How To Wash Hair Extensions | Step-by-step guide

Many hair salon clients have long chosen hair extensions to give their natural hair a thick and voluminous look. In order to keep those hair extensions looking amazing, it’s highly recommended that they be taken care of and properly washed. This will not only help your extensions last longer, but it will also keep the extensions soft and healthy. But how do you wash your extensions? It all starts with the type of extensions you have.

Understanding Different Types of Hair Extensions

Hair extensions can come in many different lengths, colors, types, styles, and more. When it comes to washing and caring for your extensions, the washing process can vary depending on your extension type. Knowing how to wash them can keep them from damage and keep them looking just as beautiful as your own real hair.

Clip-in Extensions

Clip-in extensions are temporary solutions to thinning hair, adding volume, as well as adding length. Clip-in extensions can be long wefts of hair, detachable bangs, or even a styled ponytail. These types of hair extensions are attached by a single or multiple clips and attached near the scalp to blend with your own hair.

How you wash clip-in hair extensions is dependent on the hair type: Synthetic Hair vs Real Human Hair. Both need sulfate-free shampoos and conditioners for the best results.  With clip-in extensions, you will need to wash the hair separately from your own. This means securing the attachment to an extension clipped hanger or washing them with shampoo and conditioner in a smaller tub or sink. This helps create a better experience in washing your extensions, while helping to control any tangles or other issues without using excess water.

Tape-in Extensions

Tape-in extensions are hair extensions generally made of human hair and are attached with a double-sided adhesive tape to keep the wefts very secure close to the scalp. For anyone seeking out length and volume without having the trouble of daily clipping and unclipping, these hair extensions are popular.

These extensions are made of human hair and need to be washed just like your hair would need to be washed. It is recommended to wash the tape-in extensions every 3- 4 days and not daily to avoid drying the extensions out or causing a “frizzy” appearance. Stylists recommend taking precautions and to wash them carefully with sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner to avoid damage to the hair and to avoid pulling the hair or loosening the adhesive.

Human Hair Natural Beaded Row Extensions (NBRs) & Sew-In Extensions

Sew-in hair extensions and Natural Beaded Row Extensions are by far the most natural-looking hair extensions out there and one of the most popular choices for most salon clients. These hair extensions work for almost every hair type to give beautiful volume, length, and gorgeous results. This hair extension method uses hand-tied wefts to attach to small sections of hair strands and is secured with a bead to hold it firmly in place. Since each section is so small and light, these hair extensions feel like your very own and won’t damage the hair.

To ensure that your hair extensions last to their fullest potential, it is highly recommended to wash the hair extensions every 3-4 days to not strip the hair of natural oils for your own hair and to not dry out the extensions. Since they are attached to your own hair and can be treated as your own hair, these hair extensions do not have to be removed to be washed. As with many other extensions, always stick to a sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner.

Fusion/Keratin Extensions

For a more permanent hair extension solution, fusion extensions and keratin hair extensions are other options for obtaining length and volume for your hair. This unique extension method involves individual strands of hair being bonded to extension hair with a keratin bond being used as the adhesive. This creates a stronger bond than many of the other methods available, but also runs more of a risk for damage if not installed or removed properly, with some of the techniques involving heat application.

To keep your extensions looking clean and fresh, you will need to wash your fusion extensions ever 3 to 4 days with warm water only. Avoid hot water and wash gently to avoid the keratin bonds weakening or pulling the natural hair with it over time. It’s also important to remember not not wash the fusion or keratin extensions at all within the first 48 hours. This gives the fusion extensions time to naturally set.

How to Wash Hair Extensions: Step-by-Step Guide

When you learn how to wash hair extensions, you will discover that there are some basic rules that apply to most hair extensions, and then there is some detailed guidance needed for others. Overall, you really need to wash your hair extensions with care and kindness to make the hair look amazing as the day you bought them or had them installed professionally.

Step 1: Comb or Brush Extensions Gently and Remove Tangles

The number one enemy of a beautiful extension piece is the dreaded tangle! Before you wash your extensions, it’s important to use a wide-tooth comb to brush your extensions thoroughly. If your extensions are semi-permanent and attached, start with the ends of the hair with gentle strokes and slowly work your way to the root. Brush the hair extensions thoroughly along with your hair as well to keep your hair and scalp looking fresh while avoiding any knots.

Step 2: Prep with a Moisturizing Spray (Optional but Ideal)

Using a detangling or moisturizing spray can make brushing, washing, and even rinsing your extensions an easier task. When left on the hair, extensions can benefit by being smoother, healthier-looking, and avoiding unnecessary knots that can pull or destroy the natural hair extension look. This step is, of course, optional but has great benefits as well.

Step 3: Rinse the Hair with Lukewarm Water

Rinsing your hair extensions and getting them prepped for shampooing is an important step to begin with. If done improperly, extensions may not last to their full potential or look their very best. Begin by rinsing with lukewarm water. Hot water can cause excessive drying or damage the bonds for some extension types.

