Hair extensions can help your hair look longer, thicker, and more vibrant. Before committing, many people also weigh natural hair vs extensions. Either way, extensions need proper care, so you don't end up with dull strands, matting, or worse, damage to your own hair. Many readers ask up front: do extensions damage hair?
Proper care keeps your extensions looking soft, vibrant, and natural. It also helps them last longer, which saves you money and helps you get the most out of your investment.
The good news: your stylist isn't the only one who can give your extensions the TLC they need. Here are 7 tips to keep your extensions looking and feeling as good as new!
Tip #1: Brush Often
Extensions need extra care in how, and how often, you brush. Just like with your own hair, gently work out knots instead of tearing through them.
How you brush your extensions matters. Start with a good extension-friendly brush to help prevent tangling and damage. Work in sections. Hold the base of your extensions firmly with one hand so you don't tug at the attachment or your scalp. Brush the ends first, then slowly work up through the mid-lengths toward the roots.
This puts the least strain on your extensions, your hair, and your scalp. As for frequency, brush thoroughly a few times a day, separating each row and brushing in between to avoid matting or tangling.
Tip #2: Always Use Professional Products
Your extensions are only as good as the products you put on them! We can't stress that enough. Use professional products, including a sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner. Harsh sulfates work as strong detergents to remove dirt and oil, and they can dry out the hair. If gentle cleansing is new to you, here's what sulfate-free shampoo means and why it matters for extensions.
Why we love Goldie Locks® Signature Shampoo + Conditioner for extensions:
Goldie Locks® hair care was formulated with a hair extension mindset. The Signature Shampoo and Conditioner are protein-free, add hydration, and leave extensions feeling soft, smooth, and shiny.
Hair Washing Tip: When washing, focus the shampoo on the roots to remove excess oil, and the conditioner on the ends. Conditioner near the roots can make extensions slip, which shortens their lifespan.
Tip #3: Hydration Is Key
Extension hair is chemically processed, so replenishing moisture is a must. Along with a hydrating shampoo and conditioner from a professional line, we recommend a weekly moisturizing mask.
Also, applying a serum through the ends every day is a MUST for moisture and softness. If you have blonde extensions, avoid pure tinted oils, like straight argan or Moroccan oil, since they can tint light hair!
Why we love Goldie Locks® Signature Serum for extensions:
- Colorless formula
- Luxuriously lightweight
- Helps blend natural hair and extensions
- Adds slip to help with tangles
- Clinically shown to reduce breakage by 83%*
- Protects against heat up to 450°F*
- Instant softness + shine
*Based on third-party testing, when used as directed.
Tip #4: Avoid Chlorine and Salt Water
Chlorine and saltwater affect extensions the same way: they cause serious dryness. Dry, roughed-up extensions tangle more easily, which shortens their lifespan.
Unprotected, you could end up with a matted mess. If you're going swimming, here's how to protect your extensions:
- Before swimming, rinse your hair with clean water and apply leave-in conditioner generously from mid-lengths to ends.
- Put your hair in a ponytail and braid it securely to avoid tangling.
- Right after your swim, wash and deep condition your hair. Then follow with leave-in conditioner and serum.
Tip #5: Sweaty Betty? No Worries
Avoid tight ponytails or buns in damp or humid conditions like workouts, steam rooms, or saunas. Use a loose scrunchie instead, and dry your extensions right after with a cool blow dryer.
Focus on drying the top of the wefts at the base of your head. If you can't blow-dry right after a workout, take your hair down and let your scalp breathe.
If moisture sits along the weft line for long periods, it can lead to mildew or heavy buildup. Even a quick blast of the dryer along the top of your rows helps prevent problems.
Tip #6: Clarify the Weft Line
Use a clarifying shampoo every few weeks, just at the base of your extensions. Product builds up easily along the weft line, and a clarifying wash helps break down that residue. There's no need to use it on your whole head. Focus it right at the base and massage to release buildup.
Tip #7: Avoid Sleeping With Loose, Wet Hair
Before bed, braid your hair or put it in a top knot to keep your wefts from tangling or matting. Never go to bed with wet extensions. Hair is at its weakest when wet, and sleeping on wet hair can cause real damage.
The friction of moving your head while you sleep can cause matting at the weft and tangle your roots and natural hair, or worse, cause breakage, especially when wet!
After a shower, squeeze out excess water with a microfiber towel, then dry your extensions with a cool blow dryer. We also recommend a silk pillowcase. Hair glides over silk with less friction, and silk is less absorbent than cotton, so it won't pull moisture from your hair and extensions.
Extra Tip: Special Color Care
Blonde extensions need extra care to keep their color looking fresh. A gentle purple shampoo is a great way to do it: purple shampoo neutralizes brassy tones and keeps blonde looking cool and bright.
Goldie Locks® Brilliant Blonde Purple Shampoo is a sulfate-free option made with avocado oil and hydrolyzed quinoa, and it's formulated to keep natural hair and extensions feeling soft and looking shiny. Add it to your hair care routine to keep your blonde extensions looking their best for longer.
Best Products for Hair Extensions Care
Goldie Locks® hair care was formulated with a hair extension mindset. The formulas add hydration and help keep extensions feeling soft, smooth, and shiny.
Our luxury hair care products are made without parabens, sulfates, and phthalates, and they're vegan and cruelty-free. The Goldie Locks® Ultimate Hydration Bundle gives you a complete routine to keep your extensions soft, hydrated, and looking their best.
FAQs
How often should you wash hair extensions?
Most people wash 2 to 3 times a week. Focus shampoo on the roots, keep conditioner on the ends, and clarify the weft line every few weeks to remove buildup.
Can you swim with hair extensions?
Yes, with prep. Wet your hair with clean water, apply leave-in conditioner, and braid it before swimming. Rinse, wash, and condition right after.
Can you sleep with wet hair extensions?
No. Wet hair is at its weakest, and friction overnight can cause matting at the weft. Dry your extensions fully and braid them or put them in a loose top knot before bed.