Proper care is essential to getting the most out of your hair extensions. Following these guidelines will help your extensions last longer, keep your natural hair healthy, and maintain that beautiful, seamless look. Your personalized care instructions will also be reviewed at your appointment.
Brushing and Detangling
Brush your hair extensions at least twice daily - morning and night. Use a Tangle Teezer, a boar bristle brush, or a loop brush specifically designed for extensions. Always start from the ends and work your way up toward the roots. Hold the hair at the root attachment point as you brush to prevent tugging and tension at the bonds or weft rows.
Never brush your extensions when they are wet. Wet hair is more fragile and prone to breakage. Instead, gently squeeze out excess water with a towel, apply a leave-in conditioner or detangling spray, and use your fingers or a wide-tooth comb to gently work through any tangles before blow drying.
Pay special attention to the areas near your attachment points. Use your fingers to gently hold the row or bond while you brush to avoid putting tension on the connection points. Never brush aggressively near the bonds or weft rows.
Washing Your Extensions
Wash your hair 1-3 times per week depending on your activity level and scalp type. Extensions do not receive natural oils from your scalp the way your natural hair does, so over-washing can lead to dryness and tangling.
Use sulfate-free, professional-grade shampoo and conditioner. Sulfates can break down the bonds and cause extensions to slip or become damaged over time. Focus shampoo on your scalp and roots, working shampoo between each weft row to ensure a thorough cleanse at the attachment points. Apply conditioner from mid-length to ends only - avoid getting conditioner on your bonds or weft attachment points as it can cause slippage.
Wash your hair in a downward motion, never scrunching or piling your hair on top of your head. This helps prevent tangling. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water - avoid hot water as it can weaken the bonds and dry out the hair.
Before washing, gently detangle your hair with a brush or wide-tooth comb. Do not wash your extensions if they are tangled as this will worsen the matting.
Drying Your Extensions
Always blow dry your extensions after washing - never go to sleep with wet extensions. Sleeping on wet extensions can cause severe tangling, matting, and can create conditions for mold or mildew at the attachment points.
Gently blot your hair dry with a microfiber towel - do not rub or scrunch. Apply a heat protectant before blow drying. Use your blow dryer on a medium heat setting, working from roots to ends. Make sure the attachment points are fully dry before finishing.
If you need to air dry, sit in a warm area and use your fingers to gently separate and air out the hair. Make sure extensions are completely dry - especially at the bonds or weft rows - before going to bed or pulling hair into a style.
Heat Styling
Your extensions are made from 100% human hair and can be styled with heat tools just like your natural hair. However, consistent heat exposure can dry out and damage the hair over time, so use heat in moderation and always use a heat protectant spray before styling.
Keep heat tools at or below 350 degrees Fahrenheit whenever possible. Avoid applying heat tools directly to the bonds or weft attachment rows. Do not linger too long in one spot - keep tools moving through the hair.
Let your hair cool before brushing after heat styling. This helps the style set and reduces frizz and breakage.
Sleeping with Extensions
Before bed, gently brush your extensions to remove any tangles. Braid your hair into one or two loose braids, or put it into a loose low ponytail or bun. This prevents tangling while you sleep. Avoid tight styles that put tension on the attachment points overnight.
Sleep on a satin or silk pillowcase and consider wearing a satin bonnet or scarf over your hair. Cotton pillowcases create friction that causes tangling, frizz, and can shorten the life of your extensions. This is one of the most important things you can do to protect your investment.
Working Out and Swimming
If you work out regularly, wear your hair in a loose braid or low ponytail. Avoid tight high ponytails or styles that put excessive tension on the attachment points. Wash your hair or at minimum rinse your scalp after heavy sweating to prevent product buildup at the roots.
If you plan to swim, protect your extensions by applying a leave-in conditioner before entering the water. Braid or twist your hair to minimize tangling. Rinse your hair immediately after swimming - chlorine and saltwater are extremely drying and damaging to extension hair. Wash and thoroughly dry your extensions after any swim session. An important note for our blonde clients: many sunscreens contain avobenzone, a UV filter that can react with blonde or lightened extension hair and cause discoloration. Check your sunscreen ingredients and use a mineral-based sunscreen instead when possible, keeping product away from your hair.
Choose Products Wisely
Use: Sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner, leave-in conditioner, heat protectant spray, lightweight hair oils (applied to ends only), extension-specific detangling sprays.
Avoid: Sulfate-containing shampoos, alcohol-based styling products (they dry out extension hair), protein treatments and keratin treatments (these can cause stiffness and breakage in extension hair over time), dry shampoo near the bonds or weft rows (causes buildup), heavy oils or conditioners near attachment points, clarifying shampoos used frequently.
Dry shampoo should be used sparingly and only on your natural roots - keep it away from the weft rows or bond attachment areas to prevent buildup that can be difficult to remove and can loosen your extensions over time.
Maintenance Appointments
Regular maintenance appointments are essential to the health of your natural hair and the longevity of your extensions. Do not stretch your maintenance appointments beyond what is recommended.
- Sew-in wefts: Adjustment appointments every 4-8 weeks. As your natural hair grows, the weft rows will move down and need to be repositioned. Waiting too long can cause tangling and matting at the roots.
- Keratin bond extensions: Maintenance every 3-5 months. Bonds that have grown out significantly can put tension on your natural hair and cause breakage if not addressed.
At your maintenance appointments, we will assess the condition of your extensions and your natural hair, remove any shed hair that has become trapped, reattach or adjust as needed, and ensure everything is healthy and secure.
Signs You Need to Contact Your Stylist
Reach out between appointments if you experience any of the following:
- Significant shedding or loss of extension strands
- Extensions slipping or feeling loose at the attachment points
- Unusual scalp irritation, soreness, or tension that doesn't resolve
- Severe tangling that you cannot resolve with gentle detangling
- Any visible damage to your natural hair at the attachment points
Never attempt to remove, reattach, or adjust your extensions yourself. This can cause serious damage to your natural hair. Contact Hope and we'll get you in as soon as possible.
Removing Your Extensions
Extensions should always be professionally removed by your stylist. Do not attempt to remove them at home. Professional removal ensures your natural hair is protected throughout the process. We will use the appropriate removal solutions and techniques specific to your extension method.
After removal, we recommend a deep conditioning treatment to replenish moisture and restore strength to your natural hair before reinstalling or taking a break from extensions.
Listen to Your Stylist
Every client's hair is different. The care instructions Hope gives you at your appointment are personalized to your specific extension method, your natural hair type, and your lifestyle. These general guidelines are a great foundation, but your stylist's specific instructions always take priority. When in doubt, reach out - Hope would rather answer your questions than have you guess and end up with a problem that could have been avoided. Your investment deserves the best possible care, and we are here to support you every step of the way.