The Hair Extension Guide

This is going to serve as your one-stop shop for caring for your extensions at home! All of our best tips to ensure you know the what, when, and how in order to maintain your hair extensions. 

An important note for KERATIN BOND guests: 

DO NOT wash hair for 24-28 HOURS after your service to allow bonds to fully adhere.

Brushing:

• Using an extension brush (ex: Unbrush or Tangle Teezer), brush through the hair daily to remove knots and tangles.
• Hold the hair in a ponytail at the scalp and brush from the ends moving up the hair shaft.
• Gently brush the hair at the scalp and in between rows (wefts) or separate hair with fingers (bonds).

Pre-cleansing (prior to shampoo): 

• Brush thoroughly before washing to give yourself a good canvas to shampoo
• Divide hair into two sections or multiple ponytails and shampoo section by section to ensure your scalp is fully cleansed

Shampooing:

• Use the shampoo recommended by your stylist
• Shampoo the hair twice
• Massage scalp from the top of your head down through the nape – avoid using circular motions and do not flip the hair upside down – this can cause tangling and put unnecessary tension on your hair 
• Part and rinse by section and then finish with a final rinse over all the hair

Conditioning:

• Apply a hydrating conditioner to the mid-shaft and ends only, leaving on for 2-3 minutes
• DO NOT APPLY CONDITIONER NEAR THE POINT OF ATTACHMENT – THIS WILL CAUSE SLIPPAGE.
• Do a weekly deep conditioning treatment with a professional product recommended by your stylist
• Rinse conditioner out fully 

Drying:

• Towel dry or air dry prior to blow drying
• Apply leave-in conditioner (ideally with  heat protection) from the mid-shaft through the ends
• Using a blow dryer, dry from ends moving upward. A round brush can be very helpful here!

Heat Styling:

• You are able to style your hair extensions using blow dryers, flat irons, and curling irons/wands. 
• KEEP ALL HOT TOOLS AWAY FROM THE POINT OF ATTACHMENT TO AVOID DAMAGE

Products:

• Use only professional products recommended by your stylist
• Avoid alcohol-based products near the point of attachment
• Our extension guests receive 10% off their purchase of at-home care products while wearing hair extensions 

Swimming:

• Wet the hair with tap water prior to swimming and apply leave-in conditioner, then braid or tie hair back in a loose ponytail
• After you finish swimming, rinse hair with tap water and re-apply leave-in conditioner
• AVOID CHEMICAL SUNSCREENS WITH AVOBENZONE AND/OR OXYBENZONE – THEY WILL CAUSE DISCOLORATION TO THE HAIR 

Sleeping:

• Brush hair gently and put into a loose braid before sleeping
• NEVER SLEEP WITH WET HAIR – this will cause tangling at the scalp – contact your stylist as soon as possible if this occurs.

Hair Color:

• DO NOT COLOR YOUR HAIR EXTENSIONS AT HOME – consult your stylist for any and all color services.

Sunscreen:

• AVOID CHEMICAL SUNSCREENS WITH AVOBENZONE AND/OR OXYBENZONE – THEY WILL CAUSE DISCOLORATION TO THE HAIR

There are videos on extension care available for your specific method here.

We hope this guide is able to help you feel confident in your at-home care and answer any questions that you may have in relation to maintaining your look. Now, go show off your beautiful head of hair!