A great install is only the beginning. How long your extensions last — and how natural they look months later — comes down to what happens between salon visits. With the right aftercare, quality extensions can last 9 to 12 months or even longer.
Here's the complete at-home routine.
Brushing
- Brush morning and night, in sections
- Start at the ends and work up
- Hold the hair above the attachment so the brush doesn't pull on it
- Always brush thoroughly before washing
Use a brush that won't catch on wefts, tapes or bonds. The Mane Baby brush is a boar bristle and nylon blend on a cushioned pad made for exactly this. Full guide: how to brush extensions without damaging them.
Washing
- Wash once or twice a week — over-washing wears the hair out faster
- Use a high-quality, sulphate-free shampoo and shampoo twice
- Apply salon-grade conditioner or masque to towel-dried hair, avoiding the roots
- Leave it on for 2 to 5 minutes, then rinse thoroughly — then rinse again
Step by step: how to wash hair extensions at home.
Moisture
- Apply a leave-in conditioner with heat protection to damp, towel-dried hair, section by section
- Use a heat-protective oil or serum between washes
- Treat the ends to a deep conditioning masque weekly, or as needed
Drying
- Air dry where possible, or blow dry gently with your fingers until 80 to 90% dry
- Section your hair and finish with a paddle brush
- Make sure the roots and the tops of your wefts are completely dry, on a low heat
- Dry the roots after sweating, too — at the gym or in a sauna
Heat styling
- Tongs, straighteners and heated rollers can be used, but keep heat to a minimum
- Never go above 170°C
- Try to limit heat styling to once a week
- Lighter blonde shades need even more care with heat
Products to avoid
Some ingredients can discolour extensions or break down the bond at the top of the weft. Avoid:
- Citrus extracts
- Moroccan or argan oils
- Silicones and their derivatives
- Protein- or keratin-based products
- Products with a high alcohol content
- Medicated and toning shampoos, including purple shampoo — it can build up on the top of the weft over time and break down the bond, so if you use it, limit it to your natural hair at the top
- Olaplex on the roots of your extensions — it can cause the bond at the top of the weft to break down and shed
- Tanning products
Sun, sunscreen and fake tan
- Wear a hat or use a UV protection spray — UV can discolour extensions
- Avoid chemical sunscreens containing avobenzone, which can turn blonde extensions orange or pink. Mineral sunscreens are a safer choice
- Tie your hair up when applying fake tan — it stains blonde hair
Swimming
- Avoid salt water. It dehydrates hair and can leave it extremely dry, discoloured and hard to manage
- Minimise chlorine and hard water, and rinse thoroughly straight after swimming
Sleeping
Never sleep with wet hair. Brush before bed and tie your hair in a loose braid or low ponytail. More in how to sleep with extensions.
Colour
Never colour your extensions at home. Any colour service should be done by your extension stylist — and only darker or toned. Bleach causes irreversible damage.
Maintenance appointments
See your stylist every 6 to 8 weeks to have your extensions moved up as your natural hair grows. Skipping maintenance is one of the main causes of tangling at the root.
Your aftercare checklist
- ☐ Brush twice a day, ends first
- ☐ Wash once or twice a week with sulphate-free products
- ☐ Keep conditioner off the roots
- ☐ Dry the roots completely, on low heat
- ☐ Heat under 170°C, as little as possible
- ☐ No salt water, rinse after chlorine
- ☐ No bleach, no home colour
- ☐ Never sleep on wet hair
- ☐ Maintenance every 6 to 8 weeks
Stylists: you can share our Mane Baby aftercare guide with every client after their install.