Hair extension care
Proper washing, brushing, nighttime routine and bond maintenance for hair extensions
1. What you need to know before getting extensions
Hair extensions are real human hair, but they don't grow from your head. That is the only thing you need to understand — everything else follows from it. Your own hair receives sebum from the scalp, which continuously moisturizes and protects it. Extensions don't have this supply. From day one, they only wear down and have nothing to regenerate from. Therefore: • external nourishment is not a luxury but a necessity — without a mask and oil, hair will inevitably dry out, lose shine and start breaking, • heat is twice as damaging for them as for your own hair because they have no protection, • damage is irreversible — hair cannot repair itself, once damaged it stays damaged. Relation to complaints. This guide is also a condition for complaint acceptance. Hair damaged by insufficient care, heat styling or chemical treatment cannot be claimed (see Article A5 of the Complaints Policy). This is not a formality: the condition of the hair can be professionally assessed to distinguish a material defect from heat or chemical damage. For stylists: pass this guide to your client during application and have them sign a handover and instruction form. Without it, you bear responsibility for non-compliance with care.
2. What to do before applying extensions
1. Inspect the goods — shade, length, weight, texture. Compare with the order. Anything that doesn't match, address it now, not after application. After application, shade and length can no longer be claimed. 2. Photograph the unpacked hair in daylight. A photo takes ten seconds and is your main evidence in case of a dispute. 3. Wash the hair before application with a gentle shampoo and let it air dry. This removes any shipping odor and reveals the true texture. 4. Address dyeing before application, never after, and always with a strand test first. 5. Have the hair processed and applied professionally. DIY application following internet videos is the most common cause of damage to both your own and extended hair. 6. Your own hair must be healthy. Extensions should not be applied to freshly bleached, brittle or severely damaged hair — they won't hold and will damage your natural hair.
3. How to properly wash hair extensions
How often: 2–3 times a week, for keratin and rings no more than every other day. Frequent washing dries out and loosens bonds. First wash no sooner than 48 hours after application to let the bonds set. Procedure: 1. Brush hair thoroughly from ends to roots before washing. Tangled hair will matt in water. 2. Wash standing up or leaning slightly back, hair hanging freely down — never leaning forward and never in a deep sink where hair flips over and tangles. 3. Use lukewarm water, not hot. Hot water opens the cuticle and loosens keratin. 4. Apply shampoo only to roots and scalp, not along the full length. The foam that runs down during rinsing is enough to clean the ends. 5. Don't rub or twist hair between your palms. Wash with gentle top-to-bottom motions. 6. Rinse thoroughly. Shampoo residue weighs hair down and dries it out. Which shampoo: hydrating, sulfate-free, for dry or color-treated hair. Ideally a shampoo specifically designed for hair extensions. What to avoid: anti-dandruff shampoos, shampoos for oily hair, deep-cleansing and detox shampoos, baby shampoos, products containing salt, alcohol and sulfates (SLS, SLES). These products dissolve keratin and dry out hair.
4. What nourishment do hair extensions need?
This is the most commonly neglected part of care and also the most common cause of hair deterioration. Extensions without nourishment will look nice for a few weeks, with nourishment for several months. The difference is not in material quality but in care.
| Product | How often | Where to apply |
|---|---|---|
| Conditioner | After every wash | From mid-lengths down, never on bonds and roots |
| Hydrating mask | 1–2 times a week, leave on for 10–20 minutes | From mid-lengths down |
| Leave-in conditioner spray | After every wash on damp hair | Along the length, skip bonds |
| Oil or serum for ends | Daily, especially before bed | Last third of length, small amount |
| Hair ampoule / vitamin serum | Once a week | Along the length, away from bonds |
| Protective spray with UV filter | In summer, before sun and swimming | Along the length |
Rule for bonds: no product should be applied directly to keratin, tape or ring. Oily and oil-based ingredients loosen the bond and hair starts falling out. Always leave 2–3 cm from the bond free. How much oil: 2–3 drops in your palm, rub between palms and run through ends. More will weigh hair down and make it greasy. What works: argan, jojoba, macadamia oils; masks with keratin, hyaluronic acid or panthenol; protein treatment roughly once a month. Hair vitamins and ampoules. Vitamins for extensions mean hair ampoules, serums and vitamin products applied directly to the hair, not tablets. Dietary supplements affect hair growing from your head — extensions don't grow from your head and cannot be nourished orally. Use an ampoule or vitamin serum once a week along the length, always away from bonds. Without external nourishment it won't work. Mask, oil and ampoule are the only way to give extensions something back. Nothing can replace them.
5. How to properly brush hair extensions
At least twice a day — morning and evening before bed — and always before washing. • Use a special brush for hair extensions with soft loops or a loop brush. A regular dense comb or round brush won't work with bonds. • Brush from the bottom up: first the ends, then the middle section, finally from the roots. • Hold hair above the bond with your free hand to avoid pulling on your own hair. • Never brush wet hair — wet hair is at its most vulnerable. Let it at least partially dry, or use a detangling spray. • Untangle knots with your fingers, don't pull with force. • Don't tighten a ponytail, bun or updo at the bond area.
