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You've probably heard you should never brush wet hair. There's some truth in it: hair is more fragile when it's wet, and it stretches and snaps more easily. But if you wear extensions, leaving wet hair tangled isn't great either.
So can you brush wet hair extensions? Yes — as long as you do it gently and with the right brush.
Why wet hair needs extra care
When hair is wet, it swells slightly and becomes more elastic. Pulling a brush through tangles at this stage can stretch and break strands. With extensions, pulling also puts tension on the attachment points and your natural hair at the root.
Before you wash: brush first
The best way to make wet brushing easy is to brush thoroughly before you wash. Water tightens existing tangles, so anything you remove beforehand is one less knot to deal with afterwards. See our washing guide.
How to brush wet extensions safely
- Towel dry gently. Pat and squeeze — don't rub.
- Apply a leave-in conditioner with heat protection. Work it through your damp hair section by section. It adds slip, so the brush glides.
- Section your hair. Two or three sections is plenty.
- Hold above the attachment point. Your hand takes the tension, not your natural hair or the wefts.
- Start at the ends. Brush the bottom few centimetres until smooth, then work up gradually.
- Go slowly. If you hit a knot, stop and ease it apart with your fingers first.
Choosing a brush for wet hair
A brush with a cushioned pad flexes as it meets a tangle, instead of forcing through it. That's what lets it work through wet hair without snapping it.
The Mane Baby brush combines boar bristle and nylon on a cushioned pad that flexes through wet or dry hair, and it's designed to glide over wefts, tapes and bonds without catching.
Drying after brushing
Once your hair is detangled:
- Air dry if you can, or blow dry gently until your hair is about 80 to 90% dry, using your fingers.
- Then section your hair and finish drying with a paddle brush.
- Make sure the roots and the tops of your extensions are completely dry, using a low heat. Damp wefts can cause problems with the bond over time.
Don't go to bed with wet extensions
Sleeping on wet or damp extensions is one of the fastest ways to cause matting at the root. Always dry them fully first. More in how to sleep with hair extensions.
Quick answers
Can I brush wet extensions? Yes, gently, from the ends up, with a leave-in conditioner.
What should I avoid? Brushing from the root down, rubbing with a towel, and pulling through knots.
What brush should I use? One with a cushioned pad and bristles that won't catch attachment points.
For the full brushing routine, read how to brush hair extensions without damaging them.