Step 4: Apply Sulfate-Free Shampoo

Hair products are vitally important to keep your extensions from drying out and detangling. This means avoiding products with:

• Sulfates -Strips hair dry and can cause brittleness
• Alcohol – Strips natural hair oils and causes brittle texture
• Silicones – Produces silicone layer preventing natural oils and products from treatment
• Mineral Oils – Creates a dense layer on hair follicle and is difficult to wash out of extensions
• Harsh Chemicals – Damages the natural hair and extension wefts
• Dimethicone – Produces silicone layer preventing natural oils and products from treatment
• Formaldehyde – Bad for overall health, linked to headaches and major health issues
• Proteins – Can prematurely dehydrate hair extensions

A sulfate-free shampoo is important when it comes to washing your extensions. This means apply the shampoo gently from scalp to ends with gentle massaging motions to clean the hair and hair weft extensions to remove oils, dirt, and any hair product debris. Circular motions can help to avoid any tangles or excess pulling. Some of the best product lines for hair extensions are Goldwell and Kerasilk, which you can find in salons such as Trademark Salon.

Step 5: Rinse Thoroughly

To get your extensions clean and prepped for your sulfate-free conditioner, rinse your hair and hair extensions with slightly warm or lukewarm water. For extensions applied using fusion, keratin, or sewn-in, it’s important to tilt your head back at an angle to make sure all shampoo is removed from the scalp to the ends. For haloes or clip-in extensions, rinsing thoroughly from root to tip can be done in a small tub, medium-sized bowl, or sink.

Step 6: Apply Conditioner or Hair Mask

After applying your sulfate free shampoo and rinsing your hair, it’s time to apply your sulfate free conditioner. Unlike applying the hair shampoo, applying the conditioner means avoiding the roots and base of the hair wefts. The conditioner or hair mask is meant for providing hydrating hair effects for your natural hair and extensions. However, applying conditioner too close to the wefts or attached hair piece can mean slippage which eventually weakens the hair bond. If you are using a hair mask, allow the mask to sit for several minutes to get the maximum hydrating effect.

Step 7: Final Rinse & Squeeze Gently

After your hair has soaked up the wonderful hydrating effects your conditioner or hair mask has to offer, it’s time for one last final rinse. The rinsing process time depends on the amount of hair you have and the number of extensions applied. For extensions without any attachment, rinse the hair wefts thoroughly while holding the extensions upright to be sure all product is removed.

Next, gently squeeze out any excess water. If you choose, you can let the hair extensions air-dry or prepare them to be towel-dried. If you opt to use a blow dryer, expert stylists recommend towel drying first to minimize the amount of time the hair extension wefts are exposed to heat. Minimal heat means minimal damage.

Step 8: Towel Dry Wefts Carefully

To remove excess water faster, it is recommended to carefully towel-dry the hair and hair extensions whenever you are prepping to blow-dry the hair. This means avoiding rubbing with the towel or even twisting. Gently bundle the extensions and wet hair. Then, pat and apply pressure for each section to let your hair dry evenly and quickly.

You don’t want to have wet hair extensions for long periods of time for certain types of extensions. Prolonged wet hair can weaken the adhesives, increase tangling, and shorten your extension lifespan. For synthetic wefts, it can even cause mold or mildew to form.

Drying and Styling Your Extensions

Drying your hair extensions is an absolutely necessary step in washing any hair extensions.  After taking special care with shampooing and cleaning your hair wefts, it’s important to dry them properly and to keep them free from any unnecessary moisture. Synthetic hair extensions can begin to lose their style, shine, and hair-like texture if kept wet too long or dried improperly. Human hair extensions do not have their own follicle to produce oil, so excessive water exposure and improper rinsing can cause a drying effect.

Air Drying vs. Heat Drying

Most hair stylists will recommend air drying as your first choice for proper hair extension care. Reducing the exposure to heat and heat styling is important for hair extension longevity. When using a heated styling tool such as a blow dryer, you should adjust your heat to a lower setting to avoid overheating the extensions or causing excessive wear.

Heat Styling Considerations

If you choose to use heated styling tools to style your human hair extensions, take precautions when it comes to the temperature you choose and the quality of the styling tool. Higher quality tools tend to do less damage to the hair follicle while producing a beautifully styled result. Ceramic-plated flat irons and curling irons can help preserve and maintain your hair, while others on the less expensive side can leave your hair broken or fried.

As for temperature settings, below 180 degrees Celsius is recommended to avoid damage. The highest setting is not necessary or needed for most hair extensions to achieve the style you want. Another great tip for heated styling for hair extensions is to use gentle strokes and tension. Excessive tension can cause track slippage and possibly even hair loss. This is why careful tension, proper tools, and light heat are recommended for the best results.

Conclusion – How to Wash Your Hair Extensions Properly

Investing in hair extensions means taking great care of them with proper washing, drying, and styling. Expert stylists recommend using sulfate-free shampoos and conditioners that have extension-safe ingredients to ensure your hair wefts last for longer and stay looking refreshed. Even when styling your extensions, using the proper tools and temperatures can make a grand difference. Overall, taking the best care of your extensions means keeping them clean and keeping them in top shape so you can wear then longer and always look your best.