos and masks to conditioners. And that's because silk proteins act as anti-breakage agent and also heat protectant.

Thanks to these qualities, silk proteins can help to reinforce and strengthen your hair. And since silk has an insane ability to retain water, it can also infuse moisture into your hair. It's an all round star performer - strengthens and hydrates!

In summary, we prefer silk over satin for maintaining healthy hair... 

Silk and satin are both improvements for your hair vs. cotton or linen. Though the feeling of a smooth silk just cannot be beaten.

Check out our beautiful floral 16 momme silk scarf for sale here - in stock now!

It’s that cute guy and he’s asked you out and you want to look your best even if the two of you end up spending the evening in a dimly lit room. Your hair is your crown and you wear it well, but tonight calls for something special. You know your hair curls easily, but how will you be able to make it hold curls for what could be an extremely late night?

It’s okay ladies!

If you follow these tips on how to make curls last, you should be fine.

By the way, these tested tips are as effective for adding curls to your hair for a new, springy look for the office, to give yourself a slight boost of self-esteem or to show someone in your social circle that you still have what it takes to get your hair looking like it did when you were a teen.

Disclaimer: by following these tips you will learn tricks, shortcuts and essential steps on how to add curls and how to make them last for a long time. Keep these secrets to yourself as they are as valuable as gold.

1 – Pump Up The Volume

Sure, you can take that a couple of ways. Crank up the tunes but you still have to use the correct procedure for adding volume to your hair. Essentially, it requires two steps.

Step 1 – Shampoo and Conditioner

Here’s a bit of science for you. Curls last longer when your hair is light so shampooing it removes dirt and grime that can weigh it down. Use a light shampoo and conditioner.

Step 2 – Blow Dry Afterwards

Your blow dryer will add volume to your hair but not if you use it the way your usually do. Use a diffuser on the blow dryer and aim it at your hair while standing bent over so that your mane hangs down, or focus on the roots. You’ll thank us later for this amazing and simple trick to pump up the volume.

2 – Texture Counts

When you use the right products your hair will respond as you want it to. This sometimes means having to spend a little more for a better quality curling spray or mousse. You can get the right texture by using these on either wet or dry hair to make those curls. Also, as an added tip, don’t forget to invest in a good finishing spray. If you choose one that is specifically for curly hair and your hair is straight, you will actually be giving your hair the extra support it will need to hold curls.

3 – Fried Hair Won’t Curl, Period

Without scolding you, we must remind you that damaged hair is never, ever going to hold curls. For example, the curls will look random and messy if your hair happens to be frizzy or contains many split ends. Don’t forget to protect your hair when curling with a heat protectant spray or cream. This will help to keep your beautiful locks from getting burned and damaged.

4 – You Will Still Need Setting Spray

Even if you don’t think so, a good setting spray is your secret weapon. What it basically does is lock those curls in place. Read that last line again. Lock and load with a setting spray.

5 – Choose Your Curling Tool Carefully

One of the most crucial points to note in how to make curls last is the tool you use to create those curls. Yes, the curling iron has a name that suggests it would be able to provide curling activity. However, you may find better results by using a flat iron instead. Here are a couple of reasons:

Reason 1 – The Age Of The Curling Iron Can Be Damaging

Simply put, older curling irons are not ceramic plated. What that means is that you could end up causing more harm than good because of potential heat damage. We already know that damaged hair doesn’t curl very well. It won’t curl at all so avoid this situation.

Reason 2 – The Specific Design Of A Flat Iron Will Get You Those Curls

A flat iron with the sides that are rounded off is very likely the best design out there for curling hair. Plus, curls created with a flat iron not only hold better, they will last longer.

6 – You Can Still Curl Flat/Limp Hair

If your hair is what you would describe as flat or limp or a combination of the two, you can still get some awesome curls in place but you won’t be using either a curling iron or flat iron to do so. Your weapon of choice is hot curlers. Just set them in, do your makeup and you’ll be ready.

7 – The Heat You Should Feel Is During Your Date Not While Curling Your Hair

We’ve mentioned the need for heat protection while curling but did you know you can still curl hair without heat? Just braid your washed hair and sleep with it like that. When you wake up in the morning, you’ll discover that the hair curling fairy had visited and left behind some curls.

8 – Don’t Underestimate The Power Of Hair Spray

After your hair has been curled, give it a final shot of hair spray. This will give everything added hold and will hold curls all day. 

We've found these two from products to be extremely effective on the Afro Blow Out hair extensions:

• Suncoat Natural Hair Spray - this one gets a bonus point as it's alcohol free!
• Proclere Freeze Hair Spray 

In Conclusion

So, there you have it. The magic bullet answer and handy tips on how to make curls last. Yes, it will take some preparation and a slight investment on your part for the quality products required to make magic. However, the end result will be worth the effort and you may just win the heart of the cute guy. Or at least the heart of someone you encounter on your date at the very least!

What comes to mind when you think of the term “protective hairstyle”? This post will lay out some useful information about Afro hair and how best to look after it. Hopefully you find it informative, and if so please leave a comment below!

What Is A Protective Hairstyle?

The most basic definition of “protect” is to keep from harm or injury, and that is what a protective hairstyle aims to do for a person’s hair. A protective hairstyle is one that keeps hair from damage caused by:

• Wear and tear
• The elements (wind, extreme heat, pollutants etc.)
• Excessive handling and manipulation
• Rapid moisture loss

Thus reducing the likelihood of breakage, makes sense doesn’t it!

I should also add that hair extensions are not required to achieve a protective style. Yes, a hair extension brand just said that! You can obviously achieve different styles with hair extensions and I’ve included some recommendations below but as is hopefully apparent natural hair can create beautiful protective styles without the aid of extensions.

Can Anyone Wear A Protective Style?

Yes, of course! The term is often applied in the context of Afro hair however protective hairstyles can be worn by people with different hair types – though the styles may vary. For example, Afro hair thrives if it is moisturised and so those in cooler, drier climates may want to wear styles that help to retain moisture and support the hair’s natural ideal environment. All hair types would benefit from having the ends tucked away every now and again. And so hopefully it is understood that protective hair-styling should prevent damage and breakage from occurring to hair. This post focuses on protective styles for Afro hair.

It’s important not to create a mental crutch with protective styles, yes – braids and extensions are beautiful and part of many African cultures, but no hairstyle should ever restrict our choices, and certainly should not detrimentally impact how we view ourselves, and indeed how we are viewed. There are certainly ways you can damage your hair with these protective methods, so it should not be viewed that braids etc are inherently protective, but rather that they can be.

11 Ways To Protect Your Hair

1. Reduce Manual Handling

Protective styles should not be intricate e.g. micro braids as these styles increase the likelihood that too much stress is being applied to too few strands and it also means an increase in hair manipulation is required

2. Detangle Gently

Important to ensure hair is detangled so that it does not break during styling and create split ends

3. Moisturise Your Hair

And remember oil or greasing your scalp is not moisturising

4. Moisturise Your Ends

The oldest part of the hair strand, ensure this part gets moisture too

5. Protect Your Ends

It’s incredible how a scarf in winter or a jacket collar can rub and wear down the ends of our hair, creating split ends. So, it’s important to prevent this by considering tucking ends into a hairstyle or pining away to protect them from friction wear

6. Maintain A Clean & Healthy Scalp

A healthy scalp produces a natural sebum, but if the conditions of the scalp are not balanced then pores can become clogged and the sebum unable to moisturise the hair. Therefore, part of our protective hair-styling should be concerned with ensuring the scalp remains clean and healthy and able to create this sebum while we assist with the moisturising efforts. There’s really no point blocking your body’s natural moisturising function because you’re overloading oils on your scalp to moisturise… it’s kind of nonsensical when you think about it. If you’ve been having dry scalp issues, or anything else find a trichologist that specialises in Afro hair as they’ll be able to help you regain a healthy scalp.

7. Avoid Tension At The Roots

You never want to stress the hair, leave it as free as possible, and pulling hair at the scalp will cause a distortion of the curl pattern and damage the hair, potentially damage the hair follicle which in the long run could cause alopecia, or could cause minor scalp infections that manifest as dry scalp or things commonly considered to be dandruff. We’re protecting our hair, and so we should consider the unit of the scalp and hair as one that requires thought and care

8. Avoid Tension On Hair Strands

Similarly, we want to avoid tension on the strand so as not to damage and distort the curl pattern or the hair shaft to avoid weakening the cuticle. Clips, bobby pins and hairbands can create unnecessary tension so it's important to be mindful about how a hairstyle feels, while tight styles may be familiar they are not good for the hair in the long run.

