How to Protect Your "Leave Out" With Hair Extensions & Wigs

Best Leave Out Tips!

Leave out gives your hair a flat and natural installation. However, keeping hair blended, laid and healthy can be difficult. This hair season "leave out" the stress of damage, breakage and the never-ending styling with these tips for managing your leave out.

There seems to be a little debate on what qualifies as leave out. Leave out is the hair that is left out to cover the tracks of a sew in to blend with the extensions. Typically it is a rectangular box of hair left out in the middle front; some may leave out the perimeter of their hair, or majority if trying to achieve to a vixen sew-in.

Here are some tips on how you can manage your leave out for a sew-in.

1. Leave Less Hair Out

A great way to protect your Leave-out is to minimize the amount of hair that is left out of your installation. Ask your stylist to place your braids closer together for a fuller installation, and a smaller part.

Leave out minimal hair to keep your style right and your hair healthy. The less hair you leave out, the less maintenance and repair you will have to do later.

Side part vs. Middle part

Side parts are beautiful, and they give off so many hair vibes that we love! Side parts are dramatic, fun and give every girl the adored tuck away, deep bang and the chance to show off their coveted edges.

However, the thicker the part, the more hair that needs to be left out.

Middle parts are more manageable than side part. Whether you rock a side or middle part, be sure to leave out minimal hair and style with caution.

2. Put It All Away

Leave out is excellent, it is versatile, and gives your sew-in a natural look. However, it requires a lot of maintenance and attention to your hair to reduce damage and ensure a pleasant polished, blended look. Leave out is not the only option to having a natural looking installation.

The easiest way to protect your hair from over manipulation, breakage and burnout is easy- put it all away! Braid all of it and get your Private Label Extensions closures, wigs, and frontals in full effect.

Closures

Closures are great for so many reasons! The first reason is that it allows you to put all your hair away. This is a great option when looking to protect leave-out because all your natural hair is tucked away.

Closures can be lace or silk. Silk closures have an added layer of silk giving off a very realistic scalp-like look. However, silk closures maybe harder to lay flat due to the double layers.

Lace closures reign supreme in the hair world. Lace closures are versatile, realistic and lay extremely flat. They may require some degree of customization with bleaching of knots and plucking.

Both closures can be curly, straight and have different widths and lengths. Closures can be one-part, three-part or free-part for added versatility. The most common width used is 5x5, this closure is large enough for versatility but small and comfortable.

You can purchase closures from Private Label Extensions. We have wide range in texture, length, and affordable prices from $36 to $80.

Check out our article to learn "Everything You Need To Know About Closures".

Frontals

Frontals offer even more coverage and protection than closures. They cover every inch of one's head from one's edges to their leave out. You can have edges for days, ponytails, middle parts, and side parts if you use a frontal, all while protecting your hair.

360 Frontals even offer protection for the back of one's head (edges and the "kitchen"). They can be glued, sewn or taped as a means of installation. Frontals are also available on the Private Label Extensions website starting at $80 and ranging up to $120 for 360 Frontals.

Frontals require more customization than closures, but they are worth it. While this is a great alternative to leave-out be careful to get your frontal professionally installed and removed, or you will have more significant problems than damaged leave out!

Wigs

Wigs are another protective style. Like closures and frontals, they offer coverage for all of one's hair. Though, these might be the easiest yet, simply add clips or an adjustable band, braid all of your hair and throw on your wig.

The full coverage of a wig, along with the easy access to your hair are why wigs are a great protective style.

These options may require customization; it is a one-time thing, opposed to spending time each morning trying to blend your leave out. Customization can be done by a professional, or if you are a DIY kind of girl, you can search up some tutorials on YouTube.

Protective styles are a great way to foster growth and allow hair time to repair from damage. Braiding your hair down will reduce styling and damage from weather or product. It may be hard, but it is healthier to switch to a more convenient and protective style.

3. Try Different Styles

If you love your leave out, and you're not ready to make the jump to closures, frontals or wigs, there are some alternatives. Here are some other styles you can wear to protect your hair and prevent you from having leave out.

Twists or Braids in the Front

Work your leave out into your style using twists or braids. Starting at your part, twist your hair back, and safely secure with bobby pins. If braiding, this style still applies, braiding both sides of your leave out back and away from your face. Another braided style would be to place a braid straight across, giving goddess vibes.

Twisting or braiding your hair up will reduce the need for constantly flat ironing, crimping or curling your leave out. It gives a new twist to your original look.

Curly Styles

Ladies, we all love seeing our extensions pressed for protection, our hair bone straight and silky. But, try something new, curlier hair textures are easier to maintain with leave out. Merely part leave-out in smaller sections and wet with water or mousse. Then braid hair, in the morning take out and finger the curls.

You could also use rods to give leave-out the desired curl, do this once a week or twice a month depending on the needs of your hair.

Switch Up Your Part

While you're trying out a new style, try out a new part! Repeatedly getting a part in the same place puts a strain on your hair. Try switching your part so that your hair has a break from the styling demands of maintaining leave out. This will put less stress on your hair. Changing your leave out area also helps your hair from thinning out and saves that particular spot from the constant pulling tension of braids and installations.