6. How to dry and straighten hair extensions
Drying • Gently squeeze hair in a towel after washing, don't twist or rub. • Always dry the bonds, even if you let the rest air dry. Wet keratin and tape loosen. • Hold the dryer at medium temperature at least 15 cm away, direct airflow from top to bottom. • Never go to bed with wet hair.
Straightening and curling
| Rule | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum temperature | 180 °C |
| Heat protection product | Always, before every heat styling |
| Distance from bond | At least 3 cm |
| Frequency | As little as possible, ideally up to twice a week |
| Repeating one pass | One smooth pass, never going over the same spot |
Why 180 °C: above this threshold, the keratin structure of the hair begins to be irreversibly damaged. With your own hair, the damage gradually gets cut off as it grows out. Extensions don't grow — damage remains in them until they are replaced. Hair damaged by straightening can be recognized by whitened, frayed and dry ends that matt even after washing. This condition is not a material defect and cannot be claimed.
7. How to protect hair extensions during sports, in the pool and in the sun
Sleep • Always braid hair into a loose plait or twist into a loose bun above the bonds. Hair left loose tangles at the roots overnight. • A silk or satin pillowcase significantly reduces friction and is the cheapest investment in hair longevity. • Never sleep with wet hair. Wet bonds loosen and wet hair matts. Sports and sweat • Before exercising, tie hair into a ponytail or bun above the bonds. • Sweat contains salt that dries out hair — after intense exercise, rinse hair or at least use a leave-in spray. Pool and sea 1. Before entering the water, dampen hair with clean water and apply a protective spray or oil designed for sea and pool use (products with UV filter, beach spray for hair). Saturated and protected hair won't absorb as much chlorine and salt. 2. Tie hair up, ideally use a swim cap. 3. Rinse with clean water immediately after swimming. 4. Evening recovery: nourishing mask, then oil on ends and hair vitamins or ampoule along the length. Without this step, a day at the sea is a loss for the hair. 5. Chlorine causes a green tint in blonde hair, fading in dark hair. This condition is not a defect and cannot be claimed. Sun and solarium • Prolonged sun exposure dries out hair and pulls color; use a spray with UV filter or a hat. • Always tie and cover hair in sauna and solarium.
8. Can I dye hair extensions?
Basic rule: address dyeing before application and always with a professional stylist. DIY dyeing of extensions is the fastest way to ruin them.
| Treatment | Possible? |
|---|---|
| Toning to a darker shade | Yes, carefully, by a stylist, after a strand test |
| Color refresh with ammonia-free dye | Yes, by a stylist |
| Dyeing to a lighter shade | No |
| Bleaching and highlighting | Never |
| Products with peroxide above 3% | Never |
| Keratin straightening, perms, botox | Never |
| Dyeing at the bond area | Never |
Why bleaching is not possible: extensions have already undergone processing and don't have the reserve that hair growing from the head has. Bleaching agents destroy the cuticle, the hair loses strength and starts breaking and tearing. This condition is irreversible. Always test first. Before dyeing the entire set, take one strand, dye it and let it dry. Extensions absorb pigment differently than your own hair — the result is usually darker and cooler than the stylist expects. Dyeing and complaints: any chemical treatment after receipt of the goods means the hair can no longer be claimed for texture, breakage or shade. Claim the shade before dyeing, not after.
9. How often to get maintenance on hair extensions
Hair extensions are not a set-and-forget thing. Your own hair grows and the bonds move away from the head — the lower they are, the more likely hair tangles in them and starts breaking.
| Method | Check-up | Repositioning |
|---|---|---|
| Keratin | After 4–6 weeks | After 3–4 months |
| Tape-in | After 4 weeks | After 6–8 weeks |
| Micro ring / nano | After 4 weeks | After 2–3 months |
| Weft (sew-in) | After 4 weeks | After 6–8 weeks |
| Clip-in | — | Worn only occasionally, always remove at night |
Removal always by a stylist. Never pull out strands, cut them at the root or remove them with pliers at home. Improper removal damages both extended and your own hair — and is grounds for complaint rejection. Between repositionings, have the bonds checked if you feel pulling, pricking or if knots start forming at the roots. Break between sets. After removal, give your own hair at least 2–4 weeks of rest and intensive regenerative care before having a new set applied.
10. What ruins hair extensions the fastest?
Print this list and put it on your fridge. 1. Straightening without heat protection or above 180 °C. 2. No mask or oil. Hair without nourishment dries out within a few weeks. 3. Bleaching and highlighting. Irreversible damage in a single visit. 4. Sleeping with loose or wet hair. 5. Shampoo with sulfates, anti-dandruff or for oily hair. 6. Applying mask and oil to bonds. Bonds loosen and hair starts falling out. 7. Not brushing. A matted pad at the roots can no longer be combed out. 8. Brushing wet hair or with a coarse comb. 9. Pool and sea without protection. 10. Delaying repositioning. Bonds slide down, tangle and pull out your own hair. Summary in one sentence: heat down, nourishment up, leave bonds alone, brush twice a day.
Need advice on care?
Get in touch — we're happy to help you choose the right care for your hair extensions.