9. Avoid Heavy Hair Extensions

(Similar to the previous point, but deserves its own line!)

It is important not to wear heavy extensions that pull the hair constantly, because you will damage the follicle until it no longer produces hair i.e. traction alopecia

Be careful with hair at edges and sides of head, as these are the areas that take a hit. If you notice thinning then you are already damaging your hair and you MUST STOP whatever it is you are doing before irreversible damage is caused as it is trending towards traction alopecia.

10. Different Styles For Different Times Of Day

For example, protective hairstyles for work could be up-dos and buns as this gets your hair away from a collar that might rub on it, whereas protective hairstyles for bed could be styles that allowed you to sleep comfortably while ensuring the ends are moisturised and tucked away to prevent rubbing while you sleep.

11. Protective Accessorising

Use protective Accessories to bolster your protective hairstyles for bed. Items like silk scarves or pillowcases when you sleep or silk scarves around your neck during the day will reduce the amount of damaging rubbing that occurs.

20 Protective Hairstyles For Afro Hair

Here are 20 beautiful protective style ideas to get you going, which include some hair extension styles. How many of these have your tried before? Would you have considered these protective styles?

1. Bantu Knots

2. Cornrows

3. Crochet Styles

4. Clip in Hair Extensions

5. Wigs

6. Natural Flat Twists

7. Natural Single Plaits

8. Box Braids

9. Thread 

10. Afro Kinky Twists

11. Ghana Braids

12. Senegalese Twists

13. Finger Coils (or One Strand Twists)

14. Two Strand Twist

15. Two Cornrows / Twists

16. Flat Twist Up-dos

17. Flat Twist

18. Ponytail

19. Weave

20. Straightened Hair

6 Ways To Speed Up Protective Hairstyle Installs

Many protective hairstyles are stylistic, but some have become burdensome and can take hours to complete, sometimes over a couple of days. Many of us have experienced the frustration of having certain styles done but you can benefit from protective styles without sitting through intricate installation by following these smart hacks to ensure your hair still thrives and is healthy but you’re not wasting valuable time on it.

1. Have bigger partings i.e. have bigger braids, twists, cornrows
2. Ensure hair is detangled with a solid wide tooth comb and use a detangling product such as Cantu’s Coil Calm or Aunt Jackie’s Girls Knot Havin’ It so that you style with ease, and without causing damage to the hair
3. Style simple – aim for simpler styles to avoid the time that more intricate styles take; one strand twist or finger coils are beautiful and take an hour to install
4. Wear a ready to wear wig – simply do chunky cornrows, flat twists or for those with short hair – nothing! I tend to have 6 large cornrows, going straight back from the front of my head and I keep these in for a week or two. There’s a smaller cornrow at the nape of my neck to prevent pulling the hair as part of the other cornrows. Luxeriva have some great options that don’t require glue, and if you’re really uninterested in fighting with a wig then check out the Lara fringe wig which is both striking and the easiest wig you’ll ever wear.
5. Wear clip in extensions – ensure these are not creating any tension at the root of your hair by installing carefully. You can use these to help you protect your hair in the event you braid or twist your hair before attaching the clip ins. Will also help with letting you tuck ends away if your hair is shorter.
6. Multitask e.g. steam your hair while doing something else, perhaps you have some daily reading you’ve been telling yourself you’ll start as part of your New Year’s resolution (no judgement lol) well now you can kill two birds (poor birds) with one stone by setting some time aside to do your reading, at the same time as applying your leave-in onto your hair and steaming it.

I hope this was informative and helpful – drop a comment below if you liked it and let me know if there are any suggestions for other blog topics.

Yes.

Stress and anxiety can wreak havoc on your hair and hair follicles if left unchecked. It's astonishing to think that something aside from your hair care practices can cause your hair strands to weaken or contribute to bald patches emerging on your head. 

Of course, it’s important to note that bald spots or thinning hair do not happen overnight. There are a few tell-tale signs that may be present, but you are so bogged down by the weight of things that you may fail even to notice those strands are beginning to accumulate in your brush, comb or even on your pillow. 

What Kind of Stress Triggers Hair Loss?

You’re possibly wondering what it is you should be looking for as it pertains to the stress most likely to upset your precious hair follicles, but the fact of the matter is, there isn’t a single form of stress that experts can point to as being most likely to cause you to lose your hair.

Also, keep in mind that not all stress is mentally or emotionally driven. There are dozens of events that may disrupt any hair goals you might have including:

• Fitness regimen
• Poor eating habits
• Chronic illness
• Pregnancy
• Surgery
• Relationship troubles
• New medications

Be aware that these are just examples of situations that can trigger hair loss, but not every example above will necessarily cause your hair to shed.

Types of Stress Related Hair Loss

There are three types of stress-related hair loss you should know.

1. Telogen Effluvium occurs most frequently as a result of some form of physical stress that causes your hair to stop growing. After three to four months, your hair begins to fall out, creating unsightly patches.
2. Alopecia Acreata may occur as a result of your body’s immune system attacking your hair follicles and triggering hair fall.
3. Trichotillomania differs from the other types of stress-related hair loss in that it occurs because you are intentionally pulling out your hair in response to the stress.

Can Stress Hair Loss Be Reversed?

Don’t panic just yet. The good news is that stress caused by hair is not a permanent event.

It is widely reported that once you regain control of your stress, your hair woes should go away and those hair follicles should begin producing healthy hair once again.

How to Stop Stress Hair Loss

If you want to regain your hair length and volume, you will need to make some big moves to reverse this episode of hair problems due to stress. Here are a few tips to get you started.

1. Improve Your Diet. Eat a minimum of three healthy meals each day. This action will ensure that you are taking in the right amount of protein, vitamins, and minerals that support healthy hair growth.
2. Get Some Sleep. Your body needs sleep to function optimally. This statement is true for your hair health. Your body and scalp need time for reparations.
3. Avoid Excessive Hair Manipulation. If your hair does begin to shed, you may want to take a few precautions to decrease the amount of manipulation you subject your hair to - this means, combing with a solid wide tooth comb, not massaging your scalp as this only speeds up the removal of hair from your scalp(!) and avoid tension on the scalp, i.e. no tight hair styles!
4. Identify and Rectify the Source of Your Stress. Take steps to identify the source of your stress and confront it. You may very well have to make some tough decisions, but your hair is likely to thank you for it once it’s all said and done. There are a number of holistic therapies & techniques like EFT or meditation which will help you regain control, and you will :)

If your hair loss problems continue, talk with your doctor to rule out any potential undiagnosed medical issues you might have that may be contributing to your hair loss challenges & speak to a trichologist!

There are countless heat styling tools that can be used with good quality human hair extensions and as long as you use an appropriate heat protectant you’ll be able to enjoy your extensions for a long time. Be sure not to apply heat to any bonding glue, lace or silk bases if these form part of your extensions though, you want to avoid irreversible damage to the product. There’s a cool list of heat-free ways to curl hair if that’s more up your street, but for now let’s check out these five essential tools you could incorporate into your style regimen tomorrow!

1. Blow Dryer with a Diffuser

Blow dryers are surprisingly versatile hair styling tools; as well as helping to dry hair faster they can assist with laying the foundations for many different hairstyles. Before using a blow dryer you should ensure your hair is around 70% dry, this is so that you don’t apply excessive heat to dry it and also because hair is weaker when wet – so help it out! Use a quality hair dryer that has multiple heat setting options. It is highly recommended to use the cool mode in order to dry the bonds and roots of hair extensions, and a diffuser attachment ensures a more evenly distributed flow of air to roots to avoid over-drying your strands which could damage cuticles and drastically reduce the lifespan of the hair. If you have curly hair extensions (or naturally curly hair) then please, invest in a diffuser as this will create real volume in your curls as and when you need it!

2. Hot Air Hair Brush

This is simply a hair brush with a built-in blow dryer, and it works so well! You can get the bristles close to the scalp to help with volumising your style, but as always be sure to avoid direct heat on a lace or silk bases for hair extension styles!