Don't be afraid to get creative with your styles. Your hair is an extension of you, open up Instagram for some inspiration and go to town.

4. Use the Right Product

When it comes to protecting your leave out you can't forget to use the right products. You want to take care of your leave out and treat it to keep your hair from getting damaged. Using the right products is major key. Here are some products you should be using to help protect your leave out.

Shampoo & Condition

As with any protective style, when taken out you should be sure to shampoo and condition your hair. Hair treatments are especially true with leave-out.

If your leave out needs a good co-wash, but you are not ready to take out your install, merely wash your leave out by itself. Use a small amount of deep conditioner or shampoo and work through your leave out. You can even rinse or spritz with a water bottle.

Opt for conditioners that are sulfate free, which is good for both your natural hair and extensions. Make sure you do not forget to blow dry your hair! Having wet hair under your install can lead to itching, shrinkage, and mold. Just use your dryer on low or cool to minimize damage.

Heat Protectant

Invest in a good heat protectant to shield hair from harmful styling like blow-drying and flat-ironing. Choose a heat protectant that is lightweight, and emphasizes health, protection, and shine for the best results. One of my favorite heat protects Chi 22 Iron Guard Thermal Protection available at Walmart and Target for $10.25.

Spray hair at a distance, and comb or brush through. Do not press your hair too long, or it will burn.

Edge Control

In case you didn't know your edges are apart of the definition of leave out. It is easy to get caught up in swirling your edges, and applying growth serums or oiling cremes. It is important to not to weigh your hair down with too much product. Invest in a quality edge control like the Black Edition Edge Control from Private Label Extensions which starts at just $7. It smells fantastic and comes in a black color that will give you the appearance of full, slick edges and a firm hold.

When applying edge control use the least amount possible and an edge brush. Before applying edge control, always make sure your hair is clean and dry.

5. Be Mindful of Hair Practices

When dealing with leave out how you deal with your hair is important. Common hair practices may exhaust your hair. Here are some hair practices that you should be mindful of.

Put the Hot Tools Down

Try not to flat iron your hair every day. As mentioned, it is best to get on a schedule for when you will touch up your leave out. It is best to try to limit your touch-ups to once or twice a week, instead of flat ironing hair every day which leads to heat damage and breakage.

Don't Use Too Much Product

Besides heat protectant, try not to add too many oils or gels to your hair. Adding too much product is unhealthy for your hair and scalp. It will also weigh down your hair giving it a greasy and stiff look.

Heat protectants add shine and protection. And if you are following a good hair regimen, your hair will already have bounce and flow. Stick to adding one or two products to maintain your leave out.

Tie Your Hair

A tip to maintaining a flat and flawless leave out style with straight extensions would be to flat iron your hair as least as possible. If you straighten your leave out at the beginning of the week, tie it up every night so that you are not forced to continually flat-iron your hair throughout the week. Be sure to lay hair as flat as possible and cover with your scarf; this should keep your leave out and fly aways in place. Try to use a silk scarf, as this will help your extensions stay shiny and soft.

For curly hair, braid as directed and tie up as well. Securing your hair at night will keep hair from frizzing. Bonnets are the best method for wrapping up curly hair.

Tying your hair up at night preserves both your leave out and extensions. Protecting hair at night with scarfs keeps hair from getting messy and shedding.

6. Wear Accessories

Accessories come in handy when protecting your leave out. Here are some accessories that you can try. Don't be afraid to get creative.

Use A Scarf

Add a cute scarf or turban to protect your leave out. Whether your hair is up, down, curly or straight, a scarf is just the thing you need to give your leave out a break. Instead of fighting with your natural hair in humidity and cold weather, tuck it safely underneath a scarf.

When pressed for time or fighting the urge to flat iron or gel down leave out, pop on a cute hat. Not only will it cover your leave out protecting it from weather and antsy hands, but it will also add spice to your outfit. Think of it as a two for one!

Headbands

Brush that leave out back, and slide on a headband for good measure. It is a quick way to solve any leave-out issues when you do not have the time. Additionally, it will serve as a hold-over style instead of flat-ironing hair.

Choosing alternatives over leave out make getting your hair done a little more expensive. However, it helps your hair in the long run. Using accessories, good hair practices, closures, frontals, and wigs, allow your hair to have versatility, time to recover and require less styling and maintenance.

Switch It Up

Change your install, clip your ends, wash your closure...

As with any protective style, it is essential to take care of your hair underneath, or in this case, the hair that's left out. Be sure to take out your installs every 4-6 weeks, trim your ends, and shampoo and condition hair.

Even if you do not have leave out, the health of your hair is essential. Be sure to wash and condition not only your natural hair but the closures and frontals as well removing glue, hair oil, gel and dirt that can accumulate from styling hair and have it in an installation.

Do you have any leave out tips? If so let us know what you do to keep your extensions and your leave out popping by leaving a comment.