Hair Extension Aftercare & Maintenance Guide
Hair Extension Aftercare & Maintenance Guide
Your Queen of Good Hair extensions are made from 100% single donor virgin hair — the same quality as your own hair, fully traceable, and built to last 12–24+ months. With the right care, they can last even longer.
This guide covers everything you need to know to keep your extensions looking and feeling their best.
Washing Your Extensions
How you wash your extensions makes the biggest difference to how long they last.
- Use sulphate-free shampoo and conditioner. Sulphates strip moisture from the hair and weaken the bonds. This applies to both your natural hair and your extensions.
- Wash in a downward motion. Always work from root to tip in smooth, downward strokes — never scrub or pile hair on top of your head as this causes tangling.
- Avoid applying conditioner to the roots or bonds. Conditioner near tape, nano ring or keratin bonds can break down the adhesive. Apply from mid-length to ends only.
- Don't wash more than necessary. 2–3 times a week is plenty for most clients. Over-washing dries the hair out and shortens lifespan.
- Use lukewarm water, not hot. Hot water opens the cuticle and causes frizz and tangling.
Drying Your Extensions
- Never go to bed with wet extensions. Damp hair at the bonds — especially tape and keratin — weakens adhesion over time and causes matting at the attachment points.
- Blot, don't rub. Gently squeeze water out with a towel. Rubbing causes friction and tangles.
- Blow dry thoroughly after every wash. Use a medium heat setting and a wide-tooth comb or paddle brush as you dry, working from ends upward.
- Use a heat protectant spray before blow drying or styling. This applies to extension hair just as much as your natural hair.
Brushing & Detangling
- Brush at least twice a day — morning and evening as a minimum.
- Always start from the ends and work upward. Hold the hair at mid-length while you detangle the ends, then gradually work toward the roots. Never drag a brush from root to tip through tangled hair.
- Use a soft-bristle brush or a loop/extension brush — not a standard bristle brush, which can pull on bonds and cause breakage.
- Be gentle around the attachment points. Hold the hair just below the bond as you brush through the mid-lengths and ends to avoid putting tension on the fitting.
Sleeping With Extensions
- Always sleep in a loose plait or braid. This is the single most effective thing you can do to prevent overnight tangling and matting.
- Use a silk or satin pillowcase if possible. Cotton creates friction that causes frizz and tangling.
- Never sleep with wet or damp extensions. This cannot be overstated — damp hair overnight is the most common cause of matting at the bonds.
Heat Styling
Our virgin hair extensions can be heat styled just like your natural hair — because structurally, they are the same.
- Always use a heat protectant before applying any heat tool.
- Keep tools below 180°C (356°F) for everyday styling. Higher temperatures can be used occasionally but will shorten the lifespan of the hair over time.
- Avoid applying heat directly to bonds. Keep straighteners, curling tongs and wands away from the tape, keratin or nano ring attachment points.
- Work in small sections and don't pass over the same section more than once where possible.
Swimming & Exercise
- Tie your hair up before swimming. Chlorine and salt water both dry out the hair and can weaken tape adhesion. A loose bun or plait under a swim cap is ideal.
- Rinse immediately after swimming with clean fresh water, then wash and dry as normal.
- Tie hair back for high-intensity exercise to prevent sweating around the bonds.
Products to Use & Avoid
✅ Use
- Sulphate-free shampoo and conditioner
- Heat protectant spray
- Lightweight leave-in conditioner (applied mid-length to ends only)
- Argan oil or a small amount of serum on the ends to prevent dryness
- Extension-safe dry shampoo (applied to roots only, away from bonds)
❌ Avoid
- Sulphate-containing shampoos and clarifying shampoos — these strip the hair
- Heavy oily products near the bonds — these break down adhesion
- Dry shampoo directly on bonds or tape
- Alcohol-based styling products — these dry the hair out
- Box hair dye — if you want to colour your extensions, speak to your stylist first
Maintenance Appointments
Even the best hair needs maintenance. How often depends on your extension method:
- Tape hair extensions: Every 6–8 weeks
- Nano ring extensions: Every 8–12 weeks
- Keratin bond extensions: Every 10–14 weeks
- Genius Weft & Flat Weft: Every 6–10 weeks depending on your natural hair growth
Don't leave your maintenance appointments too long. Extensions that are worn past the recommended window put tension on your natural hair and can cause unnecessary stress at the attachment points. Our single donor virgin hair is reusable — properly maintained extensions can be refitted multiple times, making them a genuine long-term investment.
Signs You Need an Appointment
- The bonds or tape have moved more than 2cm from the root
- You notice increased tangling at the attachment points
- Bonds feel loose or any wefts feel like they're slipping
- Your natural hair feels like it has tension or is being pulled
If you notice any of the above, book in sooner rather than later.
Have a Question?
Our aftercare advice is always here, but if you're unsure about anything specific to your extensions or hair type, get in touch — Tammy replies personally.