3. Hair Straightners

Possessing premium quality hair straightners is a must-have for every woman who sports straight styles and these are great when you need to revitalise a look, especially if hair has become a bit frizzy due to the environment or if the effects of a hectic day are showing! Always familiarise yourself with your styling tools and try out different heat settings to determine what works best for you without damaging your hair, it’s always worth remembering that you don’t want to apply too much heat to your hair extensions as it will degrade their quality over time.

4. Curling Wand (used to call them curling tongs… what changed?!)

Sexy, smooth curly hair can totally transform your look. If you want to give your hair extensions a new look altogether then use a curling wand, even if you already have curly extensions you can incorporate a tighter or looser curl to change things up a bit. The curling wands that have interchangeable & different sized barrels are one of our favourite tools – but be sure they come with a good quality heat-proof glove as you’ll need this to change hot barrels!

5. Deep Wave Wands / Triple Barrel Waver

Triple barrel wavers have become an immensely popular styling tool for hair extensions, and we can see why… the results are beautiful! Anyone can achieve beach wavy hair in less time and without much hassle. These generally also double up as curling tongs so are worth the investment.

Hopefully you have a better idea of the essential heat styling tools that can be used with human hair extensions, just maintain some precaution about where and how much heat is directed to the hair and scalp, use a heat protectant spray or serum beforehand and you’re good to go!

What’s your favourite hair styling tool?

2018 saw the 1980s coming back in the first half of the year and modernism taking over by the end of year. BUT does that mean 2019 is going to be dominated by sharp cuts and colours? Well, yes to an extent but let’s find out what else will feature boldly throughout the year.

1. L.A. girls like beachy waves, or so I’ve been told… we like them in London too

2. The highest of the ponytails. Why?

Because it looks epic. And fashion.

Sport a high ponytail like Kerry Washington knowing you’re bang on trend this year, have you tried using clip-ins to construct a ponytail before?

3. Accessories and all sorts of accessories.

We love gold! And even more so when it’s punctuating our hair – think beads, bobby pins, clip…

4. Sleek, smart and sexy buns.

They are back and we love them.

And loving those waves too!

5. Fringes but with a different flow.

What do you call them? Bangs? Curtain Bangs?

A fringe really does make you look very different so a great idea to try out in case you were looking for a drastic change of style

6. Jawline bob that looks sexy and classy.

And this is NOT only for straight hair. Yay curls!

Easily achieve this with 8” or 10” bundles and a middle part closure, or wait for us to stock bob wigs... yaaAAS!

7. Jawline Bob cut + bangs = even better for waves and the curls.

Reminds me of that Beyonce cut… kinda cute in a way

8. The long braid. Can your hair touch the ground?

Pro Tip: Use hair extensions hehe. This does make for an undeniably striking look.

9. Pixie with a crown for the cuteness.

Yes! I would start out with two 8” bundles in the body wave or straight Brazilian hair extensions and have these cut by someone who knows how to cut hair, a classic example of when getting hair extensions allows you to go shorter instead of longer!

10. A good wet look will forever be striking.

This is one of my favourite looks to be honest, I’m in love with the deep wave at the moment and that takes to the wet look style so well you’ll just be adding water and product to your hair for no reason. For a short bob like the one on Teyana Taylor I would go with the two deep wave 8” bundles and an 8" deep wave frontal.

I tend to wear wavy styles when I know I’ll be busy as they’re the easiest to maintain – comb and add a curl activator to really define the wave and BANG! I'm winning. What's your favourite?

Let us your thoughts & if there's anything you'd like to see added to the store please leave a comment below!

1. Once you have chosen the hair texture you want...

...we have Straight, Body Wave, Deep Wave, Kinky Curly, Afro Curly or Afro Blow-Out Brazilian hair extensions in stock now

2. And thought about what parting style you'd prefer...

 ...we have Middle Parting, Three-Way Parting (allowing middle and left- or right-side partings) or Freestyle / No-Parting Brazilian hair extension styles in stock now

3. Choose whether you want a leave out vs closure vs frontal to complete your hairstyle.

A Leave Out is where you leave a portion of your hair out at the front of your head so that you can cover and blend with hair extension bundles that have been sewn-in

• Benefit: Most natural looking hairstyles possible as you’re blending your hair with the weave so the extension joint is not visible but your real hairline is (for a complete hairstyle you will need 3 bundles)
• Great for you if... you tend to wear your hair down or in a low ponytail + you’re happy to style your leave out to ensure it blends with the extensions at all times, we’d consider this to be a medium maintenance style
• Tip: Be sure to use hair texture and hair colours that you can match with your natural hair once styled

A Closure is a 4”x4” piece of hair that covers part of your hairline, usually around the parting

• Benefit: closures offer a low maintenance protective styling solution; closures eliminate any styling required for your natural hair and they are so easy to wear that even beginners to weaves or wigs can wear closures with ease (for a complete hairstyle you will need 3 bundles to accompany your closure)
• Great for you if... you tend to wear your hair down or in a low ponytail + want a low maintenance fabulous looking protective style
• Tip: do not use glue to secure your closure, simply sew it in with your weave, get a closure wig or have a closure wig made to enjoy the lowest maintenance, great looking, premium quality protective styling

        

                                       

So now you have a better idea of the benefits of a closure vs frontal.

If you still need some assistance contact us via the Message Us button at the bottom right hand side of the page, or use the Contact Us form – we’re happy to give our advice any time!

Luxeriva Product Range

Luxeriva sells 4”x4” closures and 13”x4” frontals. All our closures and frontals are made using a fine lace base so that the base is hardly visible and the closures lay relatively flat on your head.

We do not currently offer 360 frontals via the website but will do in the near future, please contact us directly if you’d like us to provide a premium 360 frontal for you in the mean time and we’d be more than happy to, just add 20% to the cost of 13”x4” frontals.

Lace Frontal or Closure Tips:

1. Use foundation to match colour of the lace to your skin tone
2. You can make the hairline of the frontal or closure look very natural by plucking the hairline slightly if you feel the hair is too dense when you first try on the frontal or closure
3. Wash your lace frontal or closure regularly especially if you use wig glues as this will build up on the material
4. When styling do not apply heat directly onto the lace base of your closure or frontal to avoid damage

Question for you...

Are there any other frontal or closure product variants you'd like us to stock?

*Time comparison is versus sewing in bundles and a closure

In Short, Yes!

This post provides an overview of 6 different hair extension methods and you'll be able to see why we think CLIP IN HAIR EXTENSIONS ROCK! Plus they're so convenient for every single hair texture. 

We've summarised the features of the hair extensions types in the table below - let us know if there's anything else you want to see added to this post!

Hair Extension Overview

Detailed breakdown:

"Please, God! Please, give me longer, fuller hair when I wake up tomorrow morning!"

How many times have you said some variant of this “prayer” before going to bed? Here's the thing: you can get beautiful long hair in a few hours so now you can stop worrying about that miraculous overnight change! How? Hair extensions, of course!

Many women are impressed with the magical transformation that hair extensions promise. And it’s a well known fact that hair extensions are a real solution for all women with hair growth problems or those who simply want to change their hairstyle.

Whether it is our first or ninety-first time that we choose hair extensions, it is essential to know exactly what we want and what is best for us in order to obtain results up to our expectations. Poorly chosen (and this is unfortunately too often the case) extensions can quickly result in visual carnage.

But before analysing how to choose hair extensions and the pros & cons of hair extensions, let's talk about what they really are and what you should consider before getting them.

What are Hair Extensions?

Hair extensions are used to increase the length and volume of hair. They can be made of natural or synthetic hair. Virgin natural hair extensions are the best quality-wise (and the most expensive, of course)… because it is hair! With “virgin” meaning the hair has never been chemically processed or coloured. Natural hair extensions are labelled “remy” when the natural hair cuticle is preserved and all the hair runs in one direction, giving it the most natural look. If you’re looking for a lower cost and much shorter-term style then synthetic hair extensions are a cheaper option. Although they are not great for combining with heat and can tangle quite easily, synthetic extensions are great for anyone who wants a temporary style change. And because they’re way more disposable they do not require the same maintenance as natural hair extensions.

Reasons to Wear Hair Extensions

There are several reasons why someone would wear hair extensions as explained in another fun blog post.

• Those who have uneven hair growth can use these to add extra hair length and an even thickness
• It’s good when you want to get a new look like a fringe or a particular cut
• Add a little bounce to your normal hair
• Add a little colour to your hair without using chemical colours

Things to Know Before Getting Hair Extensions

If you are interested in adding hair to your natural mane there are some things you should keep in mind before going ahead.

