The Ultimate Guide to Washing and Drying Keratin Bonds Hair Extensions

Before you get in the shower, brush your hair thoroughly. Work carefully through the root area and use your fingers to make sure the individual bonds are separated.

Do not start washing with tangled roots or bonds already connecting together. Take the time to separate and detangle them first; it makes the rest of your routine much easier.

Wash your scalp according to your normal needs. Use gentle movements and pay attention to the roots rather than piling all the hair together.

• Shampoo the scalp carefully.
• Do not aggressively rub, twist or bunch the bonds together.
• Allow water to flow downward through the lengths.
• Apply conditioner and masks primarily through the mid-lengths and ends, rather than directly on the bonds.

Keeping conditioner and oil away from the bonds does not mean avoiding moisture. Extension hair is real human hair and needs hydration and conditioning to stay soft, flexible and manageable.

Use appropriate conditioners, masks, leave-ins and oils through the mid-lengths and ends. The distinction I want you to remember is where you apply them.

ROOTS + BONDS

Keep oils, heavy masks and slippery conditioning products away.

MID-LENGTHS + ENDS

Hydrate, condition and moisturize regularly.

Whenever possible, I prefer letting the hair dry naturally.

You can use a blow dryer if you prefer. Keep the heat reasonable, handle the hair gently and avoid excessive direct high heat on the keratin bonds.

You do not need to blow-dry your bonds after every wash. The goal is gentle care, not aggressive drying.

As you handle your hair and let it dry, check the root area. Make sure neighbouring bonds remain separated, and gently detangle as needed.

Smooth-looking lengths are only one part of the picture. Keeping the individual bonds separated is more important than simply making the ends look tidy.

Curly clients may not dry-brush their hair twice daily in the same way as straight-hair clients. The wash-day routine needs to respect your curls while keeping the bonds separate.

• Brush and detangle before washing, paying attention to the roots.
• After washing, manually go through the bond area with your fingers.
• Separate each individual bond from its neighbours.
• Then continue with your normal curl routine.

Before bed, brush your hair and separate the bonds, following the curly-hair routine if you wear curls. Put longer hair into a loose braid.

I strongly recommend a silk or satin pillowcase or bonnet to reduce friction while you sleep. It is a simple part of keeping your extensions manageable between washes.