Aftercare Guide
Care for your extensions in 4 simple habits
Wash, sleep, brush, touch-up. Save this page on your phone — it answers what you'll wonder at home.
Do this. Skip this.
The short list. Screenshot it.
Do
- Wait 2 to 4 days before your first wash
- Brush gently 2 to 3 times a day, ends to roots
- Use sulfate-free shampoo
- Sleep with a low braid on a silk pillowcase
- Come to your touch-up with clean, dry hair
- Apply conditioner from mid-length to ends only
- Use silk scrunchies, not elastics
- Wear a swim cap in pools and the ocean
Don't
- Don't wash in the first 48 hours
- Don't brush hair while it is wet
- Don't sleep on wet or loose hair
- Don't apply conditioner near the bonds
- Don't try to remove extensions yourself
- Don't wash bent over the sink
- Don't rub hair hard with a towel
- Don't use shampoos with sulfates (SLS, SLES)
- Don't blow-dry on high heat near the roots
- Don't visit sauna or steam room in the first 2 days
- Don't color or perm at home
- Don't use a flat plastic brush on the bonds
Wash like this
Four steps. Every wash. About 15 minutes.
1Brush dry first
Detangle dry hair from ends to roots, holding above the bond.
2Wet with warm water
Stand upright. Let warm water flow down the length — never hot.
3Shampoo the scalp
Foam shampoo in your palms. Use fingertips on roots only, no nails.
4Rinse, then condition ends
Let foam rinse down. Conditioner mid-length to ends, never on bonds.
At night & between washes
Two small habits that double the life of your extensions.
Sleeping
- Low braid, ponytail or loose bun
- Silk scrunchie, no metal clasps
- Silk pillowcase to cut friction
- Never on wet or loose hair
Brushing
- Start at the ends, work up
- Hold the strand above the bond
- 2 to 3 times a day, gentle pressure
- Never on wet hair
On your shelf
The one tool we won't let you skip. More picks coming soon.
When to come back
Touch-up every 2 to 2.5 months. The exact timing depends on your hair growth and your aftercare.
Come with clean, dry hair
New bonds only attach to clean strands. Oily hair makes fresh bonds slide within weeks.
Questions we hear most
Tap to expand.
When can I wash my hair after install?
Wait at least 48 hours, ideally 2 to 4 days. The keratin bonds need time to fully cure — washing too early softens them and causes slippage.
How often should I wash my extensions?
Two to three times a week is ideal. Daily washing dries out extension hair (it does not produce its own oils) and stresses the bonds.
Why sulfate-free shampoo?
Sulfates (SLS, SLES) strip the bonds and dehydrate the hair. Sulfate-free cleansers wash gently and keep the keratin intact for the full lifespan of the extensions.
Can I swim with extensions?
Yes, with a swim cap in pools and the ocean. Chlorine and salt water dry out the hair and can loosen the bonds. Rinse with fresh water right after.
How should I sleep?
Silk pillowcase, hair in a low braid, ponytail or soft bun, silk scrunchie only. Never sleep on wet hair, and never with hair loose — it tangles at the bond line.
When do I come back for a touch-up?
Every 2 to 2.5 months. Exact timing depends on your hair growth, the products you use, and how carefully you follow this guide.
How do I prepare for the touch-up appointment?
Come with clean, dry hair. New bonds only attach to clean strands — oily hair makes fresh bonds slide within weeks. Wash the day of or the night before.
Can I color or perm with extensions?
Not at home. Coloring and perms must be done by a stylist who works around the bonds. Chemicals on the bonds will weaken or dissolve them.
Can you wash hair extensions every day?
No, two to three times a week is best. Extension hair does not produce its own oils, so daily washing dries it out and puts extra stress on the keratin bonds.
Can I wash hair extensions with normal shampoo?
Avoid regular shampoos that contain sulfates (SLS, SLES). They strip the bonds and dehydrate the hair. Use a sulfate-free shampoo so the keratin stays intact for the full lifespan of the extensions.
How do you care for hair extensions in Miami's humidity?
Wash two to three times a week with sulfate-free products, dry the roots after washing, sleep with hair in a loose braid or bun on a silk pillowcase, and keep oils and conditioner off the bonds. A consistent routine keeps Slavic Hair smooth even in Florida humidity.