• If you don’t know how to install extensions yourself then get the help of a professional stylist. Some extensions may seem easy to do for yourself, but getting it wrong can definitely damage your hair and it just won’t be worth the money you think you’re saving in doing it yourself by the time it comes to taking out the extensions!
• Extensions should NEVER be too tight. If you experience any type of pain or discomfort, speak with your stylist immediately and have them rectify it; there’s a common misconception among some people that if it ain’t tight, it ain’t right… please stop.
• Always look for extensions that are of good quality, even if they are more expensive. You do not want accessories in your hair that could cause damage to your hair later, especially if the whole purpose was to wear a protective style!
• Always remember to take good care of your natural hair. Hair that is damaged cannot withstand many styles. Oil your hair and scalp regularly, perform regular treatments and take good care of it.

Well, now that we've got all that out of the way, let's look at the pros and cons of different types of hair extension methods. And I’m sure you’re a busy lady, so we’ve ordered the types starting with the fastest install method.

Pros and Cons of Different Hair Extension Types

1. Clip in Hair Extensions

Clip in hair extensions are the best choice for anyone who wants longer hair in a matter of minutes. Clip ins are hair wefts that come with clips attached to them at the top. All you need to do is clip them to the roots of your hair. They tend to come in widths ranging from 1.5 to 8 inches to ensure optimal placement around your head.

How long does it take to attach?

10-30 minutes

How long does it last?

Daily style - you can attach, remove and re-use them whenever you want. We wouldn’t recommend sleeping with clip-ins.

Maintenance rating: 5/5

Extension visibility: 4/5

Pros

• Extremely easy & quick to install – you can do this yourself without professional help
• And equally you have the freedom to take them off whenever you want!
• You can buy them in various colors and styles to change your appearance throughout the day if you wanted, Luxeriva currently stock colour 1b clip-ins here and will be looking at extending the range of colours available in 2019
• Easy to shampoo and condition the hair as it’s so easy to detach
• Best if you’re a swimmer or exercise a lot!

Cons

• Clip-ins should not be left in your hair for long periods of time (i.e. days on end) since the clips can cause your hair to break and may be uncomfortable to sleep in

1. 2. Sew in Hair Extensions

Natural hair is usually canerowed to create a sturdy base to attach the extensions to, and then a weft, or curtain of hair extensions are attached in rows to the canerows using a needle and thread, this style is also known as “weave-on”.

How long does it take to attach?

2-3 hours

How long does it last?

2-3 months

Maintenance rating: 4/5

Extension visibility: 4/5

Pros

• It does not require heat or glue to install which reduces potential damage to your hair
• Ideal for thick hair
• Styles can last 2 – 3 months if properly maintained
• Suitable for people with long or short hair
• Add tons of volume

Cons

• Not recommended for those with thin hair as the canerows may slip out
• Tight braids can cause pain in the scalp and (in extreme cases) traction alopecia
• Requires adequate maintenance and washing to get to the canerows
• These extensions should be removed by a professional, or at least someone other than you before you get the hang of cutting them out yourself – don’t cut your own hair!

3. Tape in Hair Extensions

If you are looking for hair extensions that can be easily installed in a couple of hours, the tape-in hair extensions are what you need. Also known as skin-wefts, these extensions come in lengths anywhere between 1.5 and 8 inches long. Each weft is constructed by with double or single-sided polyurethane tape tab at the root and your hair is sandwiched and stuck between the extensions.

How long does it take to attach?

60-90 minutes

How long does it last?

4-6 weeks

Maintenance Rating: 3/5

Fiddling around with tape and solvent isn’t our bag

Extension Visibility: 3/5

Pros

• Application time of less than 90 minutes
• No heat damage since heat is not required during installation
• Reduces tension in the head as the extensions extend over a large area of the head
• The extensions can be worn for 4-6 weeks, and re-used with the help of more double-sided tape

Cons

• You should not wash your hair or do strenuous activities that make you sweat immediately after installing as the tape adhesive must be left to cure for 24-48 hours
• You should not apply any silicone-based product or oil to your hair as they can cause the extensions to slip
• The solvent used in removing the extension can cause damage to your natural hair
• We’re always suspicious about sticking anything to our natural hair as this may damage the natural shaft coating over time
• Hair cannot comfortably be tied in a tight bun or ponytail when these extensions are in

4. Micro Ring Hair Extensions

Micro ring hair extensions come in the form of small bundles of hair that are wound through small sections of your natural hair. Then, the extension is clamped to your hair using a metal tube with the help of a pair of pliers. A more convenient version of these extensions are the micro loop extensions that come attached with a loop and a bead beforehand. Therefore, they do not require a loop tool for the attachment.

How long does it take to attach?

4-5 hours

How long does it last?

2-3 months

Maintenance rating: 3/5

Extension visibility: 3/5        

Pros

• It does not require heat or glue to bond, therefore there should be minimal hair damage if fitted correctly
• The extensions can be removed and reused
• You can slide the extensions up and down before securely fixing where you want
• It blends well perfectly with natural hair
• Easy to wash

Cons

• Not recommended for people with short or fine hair
• It can cause discomfort and tension in the scalp
• Pinching the extensions with the pliers can cause your natural hair to break
• Hair damage could occur if extensions are not removed properly, always seek professional assistance

5. Cold Fusion Hair Extensions

Cold fusion hair extensions (also known as micro-link or I-tip extensions) provide another method of attaching small sections of keratin-tipped extensions to your hair, though without heat. The hair extensions are weaved in with your natural hair and then bonded using an ultrasound applicator that causes the glue to melt in a manner similar to the hot fusion tips, however (as the name suggests) without using heat.

How long does it take to attach?

4-5 hours

How long does it last?

2-3 months

Maintenance rating: 3/5

Extension visibility: 3/5

Pros

• The non-heat element of this method reduces the chances of hair damage
• It can be applied very close to the roots, making it mix very well with your natural hair
• Recommended for fine hair

Cons

• It takes a long time to install
• The clamping tool can cause hair breakage
• Hair extensions are not reusable after they’ve been removed

6. Hot Fusion Hair Extensions

Hot fusion hair extensions (also known as keratin hair or tip hair) are small bundles of hair glued at the tip with a U-shaped keratin & silicone glue. The extension is attached to the root of your hair with the help of a heating tool that melts the keratin glue onto your hair.

How long does it take to attach?

4-5 hours

How long does it last?

3-6 months

Maintenance rating: 2/5

Extension visibility: 3/5

Pros

• The most durable method because, with proper maintenance, extensions can remain for approximately 6 months
• Because the keratin dries out, you can’t really see where it is attached (unless you’ve chosen a colour or texture that’s notable differently from your natural hair)
• It blends perfectly with your natural hair
• Keratin nourishes hair
• Great for adding highlights, without need to use chemicals or bleaches

Cons

• With an application time of 4-5 hours, this process is tiring
• The application of heat required for fixing can damage your hair
• Hair extensions are not reusable after they’ve been removed
• You need to find highly trained professionals to do this because if it is not done correctly it could cause serious damage to your hair
• Need to ensure you use a sulphate-free shampoo as this can damage the glue and cause extensions to fall ot prematurely

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Who knew there were so many ways to attach hair extensions?! Hopefully you feel better informed and are now able to confidently choose your next hair extensions. Luxeriva sells clip-in and sew-in type extensions in our online store, are there any other types of hair extensions you’d like us to stock? Comment below to tell us which method you would like to try and if there’s a particular one you would never do in a million years.

NB. Always seek advice from your hairdresser who will be able to advise you depending on your desired end result.

Luxeriva is quickly growing to become one of the most sought-after hair extension brands in the United Kingdom with its unique combination of character and quality distinguishing it from others in the market. The brand’s recent expansion into clip-in and afro hair extensions is a further reiteration of the company’s commitment to ensuring that all the needs of women as regards their hair is effectively catered to.

In addition to the new product range Luxeriva also offers a wide range of premium Brazilian hair extensions via its online shop. The hair collections currently offered by the brand include hair bundles, lace closures, lace frontals and a host of other amazing collections. The brand also offers relevant tips and content on its blog, making it a one-stop shop for all hair needs.

