How to Wash Your Hair Extensions

Are your extensions looking in need of a little TLC? We got you.

Properly caring for your hair extensions is the best way to make sure they stay beautiful and glossy for as long as possible. 

But washing your extensions too often or too vigorously can strip moisture and leave them dry, frizzy and prone to damage. Not cute. 

The perfect way to wash your extensions – and how often – depends on whether they’re clip-ins or permanent. And our hair extension experts are here to help you find the perfect way to care for yours.

How to Wash Clip-in Hair Extensions

One of the biggest myths about clip-in hair extensions is that you need to wash them just as much as your natural hair. This definitely isn’t true! 

In fact, you only need to clean your clip-ins roughly every 15 wears or when they become greasy or have noticeable product buildup.

Make sure to use lightweight, sulphate-free products when washing your extensions, so they don’t dry out.

We’d also highly recommend using our Silicone Spritz spray. This specially formulated product is all you need to keep your hair extensions silky soft and nourished whilst creating a protective barrier against damage.

Here’s how to use our Silicone Spritz for the best results:

1. Remove your clip-ins and hang them from a hair extension hanger.

2. Pump a couple of sprays into your hands and rub them together to distribute the product.

3. Run through the mid-lengths and ends until evenly dispersed.

4. Use a loop brush to detangle and smooth the product through.

5. Once applied, leave to hang for around 12 hours.

6. After 12 hours have passed, spray a salon-grade heat protectant (suitable for hair extensions) over the lengths. Leave to dry for a few minutes.

7. Heat up your straighteners (up to 185°C) and run them through your extensions to help seal in the spritz and make the hair feel super smooth and glossy.

Repeat these steps whenever you feel like refreshing your set. And remember, if you use a minimal amount of lightweight products, you shouldn’t have to use the Silicone Spritz too frequently.

How to Wash Permanent Hair Extensions

Semi-permanent hair extensions like nano tips, flat tips or tape-ins are slightly trickier to wash.

Your extensions are likely to get dry and dirty as you style, touch and expose them to heat, wind and rain.

As you can’t just clip these extensions in and out, you’ll need to wash these permanent products alongside your natural hair.

You should look to do this no more than twice a week – any more than this and you risk weakening the bonds attaching your extensions.

Since you’ll be washing your permanent extensions more often, make sure to choose salon-grade shampoo and conditioner only. These contain high-quality ingredients, without the chemicals found in alternatives that can strip the extensions of their natural oils and damage them.

To prevent tape-in extensions from matting, apply detangling spray and brush through them with a wide-tooth comb.

Drying Your Extensions

Hair extensions can be air-dried or blow-dried up to 185°C/365F. 

We would recommend blow-drying, as your extensions should never be left wet for too long. 

While air drying protects extensions from heat exposure, finishing off with a quick blow dry helps make sure the bonds are completely dry to prevent them from breaking down over time.