What Are Hair Extensions?

Hair extensions are a beauty secret for celebrities, people with thin hair who want added volume, and anyone who loves to play around with different looks and lengths without the time commitment. They are additional strands of human or synthetic hair attached to natural hair to add length, volume, fullness, or even a new color or texture. They deliver a versatile way to modify your hairstyle without waiting for your natural hair to grow.

Popular types include clip-ins, tape-ins, sew-ins (wefts), and bonded extensions. Some you can apply and remove at home, while others require professional installation and regular salon maintenance. Human hair extensions typically offer more styling flexibility, whereas synthetic extensions often have specific care and heat-styling restrictions.

Whether you choose temporary extensions or invest in professionally installed human hair, adequate care is essential to maintaining their appearance and longevity . Extensions can feel tangled, frizzy, or damaged from everyday friction, especially during overnight wear. That's why protecting your extensions at night with a smooth, gentle silk head scarf can be a valuable part of your hair care routine, making morning hair care effortless.

Why Aftercare is Essential for Hair Extensions

No matter the type or length of hair extension you have, what you do after leaving the salon will make a big difference to how your extensions look and how long they last.

“Aftercare is essential,” says Shantella Rios, hair extension expert and owner of Tamed by Tella, a Montclair, NJ salon specializing in extensions.

Along with regular salon maintenance to move extensions up to accommodate hair growth, there are a number of best practices to follow to preserve your extensions:

• Wash carefully. Follow the manufacturer's guidelines for technique and water temperature, and avoid scrubbing your extensions. Instead, wash your scalp with a gentle, sulfate-free shampoo.

• When brushing, use a soft-bristled brush or wide-tooth comb to detangle gently.

• Avoid heat styling if your extensions are synthetic hair, as curling irons and flat irons can melt the fibers. If you have real human hair extensions, use a heat heat protectant mist and low heat only.

• Don't sleep with wet hair, as it can cause extensions to tangle and lead to hair damage.

• Always wrap your extensions when you sleep to avoid tangling, frizz, and breakage. When it comes to hair extensions, your standard cotton pillowcase doesn't do you any favors. Cotton is naturally absorbent and pulls essential moisture away from your scalp while you sleep. It also contains tiny fibers that can tug at your hair and extensions, causing frizz and breakage.

“You want to wrap your extensions to protect your investment,” Rios adds. “If you're buying quality hair, you want to make sure you're doing everything possible to protect your extensions just like you would your real hair.” Silk scarves are breathable, keeping you comfortable while you sleep. Our 36-inch silk scarf provides ample coverage for overnight wear, securing and protecting your strands from friction against a cotton pillowcase. *This is also a great reminder to switch to a silk pillowcase instead of satin if you haven't already. The benefits for hair and skin are myriad.

A Mulberry Park Silks Bandana-Style Scarf: The Best Choice for Wrapping Extensions

If you've wrapped your hair in a bonnet or scarf overnight, you know it protects you from damage caused by a cotton pillowcase. But the material your scarf is made of may matter the most. Unfortunately, most “silky” scarves aren't genuine silk; they're made from satin—a petroleum-based synthetic fabric. Choosing a Mulberry silk head scarf ensures your hair benefits from a truly smooth, breathable, natural fiber.

Make no mistake: Silk and satin are NOT the same. When you compare them, it's clear you should choose a pure silk wrap like this bandana-style headscarf from Mulberry Park Silks .

• Silk is a natural fiber, while satin is a petroleum-based synthetic fabric woven to be smooth.

• Mulberry silk breathes better than synthetic satin and absorbs significantly less moisture than cotton.

• Satin traps moisture and stays wet, which is a terrible environment for your hair and extensions, while silk naturally wicks away sweat and dampness.

• Like your hair, silk is protein-based. This means silk will keep your hair naturally moisturized. In fact, hydrolyzed Silk, silk amino acids, and silk-derived proteins like Fibroin and Sericin are popular ingredients in many high-end conditioning treatments.

• Silk is hypoallergenic and resistant to mold, dust, and mites. Silk accessories and bedding are a wonderful choice for anyone with sensitive skin or allergies . Satin, on the other hand, tends to collect these environmental pollutants.

• Silk scarves can protect hair from UV rays when worn during the day, even at the beach. Better yet, silk manages temperature, keeping you cool in summer and warm in winter.

Learn more about the difference between silk and satin here , and why a pure silk head scarf is best here.

A Mulberry Park Silks Headscarf: Finest Quality, Extra Safety, Easy Care

In addition to being hypoallergenic, a headscarf from Mulberry Park Silks is made from the highest-quality silk on the market, Grade 6A. While silk is naturally hypoallergenic, we've taken an additional step for safety: the fabric in every product we make is certified STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® and tested for over 1,000 chemicals. Our silk scarf is also easy to care for; you can wash it either by machine or by hand with a gentle, enzyme-free detergent like  Heritage Park Silk and Wool Laundry Detergent . Read these care guidelines .

Best of all, experts like Shantella Riosghly recommend our pure silk headscarf: “Using a product like the headscarf is a wonderful addition to your extensions. Your hair is a natural fiber, and using [the] 100% silk headscarf is going to protect the hair,” Rios says. “There's no friction that's going to cause split ends.”

Did You Know? Silk Head Scarves May Be HSA/FSA Eligible!

Our 100% pure mulberry silk headscarves and silk sleep bonnets collection are more than luxurious hair accessories. Their exceptionally smooth, gentle texture makes them a wise choice for protecting delicate hair and sensitive scalps. Customers with qualifying medical needs, including certain scalp conditions or treatment-related hair loss, may be eligible to purchase them using HSA/FSA funds. Our simple checkout process makes it easy to see whether you qualify.

If a silk head scarf isn't for you, try our reversible sleep bonnets , designed with care and in consultation with hair stylists, extension experts, and women who wear them regularly. They feature an elasticized back and long ties for secure wear and to prevent slipping. They come with our collection of Grade 6A mulberry silk pillowcases and supremely indulgent silk bedding .

As always, the Mulberry Park Silks resources and support team is prepared to answer any of your questions about silk, from picking the right momme, advice on the best products for your hair type, silk care tips, and more. Call us or email us anytime.