HAIR EXTENSION CARE GUIDE

AFTERCARE & MAINTENANCE

Proper home care is essential for maintaining the appearance, comfort, and longevity of both your natural hair and your extensions.

While many of these recommendations apply to all extension methods, some installations require additional care. Please review both the General Care Guidelines below and any instructions specific to your extension method.

Regular maintenance appointments are essential for protecting your natural hair and keeping your extensions looking their best. Failure to follow the recommended maintenance schedule may result in increased tangling, slipping, or matting. For extension methods that require routine maintenance, appointments scheduled beyond the recommended maintenance timeframe will be treated as a removal and reinstallation rather than a maintenance appointment.

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Products & Tools
Care Essentials | Recommended Products | Products to Avoid

Extension Care
Additional Care Tips By Extension Method | When to Contact Your Stylist

GENERAL CARE INSTRUCTIONS

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🧴Washing

Keep your scalp and extensions clean to maintain a healthy installation.

Shampoo as needed based on your hair type, lifestyle, and product use.
Gently cleanse your scalp using your fingertips.
Work shampoo downward through the hair without scrubbing or bunching it together.
Rinse thoroughly to remove all product buildup.
Detangle your hair before washing to help minimize tangling.

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💧 Conditioning

Hydrate the hair while protecting the attachment points.

Apply conditioner from the mid-lengths to the ends.
Avoid applying conditioner directly to beads, tape tabs, or keratin bonds.
Use a deep conditioner on the mid-lengths and ends as needed.
Rinse thoroughly before styling.

💨 Drying

Proper drying helps maintain both your natural hair and your extensions.

Gently squeeze excess water from the hair with a microfiber towel.
Do not rub or twist the hair.
Ensure the attachment points are completely dry before sleeping.
Blow dry around the attachment area if air drying the rest of your hair.

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🪮 Brushing

Daily brushing helps prevent tangles and matting.

Brush your hair 2–3 times each day.
Begin at the ends and work upward toward the roots.
Support the attachment area while brushing.
Use an extension brush, loop brush, or paddle brush.
Never brush aggressively through tangles.

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🌙 Sleeping

Protect your extensions while you sleep.

Never go to bed with wet or damp hair.
Loosely braid your hair or place it in a low ponytail before bed.
Sleep on a satin or silk pillowcase or wear a satin bonnet to reduce friction.
Brush your hair before going to bed if needed.

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🏊 Swimming & Exercise

Protect your extensions during physical activity.

Secure your hair in a loose braid or ponytail before swimming or exercising.
Wet your hair with clean water before entering a pool or ocean when possible.
Rinse your hair promptly after swimming.
Shampoo after swimming if exposed to chlorine or salt water.

🔥 Heat Styling

Heat styling is safe when done correctly.

Always use a heat protectant.
Use the lowest effective heat setting.
Avoid excessive heat directly on attachment points.
Limit daily heat styling whenever possible.

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PRODUCTS & TOOLS

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🧴 Care Essentials

Using the right products can help extend the life of your extensions.

Sulfate-free shampoo
Lightweight moisturizing conditioner
Leave-in conditioner
Heat protectant
Lightweight serum for mid-lengths and ends
Extension brush or loop brush
Satin bonnet or pillowcase

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🧴 Recommended Products

The following products are recommended to help keep your natural hair and extensions healthy, hydrated, and looking their best.

🧴 Shampoos & Conditioners

Premium

Redken All Soft Shampoo & Conditioner
Pureology Hydrate Shampoo & Conditioner

Salon Favorites

Matrix Food For Soft Shampoo & Conditioner

Budget-Friendly

L'Oréal Elvive Total Repair 5 Shampoo & Conditioner

💧 Leave-In Conditioners

UNITE 7SECONDS Leave-In
Mizani 25 Miracle Milk

🌿 Lightweight Serums

VERB Ghost Oil
Moroccanoil Treatment Light
Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum

🔥 Heat Protectants

Kenra Blow-Dry Spray
CHI 44 Iron Guard

These are products we have had good experiences with. Other professional-quality products may also be suitable depending on your hair type and extension method.

