How to Look After & Care for Hair Extensions

by HEATHER COLLIER / SEP 30, 2024

Reading Time: 12 Minutes

Index

To guarantee a long and happy life with your hair extensions, correct care is absolutely crucial. We have created this Ultimate Care Guide to help you get the most out of your precious hair extensions and avoid any mishaps along the way. We’ve covered all areas from washing to dyeing and everything in between, meaning both experienced users and first-time buyers can learn how to look after hair extensions, how to care for extensions and how to keep them looking gorgeous.

Below you will find a treasure trove of in-depth blogs, product recommendations, video tutorials, and a handy glossary simplifying all the technical terms related to how to look after extensions. This expert guide covers both temporary and permanent hair extensions, ensuring you know exactly how to care for hair extensions and maintain their stunning appearance.

For those looking for more inspiration on styling their extensions, check out our article on top 20 hair extension hairstyles.

Ready to give your hair the luxury it deserves? Explore our premium range of hair extensions and haircare products. Shop now!

Washing and Drying Hair Extensions

Washing and drying your hair extensions correctly is a vital stage of aftercare that must not be overlooked. Using the wrong products, over washing and washing incorrectly are just a few of the common mistakes people make with their hair extensions that can all lead to damage and unruly tresses. Our sulphate free Deep Moisture Shampoo, Conditioner and Deep Conditioning Hair Mask are all designed to not only thoroughly cleanse your hair, but also revive, restore and rehydrate it.

The following timesaving tips will transform this procedure into a smooth and stress-free process that your own hair and extensions will thank you for!

In our blog How to wash all types of human hair extensions, we cover everything you need to know on how to wash Clip-ins, Nano rings, Tape ins, I-Tips, Weaves and Ponytails.

If you are using wavy or curly hair extensions the washing process needs to be altered slightly as the hair dries and behaves differently. In our blog Curly & Wavy Hair Extensions: Dos & Don'ts we’ve dedicated an entire section to washing and drying that also explains how to use products to fight frizz and enhance the natural wave without needing to use any harmful heat! How gorgeous does phoebe look in our Curly Full Head clip-ins below.

Tackling Colour Fade in Hair Extensions

Over washing your hair extensions and even your own hair can cause a multitude of sins, it leaves the hair feeling dry and dehydrated as it strips natural oils from the hair that it needs to stay strong and healthy. It also fades colour off the hair, especially if the dye is red or vibrant. Our guide Hair Colour Fading Fast? Here is How You Can Stop It details exactly how to avoid washing the dye out of the hair to keep your colour looking rich and fresh for as long as possible. Follow more top tips in How to Get Rid of Greasy Hair Last Minute With 5 Hair Hacks which will help to keep hair washing to a minimum.

Restoring Dry Hair Extensions

If your extensions are feeling on the dry side, you can bring them back to life with the right products and some extra TLC. Read How to Revive Dry Hair Extensions and Hair 101: How to Use A Hair Mask to find out how. Remember, you only need to wash your Clip In Hair Extensions every 10-15 uses and permanently attached extensions should be washed no more than 1-2 times per week.

Using the right products is crucial, especially if you’re dealing with hair extensions that are struggling with moisture. This is why we designed a specialised hair care line that can rebalance the hydration levels in your tresses, taking care of your hair’s health and beauty right from the shower. With a 100% sulphate-free and paraben-free shampoo and conditioner for extensions + the best hair mask for extensions that you’ll ever try, the Quench The Thirst: Deep Moisture collection caters to natural hair and hair extensions alike, packing your tresses with intense moisture and rebalancing their softness, shine, and manageability.

The recipe includes precious essential oils and ingredients such as Shea butter, fig extracts, rice proteins, honey, and avocado oil – renowned worldwide for their moisturising and strengthening powers.

Brushing, Shedding and Matting in Hair Extensions

Brushing your hair extensions regularly with our extension-friendly Detangling Hairbrush, whether they are clip-ins, tapes, nanos or weaves, is essential to prevent matting and knots. It’s vital to use a correct hairbrush for hair extensions as bristles that aren’t soft, gentle or flexible enough on your tresses can cause tangling, tearing and pull on your scalp.

Some shedding or hair loss is normal with fresh hair extensions, especially clip in extensions. You can expect on the first wash or first brush to lose some hair, but it should not be enough to cause a noticeable difference to the thickness. Follow the advice in How to Stop Hair Extensions From Shedding to prevent losing excessive amounts of hair from your extensions.

