Looking after extensions starts with knowing how they are attached. Your washing routine, products and return appointments should suit that method and your own hair. Here is what to check before your first wash, your next refit or removal.
BellaPharma Beauty Center · Published 23 October 2026
Leave With A Care Plan For Your Method
Ask your stylist to show you the joins, demonstrate brushing and explain when to return. Save the method name and any product instructions on your phone. The hair extension methods guide explains the attachments; these are the care questions to ask:
- K-tips: ask how to work around the keratin bonds, which products to keep away from them and when the fitting should be reassessed.
- I-tips: ask how to brush around the beads and what to do if a strand slips. Do not squeeze or reposition a bead yourself.
- Tape-ins: confirm the first-wash timing and product restrictions for the adhesive used, rather than borrowing rules from another brand.
- Wefts: ask the stylist to demonstrate caring for the attachment rows and explain what your maintenance appointment involves.
- Clip-ins: open each clip before removing the pieces. Remove them before sleeping and before washing your natural hair; follow the separate cleaning instructions for the set.
Washing And Brushing Without Tugging
Before the first wash, check when water is appropriate for your particular fitting. After that, ask for a routine that keeps your scalp clean while respecting the attachments. A fixed “twice a week” rule will not suit every hair type, scalp or activity level.
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends washing as often as your hair type needs and using gentle, moisturising shampoo and conditioner. It also advises removing clip-ins before washing natural hair. Read the AAD’s extension-care guidance.
Ask where your conditioner and styling products should go, how to rinse around the joins and how to dry the attachment areas. Use products recommended for the actual fitting. When brushing, be gentle and avoid pulling at the joins. Have your stylist demonstrate the right brush and technique for your texture, especially if your hair is curly. Do not force a brush through a knot at an attachment.
Plan Around Swimming, Exercise And Styling
Mention regular swimming, gym sessions and tied-up styles before fitting. Ask what to do after a swim, how to manage washing after exercise and whether your usual hairstyle puts pressure on the joins. Keep hot tools away from attachment points and check before colouring or bleaching the extensions. Product-specific instructions matter more than a generic social-media routine.
When Is It Time For A Refit?
The usable life of the extension hair and the time between fittings are different. As your own hair grows, attachments may need checking, moving up, refitting or replacing. The next step depends on the method, condition and your hair, not simply how long the purchased hair might last.
Agree a review date before leaving. Ask whether existing hair can be reused and which work the quote includes. The AAD also recommends breaks from extensions, advising two or three months of wear at most before switching to a style without them. Discuss a suitable break as part of your plan, rather than assuming repeated refits mean uninterrupted wear is appropriate.
Do Not Wait Through Pain Or Scalp Changes
Contact the salon promptly if the fitting pulls or hurts, or attachments slip or tangle. The AAD warns that repeated tension can cause traction alopecia. Pain, stinging and crusting are warning signs; a receding hairline, broken hairs or patches of loss need attention. Seek a dermatologist’s advice for hair loss or scalp concerns, rather than asking a salon to diagnose them. See the AAD’s guidance on hairstyles and hair loss.
Removal And The Next Appointment
Have bonded, taped, beaded and fitted-weft extensions removed professionally. Do not pull them out or experiment with household solvents. Clip-ins are different: release the clips gently rather than tugging on the hair.
BellaPharma’s hair extension service quotes removal during consultation, confirmed on 23 October 2026. Maintenance and refitting are quoted at consultation. Confirm the work and final total before booking. Our extension-cost guide explains how hair, fitting and future visits are priced separately.
Send These Details Before Booking
Tell us your extension method, fitting date, what you would like checked and whether you want removal or a refit. Mention any discomfort rather than waiting for the appointment. Photos can help start the conversation; the condition of your hair and attachments still needs assessment.