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⚠️ Products & Practices to Avoid

Certain products and habits may shorten the lifespan of your extensions or affect their performance.

Heavy oils on attachment points
Applying conditioner, masks, or serums directly to attachment points
Heavy butters, waxes, or pomades
Excessive dry shampoo buildup
Sleeping with wet hair
Pulling or picking at attachment points
Skipping recommended maintenance appointments
Bleaching or chemically processing extension hair without your stylist's approval

ADDITIONAL CARE TIPS BY EXTENSION METHOD

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The following recommendations supplement the General Care Guidelines above and provide additional care instructions specific to your extension method. Following both will help maximize the longevity, appearance, and performance of your extensions.

I-Tips • Nano Links • Flat Tips

Brush your extensions daily, always supporting the attachment area with one hand while brushing from the ends upward. As your extensions grow out, regularly use your fingers to gently separate the individual attachment points to prevent neighboring strands from tangling or matting together. Avoid applying oils, conditioners, or heavy styling products directly to the beads. Return for maintenance every 6–8 weeks or as recommended by your stylist.

K-Tips

Brush your extensions daily, supporting the attachment area while brushing from the ends upward. As the extensions grow, gently separate the individual keratin bonds with your fingers to prevent neighboring bonds from sticking together. Avoid applying oils directly to the keratin bonds.

For the first 72 hours after installation, avoid washing your hair, high-intensity workouts, excessive sweating, swimming, hot tubs, steam rooms, and saunas to allow the keratin bonds to fully cure.

After the initial curing period, prolonged exposure to heat, steam, saunas, hot tubs, and extended soaking may gradually shorten the lifespan of the bonds. While these activities are not prohibited, limiting exposure and thoroughly drying your hair afterward can help maximize the life of your installation. K-Tips should always be professionally removed.

Tape - Ins

Brush daily while supporting the attachment area and always begin brushing from the ends, working upward. Avoid applying conditioners, oils, masks, or styling products directly to the tape tabs.

For the first 72 hours after installation, avoid washing your hair, high-intensity workouts, excessive sweating, swimming, hot tubs, steam rooms, and saunas to allow the adhesive to fully cure.

After the initial curing period, prolonged exposure to heat, steam, saunas, hot tubs, extended soaking, and direct heat on the tape tabs may gradually weaken the adhesive. While these activities are not prohibited, limiting exposure and thoroughly drying your hair afterward can help extend the life of your installation. Return for maintenance every 6–8 weeks.

Braidless Weft Methods

Brush your extensions daily while supporting the attachment area and brushing from the ends upward. After each shampoo, gently comb along the top of the weft to ensure your natural hair is not trapped beneath the weft and remains properly separated.

Thoroughly dry the foundation after washing, especially around the beads and stitching, and follow your recommended maintenance schedule.

Crown Coverage Systems

Follow your recommended maintenance schedule to keep your foundation secure and your natural hair healthy. Brush gently around the foundation, avoid excessive tension on the attachment points, and keep the base clean and completely dry after washing. Contact your stylist if you notice loosening, discomfort, excessive shedding, or changes in the fit of your system.

WHEN TO CONTACT YOUR STYLIST

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If you experience any of the following, please contact your stylist as soon as possible. Addressing concerns early can help prevent additional damage to your natural hair or extensions.

Excessive slipping or loose attachment points
Tangling or matting near the attachment area
Pain or discomfort that continues beyond the initial adjustment period
Loose tape tabs, keratin bonds, beads, or stitching
Excessive shedding of your natural hair or extension hair
Signs of scalp irritation, redness, or discomfort
Questions about recommended products or home care
If you're unsure whether it's time for maintenance or removal

Every client and installation is unique. Following these care recommendations will help maximize the longevity, appearance, and performance of your extensions. If you ever have questions or concerns, we're always happy to help.