Matting is a common cause of shedding as the tension caused when removing the knots can damage the seams or attachments. If you’ve found yourself with tangled hair extensions our blogs How to Take Care of Tangled Hair and How to Detangle Clip In Hair Extensions will show you how to carefully remove the matting without ruining your own hair or extensions.

Toning and Dying Hair Extensions

Purple Shampoo is a topic that comes up a lot when discussing blonde hair extensions. Our blog How to Use Purple Shampoo explains the risks and how to use this toning product safely on hair extensions. Check out the video above for a step-by-step tutorial in toning human hair extensions using the Shampoo Bath Method.

If you’re simply looking to correct your colour, our Silver Linings Purple Toning Shampoo is designed to banish yellow and brassy tones to rebalance blonde hair. The paraben-free formula also removes impurities and product build up leaving the hair feeling clean and hydrated, making it perfect for blonde, lightened or grey hair that’s lost its cool!

Even though we do advise against dying your hair extensions as it decreases the quality of the hair, we understand that not every colour is available so sometimes dying in the only option! Explore How Many Times Can You Dye Hair Extensions and How to Dye Hair Extensions for all you need to know on this subject. Even though human hair extensions can be dyed, they should never be bleached or lightened as that will have a direct negative impact on their quality, look and feel.

Had a dying disaster and need the colour gone fast? Check out our guide on the Best Shampoos To Remove Hair Dye At Home.

Storage and Sleeping with Hair Extensions

Our Hair Extension Hanger & Carrier is an absolute must-have for storing and styling your locks when on the go. This innovative solution features a wooden hair extension hanger designed to securely hold your clip ins during styling or storing, whilst our luxury PU leather hair extension carrier ensures your extensions are shielded from dust, moisture, and damage, making it the perfect choice for both home storage and travel. Whether you’re on the go or simply need an efficient way to store and style your extensions at home, our hair extension bag and hanger combo offers it all!

All of our clip-in hair extensions at Cliphair come with a stylish storage box to keep your precious locks safe from dust, dirt, and humidity whilst you aren’t wearing them. If you’re taking a break from your professional hair extensions, simply keep them boxed and away from heat and direct sunlight to keep them looking and feeling their best. Remember to always remove clip-in hair extensions before sleeping and showering. For permanent extensions, here’s 10 Protective Hairstyles For Sleeping.

Looking After Hair Extensions on Holiday

Whether you’re jetting off to sunny Santorini or hitting the slopes at a frosty ski resort, extreme weather can wreak havoc with your hair. Read Going on Holiday with Hair Extensions: Hair Extension Care Guide and How To Protect Your Scalp From The Sun to keep your tresses safe from the sun on vacation. How To Winter Proof Your Hair: 20 Steps To Stay Fabulous Sub Zero will prepare your hair and extensions for cold climates.

If you find yourself out in direct sunlight quite a bit, one of the best ways to keep your hair extensions healthy is by applying our Heat Protection Spray. Scarves, bandanas and other hair accessories are another trendy option to protect your hair. They come in various styles, fabrics and colours, allowing you to match them with your outfits while keeping your hair extensions safe from the sun.

For more tips, you can browse our blog on Heat Proofing Your Hair throughout the summer both when at home and abroad.

Best Products for Hair Extensions

Our Heat Protection Spray, Deep Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner and Deep Conditioning Hair Mask are without a doubt the most essential products for any hair extension user to keep their hair healthy and protected from damage. In addition to these products, there are plenty of other haircare solutions that are safe to use on extensions. Here’s a list of our top product blogs below:

Looking After Your Natural Hair

At Cliphair we care about YOU just as much as your hair extensions. Looking after your own natural hair will not only strengthen it to ensure it can tolerate the extra weight of extensions, but it will also help to give a natural looking blend. Breakage and hair loss is a major reason many people use hair extensions, read Why is My Hairline Breaking Off, How To Tackle Hair Breakage Around The Face Using Hair Extensions and Hair Loss 101: How To Fight Hair Loss Like A Boss to learn how to avoid these issues and fix them!

You may be struggling with other issues that are more related to the scalp, How To Get Rid Of Dandruff and Scalp Exfoliation: How To, Best Products and More will tell you all you need to know for keeping your scalp healthy and flake free.