More information about the newly launched products and other amazing hair extension solutions from Luxeriva can be found throughout the LXRV blog.

About Luxeriva

Luxeriva is a British hair extension brand that caters for women's weave hair needs providing them with relevant tips, content and the best quality hair direct to their doorstep.

We asked attendees at the recent UK Black Business Show why they buy hair extensions and came up with the following fresh, new list.

1. Be more… You!

With hair being such a personal statement and expression of one’s individuality the type of hair extensions we choose to buy can give a sense of re-affirming our beliefs about ourselves and sending a stronger message to everyone who meets us… a fuller ‘fro, sleeker strands or longer locks – what is your hair saying about you?

2. Get a natural looking boost

There are times when your hair just does not want to play ball and lacks the desired thickness that is often associated with beautiful, healthy hair. Invest in top quality and buy hair extensions that match to your natural curl pattern to instantly boost the volume of your hair and get that body and bounce you’ve been yearning. Luxeriva Peruvian and Brazilian hair extensions blend so well with your natural hair and look great as well but you have to ensure that you are selecting the right product.

• If your hair is straight or relaxed – buy hair extensions in body wave or straight – it’s super easy to curl so if you decide to curl your hair these will blend perfectly
• If your hair is 3b – buy deep wave hair extensions
• If your hair is 3c or 4a – buy kinky curly hair extensions
• If your hair is 4b or 4c – we have some great new textures for you coming soon!

3. Great option for busy women

If you have a hectic daily schedule then clip-in hair extensions are a perfect choice. You don’t have to spend hours in front of your mirror to get your hair right. Hair extensions can render the perfect look instantly which is why they are also great for swimmers or women who exercise regularly.

4. Boost (or shrink) your hair length

Seen a style you want to try out but don’t have the hair length to match? Well, go ahead and do it anyway because despite your current hairstyle and length you’ll find a hair extension solution that allows you to instantly achieve that dream style. Just clip in some extensions or have a few tracks sewn in, no one need know your secret especially if you match your hair texture to that of the extensions! From a bob cut on a Monday to a long, sleek ‘do on Friday; match your hair to your social calendar! 

5. Fearlessly style your hair exactly as you want

The best thing about hair extensions is that you’re free to style your hair as you desire without considering the usual constraints of length or potential damage to your natural hair. You can colour the extensions or try that extreme hair cut you’ve always admired; styling your hair becomes so much easier when there’s a little less at stake! Always use heat protectors when styling your human hair extensions to preserve the lifetime of the product.

6. Experiment with colour

We love the magic of dyed hair & crazy colours! But the sad part is that even just one application of bleach and hair dyes can take a toll on the health of your natural hair, and if the after-care is inadequate your hair could start to show signs of breakage, split ends and become frizzy and dry-looking. You can prevent this damage to your own hair by wearing hair extensions that have been coloured by a professional or investing in pre-dyed hair extensions that are compatible with your skin tone and style statement.

7. Protection from the elements!

Hair extensions enable trendy protective styles for your natural hair especially as winter approaches. In the summer longer lengths may be of concern as they may make you feel too hot, but the winter allows you to really go for it! We're not suggesting your hair should double as a scarf, just saying we recognise that every little helps!

8. Save money

Finally, and perhaps a bit of a counter intuitive one but hair extensions can save you money as you'll be able to achieve the same WOW effect as going to the hairdressers and getting a new hair cut, colour or blow dry and once you’ve invested in them they are yours and will last over a year with the usual hair maintenance.

So these are the hair extension benefits that some of you shared with us – are there any others that haven’t been included here? Why do you buy hair extensions? Leave a comment below.

Here are the 10 hacks that can get you through your hair emergency. Most of them are even free...

1. Forgot your Spray Bottle? Use an iron.

Lupita Nyongo’s hairstylist recommends this one.  Moisture from an iron works just as great as a spray bottle and may even produce better results.

2. Don’t throw out that Plastic Grocery Bag

If you run out conditioning caps or just can’t find yours, grocery plastic bags are a great substitute.  You can easily control the loose ends of the plastic bag with a pony tail holder and no one will be the wiser.

3. No Conditioner? Try Mayonnaise

We all know that you can make your own conditioner from the natural ingredients that you have lying around in your house. A combination of mayonnaise, extra virgin oil and raw coconut makes one of the best deep conditioners you’ll find anywhere. Look for Razorempress on YouTube for a tutorial on how to mix these ingredients. You'll probably end up using this conditioner on a regular basis!

4. Do a Bantu Knot

Putting your hair in Bantu knots for two strand twists is a great way to prepare the hair overnight. Your hair will have a curl pattern that pops when you wake up!

5. No Shampoo? More Natural Ingredients to the rescue

If you’ve run out of shampoo on wash day and you have apple cider vinegar and baking soda, you can make your own. Just mix one part baking soda and one part water and apply to the scalp. Rinse and then mix one part apple cider vinegar and four parts water and apply to the scalp. Rinse with cold water and your are good to go my friend!

6. Castor Oil to Promote Growth

Feel like your hair isn’t growing fast enough? Mixing one part castor oil and one part water and applying to the ends of your natural hair can help with that.

7. Use a Bandana to Tie-up Your High Bun

A high bun can look striking but when there's a lot of hair going into it, say if you have chunky braids, it can also be quite challenging to get them in the perfect high bun. Instead of trying to find an oversized tie and then struggle to fit the hair in it, try using a bandana. We also like taking an old pair of tights and cutting them to form a bespoke hair tie, just the right length for the hairstyle I'm rocking!

8. Sleep with a Satin Bonnet

Sleeping with a satin bonnet or a pillow case will prevent your hair from getting tangled while you sleep thereby preventing breakage. Your hair will also retain its moisture better on satin than cotton.

9. Use Greek Yogurt as a Protein Treatment Substitute

Greek Yogurt can be a great substitute if you run out of protein treatment. Check out NaturalMe4C on YouTube to see how to use it. And please don't use this on your weave... it's to treat your natural hair only!

10. Braid or Twist Your Weave at Night

Most people know that you need to braid your natural hair at night to keep it from getting tangled. But did you know you could do the same for your weave? Leaving it loose while you sleep could cause tangling issues and shedding. It will also help create beautiful waves the next day.

I’ve had to be sure to take extra care of my wigs and sew-in weaves as any build up of dry dusty summer pollution and sweat will rob Luxeriva hair of its natural exuberance and make it look limp, especially when the temptation to reach for the straighteners to resolve every issue is so strong.

My top tips to stay looking fly and fresh this summer:

1. Maintain a naturally healthy bouncy look by keeping the hair clean – a light shampoo followed by deep conditioning with your favourite products works wonders. And this is even more important if you'll be taking a dip in chlorinated pools or any saltwater.
2. Apply minimal products during everyday styling do reduce build-up, this will also be great for your skin as you don’t want oils from your hair clogging up your pores and causing break outs – thank me later!
3. Ensure hair is de-tangled daily – this will be a breeze as the hair doesn’t tangle easily but wearing a silk bonnet or head scarf indoors or storing your wig appropriately means you'll be well on your way to keeping things tangle-free!
4. Before heat styling use a heat protector product that won’t leave a funny residue or build up, I’ve been using this Argan Oil protector as it's all natural and leaves the hair feeling so silky and smooth plus I really really like argan oil
5. Refresh the style with a hair cut – don’t be afraid to spend a bit on a professional cut that will take your look up a notch; it’s those sequential investments that make the difference!

Oh, and please don’t forget to let everyone know where you bought your hair from! We’re proud of it and know you’ll be too :) 

Luxe Rose xxx

This post highlights some of the effective ways to get flawless curls without using any heat, let’s take a look!

1. Have you heard of Curlformers?

Get smooth, defined spiral curls every time with this simple tool - just apply to small sections of damp hair and allow to air dry. Be sure to use a curl-defining product before applying the Curlformers to really make the curl hold! Amazon have a great range of Curlformers like this pack these ones for hair up to 16" or up to 22".

2. Tight Bun

Are you looking for soft and loose curls to frame your face? Well, you don’t need any heat to acquire the curls that’s for sure. Try tying your hair up on top of your head in a tight bun and leave for around 4 to 5 hours. The moment you loosen the hair it will magically turn into natural-looking gorgeous loose curls. Finish off the look by brushing up gently to give volume and showcase your soft curls girl!

