How to swim with handtied extensions

Long story short, it's not recommended to swim with handtied extensions-but we're realists here and it can be done with some precautions. Let's dive in.

It's summer in Texas which means when the heat is remotely bearable, like 98 instead of 109, you're likely taking the kiddos to the pool or floating the river on your annual girls trip.

Whether you have extensions or have considered them, you maybe haven't considered how a refreshing dip could affect your extensions. On the other hand, maybe one of the first questions you asked your stylist was if you could, and how to swim with handtied extensions. If you're by water it's likely you're in the sun too, so we'll start there.

You likely have chemical sunscreen in your beach bag right now. The great thing about this type is they're super common and are also more sheer, or "invisible". However, the active ingredients avobenzone, octisalate, octocryclene, homosalate, and octinoxate are not extension safe-and this is true for any extension type. Avobenzone is particularly nasty to them, causing damage and discoloration that is very hard, if not impossible, to fix. This problem is amplified on blonde extensions which turn pink or orange (no thank you!).

So what can you do? You can opt for mineral sunscreens. These use zinc oxide and titanium dioxide instead, and are actually better for hyperpigmentation and melasma. They are also reef safe, which in my opinion is a selling point alone. If you still use chemical sunscreen on your littles that's okay-just make sure you wash your hands and keep their little bodies and fingers away from your hair.

So now you're covered, literally, in mineral sunscreen. You head outside with a refreshing margarita and the book you're reading for book club. Inevitably, you're wanted in the pool for chicken and playing mermaid (duh-you have mermaid hair).

In a perfect world, those extensions won't touch pool water or salt water at all. Chlorine, pool chemicals, and salt are soooo drying on hair-especially extensions-and the pool can make your blonde hair extensions green. What we need to do is ensure your hair soaks up as little of that water as possible, so its imperative to get your hair fully saturated with tap water first and even some leave in conditioner. Then, braid it or put it in a ballerina bun before getting in. Always wash your hair immediately after, and I highly recommend a good masque to nourish the hair, such as the Iles Formula hair mask.

Check out some more mineral sunscreen recommendations below, and happy summer!