Why Are My New Hair Extensions Dry and Frizzy? Common Causes & Best Fixes

Hair extensions are a meaningful investment, which is why it can feel so discouraging when smooth, silky strands suddenly become rough and difficult to manage.

Because extensions don’t receive natural scalp oils the way your own hair does, factors like chemical processing, heat styling, hard water, and humidity can quickly leave them feeling dry and frizzy.

Understanding why this happens is the first step in giving your extensions the care they need to remain soft, healthy, and beautiful.

So if you’re feeling stressed about brittle, frizzy extensions, don’t panic. We’re here to help you understand the causes and guide you toward solutions that truly restore their shine and softness.

Main Causes of Dry, Frizzy Hair Extensions

Before we explore how to restore dry, frizzy extensions, it’s important to understand what causes them to lose their softness in the first place.

Below are the key factors that contribute to brittle, frizzy hair extensions:

1. Lack of Natural Scalp Oils

Unlike your natural hair, extensions don’t receive the scalp’s nourishing oils that keep strands soft and hydrated. Without this built-in moisture, they dry out more quickly and become more vulnerable to frizz.

2. High-Heat Styling

Extensions react to heat much like natural hair, but with even less resilience. Frequent use of flat irons, curling irons, or blow dryers can strip away essential moisture, leaving the hair dry, dull, and frizz-prone, especially when heat protectant is skipped.

3. Weather and Environmental Pollution

Environmental exposure plays a significant role in how your extensions behave.

• Sun can dehydrate the hair.
• Humidity causes the hair fibers to swell, leading to frizz.
• Wind and pollution leave behind particles that roughen the cuticle and make extensions feel coarse.

4. Over-Styling and Chemical Processing

Bleaching, toning, or repeatedly coloring extensions exposes them to harsh chemicals. Because extensions cannot regenerate the way natural hair does, each chemical process adds wear, leading to dryness, breakage, and long-term frizz.

5. Hard Water

Hard water is rich in minerals like calcium and magnesium. These minerals can cling to the hair, leaving both natural hair and extensions feeling dry, stiff, and more prone to tangling.

6. Chlorine Exposure

Chlorinated water strips moisture, fades color, and disrupts the hair’s protective cuticle layer, leaving extensions brittle, dull, and extremely dry.

7. Product Buildup

Heavy use of styling products like serums, hairspray, dry shampoo, and leave-ins, can create residue that coats the hair. This buildup weighs down extensions, makes them appear dull, and contributes to dryness and frizz.

8. Improper Washing and Care

Using hot water, harsh shampoos, or sulfates can strip extensions of essential moisture. Over-washing, scrubbing too aggressively, or rough towel-drying can also lead to tangling, dryness, and frizz.

Extensions thrive with gentle handling, sulfate-free products, and thoughtful care routines that help preserve their softness and shine.

How to Fix Dry, Frizzy Hair Extensions

Dry, frizzy hair extensions can be frustrating, but the good news is that they can almost always be revived, even when they start to lose their softness.

Here’s a simple step-by-step routine to help keep your extensions smooth, soft, and long-lasting:

1. Detangle from the ends upward
   Gently work through knots to prevent unnecessary tension or breakage.
2. Apply Goldie Locks® Signature Leave-In Conditioner
   This adds lightweight moisture and helps calm frizz instantly.
3. Blow-dry downward on low heat
   Apply Goldie Locks® Blow Dry Spray and aim downward airflow to smooth the cuticle and restore shine.
4. Use a tiny drop of Goldie Locks® Signature Hair Serum on the ends
   Focus only on the mid-lengths and ends to avoid weighing down the hair.
5. Finish with Goldie Locks® Smoothing Cream
   This creates a protective shield that helps keep frizz at bay.

While these steps offer quick, visible improvement, it’s your long-term care habits that will keep your extensions looking consistently smooth, shiny, and healthy.

Apply Moisturizing Products:

Hydrating oils, sulfate-free shampoos, and leave-in conditioners can significantly extend the life of your extensions. These products help restore moisture, reduce frizz, and protect the hair from further damage. Just be sure to use them sparingly, as too much product can lead to buildup and weigh the hair down.

Use Deep Conditioning Treatments

A weekly deep conditioning treatment is an excellent way to keep your extensions smooth, soft, and manageable. Apply to the mid-lengths and ends, then leave it on for 15–20 minutes before rinsing with lukewarm water. This helps replenish moisture without overwhelming the bonds.