3. Roll & Pin!

We here at Luxeriva recently became obsessed with spiral curls. Have you experienced this before? Phases of wanting to achieve and perfect a specific look… Well the hot styling tools will give you the curls no doubt, but once again they are damaging your hair in the long run. This next heat-free method can give you the full length soft curls with a bit more definition. You just need to pin your hair up! Take a section of hair and roll it up to your scalp and then pin it to hold the roll in place. Leave it for a few hours and see the magic.

4. Use foam rollers (An oldie but a goody!)

Another variant of this is to use foam rollers or soft rollers like these on Amazon.

5. Headband Curls

Perhaps the easiest way to curl hair extensions is with the use of a headband. Whether you believe it or not, you can achieve perfect beach waves and be the envy every woman around – without heat! The best part is that your hair doesn’t get damaged because once again you’re doing this sans heat. This heatless curl method requires you to take a section of hair and tie a headband around it in 1 inch intervals or use multiple smaller hair bands along the length of hair to create kinks in the strands. The effect is best when you leave your hair wrapped around the headband the entire night. The next day you will look no less than a curly queen.

6. Bantu Knots

If you want to give your hair evenly distributed smaller, tighter curls you must try out the heatless process of Bantu knotting. You need to make small or mini buns all across your head and leave for a few hours. The best thing would be to leave it overnight with some leave-in conditioner or setting lotion to help define the curls. The next morning when you wake up – Greatness!

7. Fishtail Braid

Finally, in case you are fascinated with loose big curls perhaps there is no better method than tying your hair in a fishtail braid and leaving it overnight. It is best if you braid hair that is little wet or damp as it will adapt to the form of the curls better as it dries.

So, that’s it ladies! The 6 tips mentioned above are some of the most effective heat-free methods to give you beautiful curls without wrecking your Luxeriva hair.

It's true, hair weaves can offer a lot of versatility for Afro and black hair. Whether you want to have longer strands or if you want to allow your hair and scalp a bit of rest to promote growth, weaves can be your best friends.

All you need to do is cornrow your hair in a way that factors in your desired results (for example don’t braid your hairline too tight if you’re trying to let it regenerate!) and simply sew the wefts of hair extensions into the cornrows. This provides a great opportunity to protect your hair from heat damage and harsh chemicals while still achieving your desired look. The versatility of human hair extensions offers a lot of styling options, allowing you to look your best in whatever style you chose every single day. You can dye, curl and straighten them just like you do with your natural hair. However, weave damage can occur if you are not careful about the way your weave is installed.

This is why it is very important to be careful about the type of hair extensions you are using and to be cautious about the way they are installed to ensure your hair will look great even after the weave has been removed.

Spend Some Extra Cash:

This is not the time to get thrifty. Cheap synthetic weaves will look and feel cheap. They can cause scalp irritation which is something some of us just can’t tolerate. You need to make sure that you are dealing with a trustworthy retailer who sells high-quality human hair extensions such as Luxeriva, but don’t just take our word for it, check out some of the product reviews our customers have left.

When you first receive new hair extensions be sure to check thoroughly to make sure that they are free of insects that can irritate and infect your hair follicles – this sounds shocking, and I suppose it is, so while Luxeriva hair doesn’t come with freeloading bugs we’ve heard some shocking horror stories from friends and customers who just didn’t know any better.

Go for Sewn-In Weaves, Not Glued Weaves:

Bonded weaves use glue to attach the weaves to the natural hair. This. Is. A. No. Not only is it obvious how this can cause mechanical damage to your natural hair when trying to remove the weave but the composition of the glue means that it also suffocates the hair follicle which will lead to poor hair health due to restricted air supply, and eventually broken damaged hair that will take much more effort to restore.

Don’t Forget About Maintenance:

Even the best sew-in weaves need to be replaced frequently and you should be re-installing your weave every 4 to 6 weeks. This will allow your scalp to breathe comfortably and will give it time to rest. Having your weave installed for too long can damage your hair follicles and prevents you from giving your scalp the direct TLC it needs, which leads to the final point...

Pay Attention to Your Scalp:

It is very important to give your scalp the attention it needs from time to time. Once you have had your weave removed, it is time to deep condition your hair in order to make sure that it revitalised and well prepared for your next style.

One again, it is also very important to pay attention to your natural hair to make sure that it is in perfect condition. Just because you are wearing a weave it doesn’t mean that you can ignore cleaning and maintaining your natural hair. In fact, because your natural hair is covered under the weaves you may actually have to give it more attention.

Weaves can offer a lot of versatility and quick-to-achieve styling options. However you do need to make sure that you are using the best hair extensions and hiring the best stylists to avoid damage to your hair and hairline. Remember that paying attention to and maintaining the quality of hair extensions you use is part of keep your natural hair in great condition.

1. Butterfly Clamps:

Butterfly clamps will help you section and style your hair comfortably. Each package will contain enough clips to style your hair, whether it’s short or long. These are wide clips that will hold your hair in its place so that doesn’t get tangled while you are styling it. Moreover, they work perfectly for relaxed and straightened hair as they will not leave any marks or dents that will mess up with your hairstyle. They are quite affordable and you can easily get them here.

2. Hair Caddy:

Styling hair extensions can take some time. You don’t want to have your extensions all tangled up and messy while working on one single at a time. This hair caddy will keep your hair extensions safe, smooth and untangled while you wash, dry, style or colour them, also offering secure storage for when you’re not wearing the extensions, just fix in the caddy and store in a protective bag. It is portable so you can take it wherever you want to with ease. This is a must have if you want to style and store your hair extensions perfectly.

3. Wig Grip Headband:

This headband will keep your wig in its place and will prevent headaches and other wig related issues. It is made of velvet and will not slip or move, keeping your wig in place all day long. You will not have to use chemicals or glues to keep your wig in place which would certainly be more comfortable and convenient for you. The headband comes in one comfortable size that fits all, and you can easily adjust it for a snug fit that is not too tight. Moreover, it comes in different colours for more discrete wear. If you are looking for the best way to wear your wigs comfortably then this headband is something that you should consider.

4. Wide-Tooth Comb:

Detangling your hair can sometimes feel like a hard chore. Regardless of whether you have curly or straight hair you want to make sure that you are using reliable tools for hair maintenance to avoid breakage and split ends. This wide-tooth comb is all natural, smells great and is anti-static unlike plastic combs so keeps your human hair extensions looking great for longer. It is also great for use on your natural hair as it will massage your scalp and promote healthy hair growth. Moreover, it is budget-friendly!

5. Wig Hanger:

You need to wash your wigs on a regular basis to make sure that they are always in top condition. However, waiting for your wigs to dry can be frustrating especially if you don’t know where to hang them to dry beautifully. This wig hanger can be used to drip dry your wigs in the shower or over the sink to avoid mess. The special W design will allow for better air circulation without occupying much space.

Understanding the needs of your hair and choosing the right tools and accessories will allow you to take better care of it. You don’t have to spend a fortune on unnecessary tools either, just pick the right ones and you will always be able to get the hair style you’re aiming for.

If you’ve ever had to shop for human hair extensions then we can agree that the decision, particularly when it comes to the best hair human extensions, tends to end between Peruvian or Brazilian hair (this is why we at Luxeriva decided to focus on these two types of hair on our journey become a high quality hair provider!). Even once you’ve narrowed your selection down to just two types it can still be a challenge to finalise your choice because they have a lot of things in common. For example, both Brazilian and Peruvian hair are incredibly easy to style, simple to maintain and look really great.

These incredible similarities may make comparing Peruvian with Brazilian hair senseless but nevertheless, one thing we’ve seen is that it is really important for you to know and understand the difference between Peruvian and Brazilian hair extensions if you are to ever make an informed decision. So, if you are having a headache on whether you should go Peruvian or Brazilian take a look at the simple Peruvian and Brazilian hair comparison table which gives an easy walk-through of the features of the two hair types. Yes, we know – why go the long route and compare the two when we could have just recommended the best extension? To be honest, there was a time where we were all in your shoes having to choose between Brazilian and Peruvian hair and we’ve all been equally as stuck as you are now so feel it’s best to provide as complete an overview as possible and then let you decide!

Peruvian Hair

Peruvian hair extensions started being featured by media houses and fashion magazines back in 2010 and now is a favorite among over 40 million women globally.