If you’re finding your own hair difficult to manage, it could be trying to tell you something! Check out Hair Texture Change: Why It Happens And How To Deal With It, 7 Signs You Need A Haircut and How Is Your Water Affecting Your Hair.

Haircare Glossary

Argan Oil - A very popular smoothing ingredient found in many conditioners and serums.

Conditioner – Used to smooth and hydrate the hair cuticles after shampooing. 

Cuticle – The protective layer on the hair shaft made from over lapping hair cells that resemble scales. Smoothed, intact cuticles are found on healthy, strong hair. Cuticles that are broken or messy make the hair appear dry and dull. 

Cleanse – To deep clean and remove all impurities from your hair.

Dandruff – White or grey flakes of skin that appear In the roots caused by many reasons. Can sometimes feel itchy and irritable however is easily treated with special products and a change of styling habit. 

Dry Shampoo – A powdery hair spray that is used to soak up oil at the roots preventing the need to shampoo the hair so soon. Can also be used to add texture and hold to the hair. 

Elasticity - How far a hair strand can stretch before returning to its natural state. Hair that has lost a lot of elasticity will snap quicker under pressure and is usually very dry and weak.

Follicle – The very start of a hair strand grows from inside a hair follicle. 

Greasy – When the roots or mid-lengths feel oily, dirty or sticky.

Heat Protection Spray – A product sprayed onto the hair before applying heat to prevent the hair from drying out.

Keratin – A protein that makes up 90% of your hair. Keratin is highly strong and resilient which is why it is found in many hair treatments. 

Life span – How long the product is likely to last.

Maintenance – Keeping your hair extensions healthy by caring correctly for them and attending appointments to refresh and refit them.

Matting – Extreme knotting in the hair.

Porosity – The hairs ability to absorb moisture and liquid. Very porous hair will take to colour very quickly and also tends to be more prone to breakage.

Remy – Means all the cuticles in the hair face the same direction, they are aligned. This is the best quality of human hair and ensures longer life, less tangles and a silky finish.

Roots – The part of the hair that is attached to the scalp.

Shedding – Hair loss in the hair extensions, falling out from the actual weft or tip (this is not hair breakage).

Sulphate – A cleansing ingredient used in hair products that removes dirt and grease. This ingredient is not suitable for hair extensions.

Conclusion:

In summary, proper care for your hair extensions involves washing, drying, styling, and colouring them correctly to ensure they remain beautiful and long-lasting. Start implementing these tips today to keep your extensions looking their best. For more insights, explore our in-depth blogs and video tutorials.

Share your success stories with us on social media and subscribe to our newsletter for more tips. With the right care, your hair extensions can remain stunning and vibrant. Here's to a long and happy life with your beautiful hair extensions!

Whatever your style or aesthetic may be, you can explore a whole other side to your hair with Cliphair. Shop our clip-in hair extensions and permanent hair extensions today to add length, volume and a richer texture to your natural locks!

Suffering with dry hair? Give your human hair extensions the TLC they deserve with our Quench The Thirst haircare range! Complete with a deep moisture shampoo, conditioner and hair mask, your locks will look and feel better than ever! Supercharged with natural, plant-based ingredients, your 100% Remy hair extensions are guaranteed to feel rehydrated and rejuvenated within a matter of days.

FAQs

How do you maintain hair extensions?

To maintain hair extensions, it's essential to follow a consistent routine that includes gentle washing, avoiding excessive heat, and using our haircare products. Regularly brushing with our soft-bristle detangling hairbrush and avoiding harsh chemicals also helps keep extensions in good condition.

What is the best aftercare for hair extensions?

The best aftercare for hair extensions involves using our sulphate and paraben-free shampoo and conditioner, applying our heat protectant spray before styling, and storing the extensions properly when not in use. Keeping them moisturised with leave-in conditioners or serums can also prevent dryness and tangling.

How often should you oil hair extensions?

Hair extensions can be oiled up to once or twice a week, depending on their dryness and exposure to heat styling or environmental factors. Using a light, non-greasy oil can help maintain their shine and softness without weighing them down.

How to look after hair extensions on holiday?

When on holiday, look after hair extensions by protecting them from sun, saltwater, and chlorine. Wearing a hat or using a UV protectant spray can shield them from the sun, while rinsing them with fresh water after swimming and using a leave-in conditioner or hair mask can keep them hydrated. It's also advisable to avoid excessive heat styling and to braid or tie them up to prevent tangling.