Brush and Handle Extensions Gently:

Choose a wide-tooth comb or a loop brush to detangle your extensions with care. Start at the ends and gradually work your way up to avoid pulling or stressing the hair. Gentle, deliberate brushing minimizes breakage, prevents frizz, and helps keep the strands aligned and silky.

Best Wash Routine for Hair Extensions

Washing Schedule & Method

1. Before washing, gently detangle your extensions with a wide-tooth comb, starting at the ends and working upward. Aim to wash them once a week, and always use lukewarm water.
2. Use Goldie Locks® Signature Shampoo to avoid stripping moisture from the hair. Focus on the scalp where the extensions connect, then gently squeeze the suds through the lengths. Avoid rubbing, which can cause tangling and frizz.
3. After washing, blot the hair with a microfiber towel to reduce friction. Let your extensions air-dry whenever possible. If you need to blow-dry, use low heat and direct the airflow downward to keep the strands smooth and sleek.

Conditioning & Weekly Treatment

Use Goldie Locks® Signature Conditioner from the mid-lengths to the ends every time you wash. Keep the conditioner away from the roots to protect your extension bonds or tapes.

Every two weeks, give your extensions a 15–20 minute moisture boost with Goldie Locks® Signature Hair Mask to restore softness and counteract dryness from heat, styling, or environmental exposure. Rinse with lukewarm water to help seal the cuticle and maintain shine.

Styling for Smooth, Frizz-Free Extensions

Always apply Goldie Locks® Blow Dry Spray before using any hot tools, and stick to low or medium heat settings to preserve the integrity of the hair.

To maintain smoothness overnight, sleep with your hair in a loose braid on a silk or satin pillowcase. This minimizes friction, reduces frizz, and helps prevent tangles while you rest.

What to Avoid for Frizzy Hair Extensions

To keep your extensions smooth, soft, and frizz-free, it’s important to steer clear of certain habits and products that can compromise their health and longevity.

• Sulfates and Harsh Clarifying Shampoos
  These formulas strip essential moisture from the hair and can weaken extension bonds, leaving strands dry, frizzy, and more prone to tangling.
• Applying Oils Near the Bonds
  Oils can loosen adhesives or beads, causing extensions to slip or shed prematurely. Keep oils limited to the mid-lengths and ends.
• Daily High-Heat Styling
  Frequent use of hot tools dries out extensions more quickly than natural hair, leading to brittleness, frizz, and a noticeably shorter lifespan.
• Rough Towel Rubbing
  Vigorous towel-drying creates friction that leads to tangles, matting, and breakage, both in your natural hair and the extensions.
• Tight, Tugging Hairstyles
  Hairstyles that pull tightly on the strands place stress on the bonds, create tension on the scalp, and reduce how long your extensions remain secure.

When to See a Stylist for Dry or Frizzy Extensions

If your extensions are persistently dry, tangled, slipping, or showing a noticeable texture mismatch, it’s time to schedule professional maintenance. Regular care from a stylist helps protect both your extensions and your natural hair:

• Every 2–3 weeks: Deep conditioning treatments to restore moisture and maintain softness.
• Every 4–6 weeks: Bond checks to prevent slipping, matting, or tangling.
• Every 6–8 weeks: Professional cleaning and refitting to remove buildup and ensure proper placement.

FAQs

How to fix dry frizzy extensions?

Start by applying leave-in conditioner to restore moisture. Blow-dry gently, using minimal tension and directing the airflow downward to smooth the cuticle. Finish with smoothing cream and hair serum on the ends to seal in softness and reduce frizz.

Why do my new extensions feel dry?

Extensions don’t receive natural scalp oils like your own hair, making them more prone to dryness. Other contributing factors can include chemical processing, product buildup, and exposure to hard water.

How can I make extensions soft/silky again?

Weekly moisture masks, daily leave-in conditioners, limited heat styling, and a light serum on the ends work together to restore smoothness, shine, and manageability.

How do I rehydrate hair extensions?

Apply a hair mask for 15–20 minutes, rinse with cool water, follow with a leave-in conditioner, and wash your extensions less frequently to help retain moisture and keep them feeling soft.

Final Thoughts

Nothing quite compares to that first moment after having your extensions installed: the luxurious smoothness, the added volume, and the irresistible urge to swish your hair with abandon.

Yet without proper care, even the finest extensions can lose their shine, leaving your once-gorgeous hair feeling dry, frizzy, or unmanageable.

Hydration, protection, thoughtful styling, gentle handling, and the right products form the foundation for extensions that remain beautiful, long-lasting, and naturally radiant.