How to Make Synthetic Hair Soft Again (Tips & Tricks) (2024)

Synthetic hair extensions have come a long way. They no longer look like something you’d find inside a Halloween shop. Now, they look almost natural, with a lovely shine and glossy aesthetic that many women enjoy. Some can even handle relatively high temps for styling!

However, although synthetic hair extensions have advanced, there’s still one major issue that plagues every pack: dryness. But don’t worry – if your synthetic hair extensions have lost their softness, you can replenish it with a quick bath in conditioner or fabric softener.

Are you struggling with frizzy, dried-out synthetic hair extensions? Don’t settle for a dried-out disaster. Instead, keep reading this article to discover the best way to restore softness in your synthetic strands (plus tips on how to keep those tresses nice and soft!).

Replenish the softness now, queens!

How to Make Synthetic Hair Soft Again

Dried-out synthetic hair extensions are a significant fashion faux pas. Not only do they feel like a crispy nightmare, but they won’t look as lovely as they once did. Luckily, restoring softness is a cinch – as long as you have conditioner or fabric softener and some cold water.

1. Fill a Basin with Cold Water

The first step is to fill a basin – such as a bathtub or a sink – with cold water. You want to avoid hot water when dealing with synthetic hair extensions, as the high temperatures can cause further damage.

2. Mix Some Conditioner or Fabric Softener Into The Water

Now, you need to add in the magic product to restore softness. You have two options:

• Conditioner. You can use a specialty synthetic hair conditioner to get the job done. The bonus is that the conditioner will also detangle your extensions, a common problem with synthetic strands. Never use conditioners designed for human hair!
• Fabric softener. You can also use your favorite mild fabric softener to bring back softness. Fabric softener works like dynamite at replenishing softness in synthetic strands, but it won’t be an excellent option for tangly tresses.

Regardless of which product you choose, you need to apply ¼ cup to a full cup of the basin of water. Stir until the product is incorporated with the water.

3. Soak Your Strands, Agitating Regularly

Now your “pool of softening magic” is created. All that’s left to do is to add your synthetic hair extensions to the mixture. You want to ensure that you agitate (wiggle) your hair extensions every five minutes to ensure every strand can soak up the ingredients.

How long you let your synthetic hair extensions soak is entirely up to you. If you’re in a time crunch, you might settle for 20 or 30 minutes. If you’ve got plenty of time, you can easily let your synthetic hair extensions relax in the tub for an hour or two.

4. Dry

When your synthetic hair extensions are done soaking, you’ll need to remove them and dry them properly. Remember – you should never be rough with your hair extensions, such as rubbing them aggressively with a towel. You should also avoid using your trusty hair dryer.

The better option? Squeeze out the excess water gently. Then, let them air dry. You can do this by laying your hair extensions on top of a towel or letting them hang on a hair extension hanger.

I recommend this hanger storage set for two primary reasons. For one, you can allow your extensions to air dry, prolonging their longevity. Second, proper storage is key to maintaining extensions that are beautiful, lush, and tangle-free.

How to Keep Synthetic Hair Extensions Soft

Now that you’ve restored the softness to your synthetic strands, you need to keep them that way. It’s not hard, I promise. Following these basic maintenance steps allows you to enjoy luxuriously soft synthetic hair extensions for a more extended period.

1. Brush With a Wide-Tooth Comb

When it comes to synthetic strands, the only way to go is with a wide-tooth comb. Wide-toothed combs will minimize tangles, knots, and other undesirable damage, ensuring you step out of the house with lovely and soft tresses.

2. Don’t Overwash

Believe me – this is a difficult one for me, too. After all, I would wash my hair two times a day if I could. There’s just nothing like clean locks!

However, overwashing can cause a lot of trouble for your synthetic hair extensions. It’s better to limit washes as much as possible. For daily wearers, once a week is enough. Otherwise, you can go up to a month before needing to wash your extensions.

3. Use the Right Product

Synthetic hair is not human hair. Not even close. That said, if you’re not using specialty products for your synthetic hair extensions, you’re doing yourself a significant disservice.

With that in mind, ensure you’re shampooing and conditioning with products designed for synthetic hair. You’ll achieve the best results.

4. Buy Quality Extensions

The good thing about synthetic hair extensions is that they are much cheaper than human hair extensions, making them a go-to for many budgets. But that doesn’t mean you should skimp.

Synthetic strands are already cheaper than other options, so you might as well get the best of the best. Spend a few extra dollars to get premium ones!

5. Ditch the Heat

Heat + synthetic hair extensions = disaster. No, seriously. You likely already know that heat isn’t good for the natural hair on your head. So, there’s no way it would be suitable for synthetic ones.

It’s best to keep synthetic hair extensions away from heat. That means no blow drying, no curling, and no straightening.

If you purchased synthetic hair extensions that can withstand some heat, keep it to a minimum and always follow the recommendations. For instance, if your extensions say “safe up to 400F,” don’t go a single degree over 400F. In fact, opt for something lower, like 375F.

FAQs

Making synthetic hair soft again really isn’t that complicated. With a quick soak in some water and fabric softener or conditioner, you can make your synthetic strands feel good as new. Here are a few more interesting, frequently asked questions to check out.

Can synthetic hair soften?

If your synthetic hair has dried out, don’t worry – this is common. The good news is that synthetic hair doesn’t have to remain dry and dull. You can restore softness with a basin of cold water and a specific product, such as conditioner or fabric softener.

Does vinegar help synthetic hair?

Vinegar can help synthetic hair, but it doesn’t do a thing for softening. Instead, those using kanekalon hair extensions should soak their extensions in apple cider vinegar before installing them. Otherwise, you can end up with a horrendous itch and discomfort from the alkaline lye coating.

Can you put oil on synthetic hair?

Although oil is a miracle worker for human hair, it won’t do much good for your synthetic hair. Instead, you need to rely on products specifically designed for synthetic strands. Fabric softener can also do the trick!

Making Synthetic Hair Soft Again is a Breeze!

If you’ve been avoiding synthetic extensions because you think it’ll be troublesome to keep them soft, think again. With some simple maintenance – not overwashing and using shampoo and conditioner for synthetic hair – you can limit dryness. When dryness does rear its ugly head, simply soak them in cold water mixed with a conditioner or softener. Easy!

How do you make your synthetic hair soft again? Share your tips!