• Peruvian hair can be classified as thinner than Brazilian hair though it typically has a coarser texture and as a result blends well with straightened or curled African hair
• The natural 1B colour of Peruvian hair is a great match for most
• High quality Peruvian hair has a reputation for its ability to look extremely natural when installed correctly and is known for causing no discomfort at all when worn
• If you want to go straight but want a bit more volume to your look then Peruvian is the best way to go

Brazilian Hair

The term “Brazilian hair” is almost synonymous with human hair extensions! One of the things we love about Brazilian hair extensions is the simple fact that they are so versatile; you can trim and colour the hair to completely change up your look.

• Brazilian hair tends to be slightly shinier and silkier than Peruvian hair which makes it incredibly soft
• Brazilian hair holds and maintains curls extremely well allowing for the creation of some fantastically defined curls!
• Brazilian hair requires little maintenance, some women use our hair extensions for over 6 months without experiencing a drop in quality and if cared for correctly yours could be used for a year

Making a choice between Peruvian and Brazilian hair may seem tough at first but the information in this post should hopefully have helped in selecting the type of hair that best suits your style and preference!

So what will it be - Brazilian or Peruvian? You will not be disappointed with our amazing products, and if for some reason you're unsatisfied we'll give you your money back!

1. Organix Coconut Milk Conditioner. Now. This conditioner smells so GREAT that we’ve have made leave-in conditioners from it (this was before Organix started to do leave-in conditioners and now even though they have added leave-ins to their range, some of us still do this!). It just smells so amazing, the fragrance is long lasting and you’ll be confident of your fresh tresses. Warning: you may find yourself whipping your Brazilian curly hair for no reason to bless everyone around you with the scent, you don’t even really need to move – a slight gust of wind will leave them grateful for your presence. You can find Organix Coconut Milk Conditioner in your local beauty supply store and online at Amazon.

2. Moroccanoil Hair Treatment. For those that know, you know, but if you have never tried this product before let us assure you that the fragrance alone makes this worth a try. Get some of the oil onto any exposed cornrows and scalp under your weave to ensure that your real hair stays moisturised, fragrant and soft. This product has a delightful scent derived from argan oil. It can be a pricey product but is genuinely worth it due to the uniquely sublime fragrance and affect on hair softness and conditioning. You can also use this on the ends of your Luxeriva human hair extensions to keep them conditioned, moisturised and smooth so as to minimise damage through day-to-day wear and tear. Feel free to gauge how much of this oil to use however as you wouldn’t want to douse your weave in the oil... a greasy overpoweringly fragranced mane is not the aim here. This treatment oil is great for both Brazilian hair maintenance and Peruvian hair maintenance, especially for hair frontals and closures that are quite delicate (check out some other great oils we recommend for human hair maintenance). You can find Moroccanoil on Amazon also. 

3. Aquolina Pink Sugar Hair Perfume Spray. This hair perfume has the nostalgic smell of candy floss (cotton candy) and works well by itself but can also add a sweet layer onto other fragrances you are wearing. Pink Sugar is a blend of vanilla and caramel and we usually just walk into a mist of the spray to let the fragrance lightly coat our hair. So regardless of whether you choose Brazilian or Peruvian human hair weave be sure to rock Pink Sugar - get your bottle on Amazon now.

4. Pure Oud Perfume Oil. This really packs a punch when it comes to fragrance. Just a drop of the oil is needed on the back of an earlobe or the inner side of the wrist for a rich and beautiful scent that will last hours and release its scent as your body releases heat. One or two drops on finger tips and then hair strands does wonders, trust us. Maybe avoid using on the ends of hair as it could dry these areas but it should be fine along the shaft every now and again. And please use sparingly as it’s really concentrated. There are so many variants of oud, so if you can pop into an Arabic store make sure you try some out before making a purchase as the scents can vary quite a bit and we all have different preferences, we like Arabian Oud. Oud oil comes in very small volumes but last a long time because they are so concentrated.

5. Lee Stafford CoCo LoCo Spray. It’s supposed to be a conditioning spray – to be honest we just like the fragrance, not sure we’ve noted any conditioning, but it also added a much needed extra injection of moisture to our hair – just use sparingly as the fragrance is quite strong. We’ve bought this from Boots in the UK as they sometimes have an offer on but if you don’t have time to get around to it, or are not UK based then get it on Amazon.

So there you have it. Five different product types containing our top hair fragrances that have given us pleasure over the years – what are your go-to products for great smelling hair?

Remember: don’t forget the following useful tips to keep your human hair extensions looking and smelling fresh:

• Wrap hair at night with silk scarf to avoid having to start from scratch with styling the next day and to prevent split ends and tangling
• Minimise heat styling but if necessary apply heat protector when heat styling and while on the topic of heat, ceramic flat irons reduce damage vs. Metal plate ones
• Condition your hair with a product that does not build up and leave a residue! This could very quickly become a source for a less than pleasant aroma.
• When drying wet hair consider using a hooded dryer to ensure that the braids underneath your weave are completely dry. There’s no point trying to layer on any of our recommended fragranced products to hide the smell of dampness, and if you do please don’t attribute the end result to us if anyone asks!

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Get your Luxeriva Brazilian hair extensions free shipping as standard now.

Or if you’d rather Luxeriva Peruvian hair extensions you’ll find options here.

• Try to avoid shampoos with sulphates as these strip hair of moisture and will remove essential oils from your scalp
• For a deep scalp cleanse we recommend removing the closure or frontal and washing it separately.
• Use a conditioner after shampooing and be sure to rinse the conditioner off with cold water to enhance the strength and shine of hair. Let the closure or frontal dry thoroughly before re-installing.
• Use a Luxeriva recommended oil to maintain moisturised tresses.

Day-to-Day Maintenance and Styling

• Closures and frontals are delicate as each hair has been hand knotted to the lace base so treat with care, avoiding excessive rubbing, scratching or pulling
• Always de-tangle hair using a wide toothed comb or brush whilst it is dry and before washing, never comb or brush hair while wet because similarly to natural hair the strands are more fragile when wet and susceptible to breaking
• When brushing or combing your frontal or closure, hold hair at the root to avoid unnecessary tension and start combing the hair from the ends working your way up to the root
• Avoid excessive heat and heat-styling in general (if you can help it!). As with natural hair heat will damage the quality of the hair and this will become visible over time. Always ensure you use heat protector products when styling, though avoid using too much product (including gels and greases) on the delicate closure or frontal pieces
• Avoid swimming in chlorinated water and protect hair from the elements if damage or detriment (dust, smoke etc.) is probable
• Have your closure or frontal lace bleached by a hair professional to ensure it matches your skin tone
• Have hair dyed or coloured by a hair professional
• Enjoy your hair!

Pre-Installation

• Always wash hair extensions prior to the first wear to remove any remnants of the preparation process, a very light shampoo or a good co-wash will suffice 
• Before installation you may want to seal the edge of the weft with a bonding glue to reduce the chance of shedding – use a black bonding glue to avoid visible white dried glue remnants

Day-to-Day Maintenance and Styling

• Always detangle hair using a wide-toothed comb or brush whilst it has plenty of leave-in conditioner to help any tangled strands to separate
• Try to avoid shampoos with sulphates as these strip hair of moisture and will remove natural oils from your scalp
• Use a conditioner after shampooing and be sure to rinse the conditioner off with cold water to enhance the strength and shine of hair.
• Use a Luxeriva recommended oil to maintain moisturised tresses.
• For curly styles spritz the hair with water each morning, using fingers to detangle – then liberally apply a curl defining product of your choice before scrunching hair with your palms to encourage coils to pop!
• Avoid heat styling, but if you must be sure to use a heat protector spray
• Braid or Wrap hair that's sewn in before sleeping and cover with a silk scarf, bonnet or use a silk pillow case if you don’t want to cover your head
• Remove clip-in extensions prior to sleeping to avoid discomfort or hair tangling
• Avoid swimming in chlorinated water and protect hair from the elements if damage or detriment (dust, smoke etc.) is probable
• Always have hair dyed or coloured by a tried and tested hair professional
• Enjoy your hair!

Now, back to you. Do you even want to stand out? If so, what does standing out from the crowd mean for you? What is it about you that stands out? Have a think about the two or three things that people have always noticed about you and complimented you for. These are probably your strengths so explore and build on those attributes, be proactive in developing them and you may just change your life if you’re able to use these to your advantage! We’re all unique, each and every one of us and we all have things we’re naturally good at, those unexplainable talents.

