K-TIP AFTERCARE
How to care for your extensions at home.
Beautiful extensions don't need complicated home care, but they do need consistency. The most important thing I ask from you is simple: keep your bonds separated, keep your hair moisturized and don't let the roots tangle.
Save this page. These are the same instructions I give my clients in the studio.
THE MOST IMPORTANT RULE
Brush your roots. Separate your bonds.
If you remember only one thing from this page, make it this.
Brush carefully through the root area at least twice a day and use your fingers to keep the individual bonds separated.
Your natural hair sheds every day. With K-tips, some of those shed hairs remain around the bonds until removal. Regular brushing and separation help prevent those hairs from tangling together.
BRUSH AT THE ROOTS AT LEAST TWICE A DAY.
Curly hair follows a different brushing routine. Follow my curly-hair instructions below →
BEFORE YOU WASH
Brush first. Every time.
BRUSH BEFORE EVERY WASH.
Before every wash, brush your hair thoroughly.
Pay particular attention to the root area. Make sure you can move through the bonds and that they are separated before the hair becomes wet.
DO NOT SKIP THE ROOTS.
Starting with separated, detangled bonds makes washing and the care afterwards much easier.
WASHING
Clean hair. Gentle hands.
Wash your scalp and hair according to your normal needs. I want you to be gentle and intentional around the root area.
- Work shampoo gently through the scalp.
- Let water flow naturally downward through the lengths.
- Do not aggressively rub, twist or bunch the bonds together, or pile the hair together as you wash.
Use conditioner and masks primarily through the mid-lengths and ends, rather than directly on the keratin bonds.
DRYING
Natural drying is my preference.
My preference is to let the hair dry naturally whenever possible.
If you prefer to use a blow dryer, you absolutely can. Keep the heat reasonable and handle the hair gently.
The goal is not aggressive drying. Let the hair behave like hair.
Read the complete washing & drying guide →DAILY CARE
The roots matter most.
BRUSH + SEPARATE.
- Brush at least twice every day. Do not brush only the lengths and ends.
- Carefully brush through the root area, supporting the hair when needed.
- Use your fingers to separate the individual bonds.
- Check that neighbouring bonds are not beginning to connect or tangle together.
SEPARATE YOUR BONDS.
This is the main piece of home maintenance I need you to stay consistent with.
For curls, use my curly-hair routine instead of twice-daily dry brushing.
MOISTURE
Your extensions need hydration too.
Extension hair is still real human hair and needs conditioning, hydration and moisture.
Use appropriate conditioners, masks, leave-ins and oils through the mid-lengths and ends to keep the hair soft, flexible and manageable.
The important distinction is placement. Keeping oils away from the bonds does not mean avoiding moisture on the hair.
- ROOTS + BONDS
- Keep oils, heavy masks and very slippery products away from this area.
- MID-LENGTHS + ENDS
- Condition, hydrate and moisturize the hair regularly.
MOISTURIZE THE LENGTHS AND ENDS.
SLEEPING
Reduce friction while you sleep.
Before bed:
- Brush the hair thoroughly, following the curly-hair routine if you wear curls.
- Check and separate the bonds.
- Put longer hair into a loose braid.
- Sleep on a silk or satin pillowcase or use a silk/satin bonnet.
Reducing friction while you sleep is one of the most valuable things you can do for the condition and longevity of your extensions.
HEAT STYLING
Style the hair. Protect the bonds.
Heat styling is fine when used appropriately. Use heat protection on the hair.
Do not clamp a flat iron or curling iron directly onto the keratin bonds. Take care when straightening close to the root, and keep direct high heat away from the bond itself.
CURLY HAIR
Curly hair needs a different routine.
Curly clients don't brush their hair the same way straight-hair clients do, so bond separation becomes even more important.
BEFORE WASHING
Brush and detangle before every wash, paying special attention to the roots and bond area. For curly clients, this should happen a minimum of approximately three times per week as part of the wash/maintenance routine.
DURING / AROUND WASHING
Carefully work through the root area as appropriate for your curl routine. Do not aggressively pull through the curls.
AFTER WASHING
Go through the bonds individually with your fingers. Separate every bond from its neighbours. Do not let neighbouring bonds and shed natural hairs begin forming groups or tangles.
CURLY HAIR: SEPARATE EVERY BOND AFTER WASHING.
Then continue with your normal curl routine.
Because curly hair isn't dry-brushed twice a day in the same way as straight hair, manually separating the bonds becomes one of the most important parts of curly K-tip maintenance.
BLONDE + FRAGILE HAIR
More repair isn't always better.
Highly lightened hair needs flexibility as well as strength. I don't recommend constantly layering protein-heavy 'repair' products onto very blonde or fragile hair.
When you're wearing extensions, we're caring for two things at once: the extension hair and the natural hair supporting every bond.
Protein-containing products may list ingredients such as hydrolyzed keratin, hydrolyzed wheat protein, silk protein or soy protein. These ingredients are not universally harmful; my concern is constantly layering protein-heavy products without considering what your hair needs.
SWIMMING + TRAVEL
Enjoy your hair. Just prepare it.
You can swim, travel and enjoy your extensions. A little preparation and care afterwards help keep the hair manageable around pools, chlorine and ocean salt water.
BEFORE SWIMMING
Brush, separate the bonds and secure the hair to reduce tangling.
AFTER SWIMMING
Rinse with fresh water to remove pool or salt water, condition and moisturize the lengths, separate the bonds and gently detangle.
For sauna or steam visits, keep the hair loosely secured to reduce tangling. Afterwards, check and separate the bonds and gently work through any tangles. Keep up your usual care routine while you're away.
WHEN TO COME BACK
Don't judge maintenance by the calendar alone.
As your natural hair grows, the keratin bonds move farther from the scalp. Typical wear may be around 3–4 months, but your timing is individual.
Fine hair may need earlier maintenance. Thicker or textured hair may sometimes wear comfortably for longer. I consider your natural hair, density, texture, growth, installation and home care together.
I'll recommend timing for you individually. The goal is appropriate maintenance, not stretching your extensions to the longest possible wear time.
REUSE
Good hair can have another life.
Suitable extension hair can often be removed, rebonded and reinstalled.
REMOVEREBONDREINSTALL
I assess the hair at removal before deciding whether it is suitable to use again. Reuse depends on its condition; it isn't unlimited.
WHEN IN DOUBT
Text me.
If you're noticing tangling, bonds connecting together, unusual slipping, discomfort or anything that doesn't feel right, don't wait until your next appointment.
Send me a message. It's much easier to deal with a small issue early.