For every $w\in S_n$, there exists a unique Kazhdan-Lusztig basis element $C_w$ satisfying bar invariance and the triangular Bruhat expansion. Consequently, the elements $\{C_w:w\in S_n\}$ form an $R[q^{1/2},q^{-1/2}]$-basis of the extended Hecke algebra.