Homework assignment one and no, the class isn’t dismissed just yet.

Let’s take a look at “standing out” from an aesthetic, and more specifically from a hair perspective (makes sense, after all you are on Luxeriva.com and we like to inspire and discuss) as we’ve all heard time and time again that people make first impressions of you based predominantly on what they see. And we’ve noticed that hair seems to be a conversation starter or bonding point, no matter where we are in the world.

For example, one of our team recently completed a work assignment abroad and in India people asked questions about how she achieved the what-must-have-seemed-impossible goddess locs style. Prior to that in Hong Kong she encountered colleagues who not only enquired how she did her hair but were curious as to how she changed it so frequently and so drastically not realising that she had been wearing hair extensions – how brave of her to cut her gorgeous bra-length curly afro hair down to a sleek, short and sharp bob! One quite bizarre encounter involved a caricature-like woman with spectacles too large for her head going as far as to reach out to touch her hair... fingers making contact before she could compute what was happening. Yay. There were also two separate instances when men mentioned they used to have hair like hers in an attempt to be friendly by establishing common ground – she was wearing a kinky twist style both times so was slightly intrigued by what was meant. For me in London it’s the quality of my hair, the volume or the boldness of a new colour that catches people’s eye.

While hairstyles don’t need to (or even intend to) make a statement they often seem to do so. What do people infer about you because of your hair? And where did they learn these meanings? I mean, we know it looks great – we wouldn’t have chosen to style it this way otherwise, but it is just hair... isn’t it?

Whatever the case may be just know that you’ll stand out for the right reasons with our quality human hair extensions – people will look twice in admiration, not perplexed at which one of your family members allowed you to leave the house looking like birds’ nests are in vogue. Be a purple pineapple.

If Monday were a weave it would look like a hot mess. It would be that kind of weave you accidentally purchase on the internet after watching fake YouTube reviewers sing its praises only to find that the hair is crap, most likely not of human origin and smells a bit funny. Even a slight glance at the hair causes it to shed as though it too can’t believe the weekend is over.

Tuesday would be an overly shiny synthetic weave – synthetic is not bad, but this is just obviously plastic and unnatural looking. Some people like that look, the gloss-black-wrapping-on-your-head look. We’re sure they are sadists.

Wednesday brings the acceptance that we are indeed in a new week and back in the swing of things, and everything is starting to look brighter as another weekend nears – kind of like your grade 5A human hair, not too bad really.

Thursday is grade 6A human hair – decent quality, getting better.

Friday is obviously the 7A can handle any style you want type of hair. You feel on top of the world and the day seems to glide by, plus you know you’ve got the weekend ahead of you to do everything you’ve been waiting for, or absolutely nothing at all!

Saturday’s weave is the queen of them all – a Luxeriva 8A #Can’tTouchThis #MCHammerShuffle and shuffle, shoki* and shimmy we shall this night! *Dab* for good measure. You’ll be feeling so beautiful you’ll be saying “Yeah sure, my number is 07777 777 777; oh and please don’t blow your smoke near my luscious hair, thanks.”

Sunday is just the wig cap to be honest, or it’s a head scarf day at most. It’s been a long week and you should feel free to recuperate while preparing for the week ahead; besides now is a great time to show off what you’ve got in your beautiful scarf collection!

Monday’s weave... this again.

Go on, get your Luxeriva 8A human hair extensions so you can be ever ready to make the most of any day! Time waits for no one and really, what did Monday ever do to you? Let’s start loving Mondays again for the new opportunities they bring! YASSSSSSS it’s Monday!!! 

Comment and share this post if you agree that we should all reclaim Mondays and be our best everyday!

*Shoki is a type of Nigerian dance... but you knew that already right? ;D

As we know, wearing weaves or extensions (whether they are Brazilian, Peruvian or synthetic extensions) is a great way to protect our hair from the elements that help to rob it of moisture such as cold, dry and harsh winter air or summer’s air carrying heat, dust and pollution. Taking care of our natural hair even while in protective styles is essential to hair health and the growth of beautifully thick luscious hair. It can be quite tricky to maintain a moisturising routine and perhaps we’d want to avoid oil as it’s seen as greasy... but much in the same way we’d never be caught dead with ashy elbows we should start ensuring that dry scalp and hidden dull hair is a thing of the past!

Moisture is the key to hair growth and health, so moisturise (or prevent loss of moisture from) your hair and scalp as much as possible under your weave or extensions. Just spritz your scalp with water and then use an oil to seal in the moisture by preventing rapid evaporation. The oils below are also perfect for maintaining your Luxeriva virgin human hair frontal or closure instead of the natural sebum that would have originally conditioned and sealed each hair shaft. Of course, if you want thin straggly strands, split ends and a patchy hairline then pay this list no mind, otherwise – let’s go!

 3. Coconut Oil (from surely every tropical location - Nigeria, Ghana, Seychelles, the Caribbean, Sri Lanka... where else shall we stop by?!) has many health properties and can be used all over the body and ingested in food. It smells earthy, lovely and coconutty and is really moisturising. Similar to the castor oil, you can make your own coconut oil at home. But if you feel there are better ways to spend your time then just get some coconut oil online or from your local beauty supply store. Just be sure to select an organic, cold pressed virgin coconut oil for maximum nutrient content – it should be a solid pure white in cooler temperatures or clear in colour if in a liquid state due to warmer climates.

4. Southwest American Jojoba Oil is a light oil that leaves no residue and absorbs readily into the hair cuticle as it’s very similar in structure to the natural sebum that the scalp produces. This means it can hydrate the hair shaft from inside. Jojoba has antibacterial properties and can soothe dry scalp or dandruff, adding shine, elasticity and softness to hair. Go for the unrefined variety – a golden yellow colour and avoid any colourless refined options as these have had most of the nutrients removed. Also apply a few drops to your shampoo to provide a level of protection against drying agents such as sulphates or parabens.

 5. Moroccan Argan Oil – high in vitamin E, absorbs easily and is not as greasy as some of the other oils. Known to make hair softer it is an excellent hair conditioner that can improve the appearance of hair – put some argan oil and water in a spray bottle for light and fast everyday application to your scalp. My favourite blend of argan oil has to be the Moroccanoil brand – the fragrance is timeless, it’s simply divine!

 6. Tahitian Monoi Oil is excellent for skin and hair and is light, readily absorbing into hair. We’ve tried a Monoi Oil spray and oil in the Double Beauty Monoi range, and seriously their product smells angelic – it’s so delicate it’s like baby powder, clouds and pure thoughts in a bottle and it’s so good for your hair! So what is Monoi oil? It’s actually a combination of coconut oil and the Tahitian Tiare flower that has been soaked in the coconut oil for over a month.

 7. Mediterranean Extra Virgin Olive Oil is a great one as you'll probably have some in the kitchen cupboard and it acts as a great pre-poo treatment

Remember: select extra virgin and cold pressed versions of the oils to minimise the amount of processing, ensuring they have maximum nutrients to be absorbed by your hair and scalp. Also choose 100% organic where possible as it is a no-brainer to avoid harsh chemical fertiliser and pesticide remnants in the beauty products you chose for your human hair care maintenance.

We became excited when we first came across what was to become Luxeriva hair.

During one of our factory visits our sales director discretely (but oh-so-firmly) pulled at, then teased the hair vigorously and finger combed it to gauge the shredding profile... and not a single hair came out of the weft! The factory rep also combed a sample to demonstrate that the hair performs well under everyday treatment though that didn’t compare to the manhandling we had just subjected it to. The hair had a natural healthy-looking shine and lustre that made us all the more confident of the high quality in hand. Each bundle was evenly thick along its length – we knew we’d found great quality virgin hair and just had to share! 

And so we embarked on a journey to create not just another human hair brand, but a lifestyle brand. Luxeriva channels our experiences, our voices and our aspirations into its character so as to inspire, motivate and guide you to achieve your goals while also supplying great quality hair products. We'll liberally share stimulating thoughts like "Maintain your perspective" or "Do You" on our blog and social media (follow us!) because they resonate with us so strongly right now, these have become our daily mantras!

Luxeriva – What is That?!

Well, it’s a portmanteau. A combined word... it’s a mash-up of *Luxe* and *Riva* and we feel it encompasses the dynamic, high quality, forward-looking focus we wanted to create.