How to wash tape-in hair extensions at home
A good wash cares for both the scalp and the attached lengths. For tape-in extensions, the essentials are gentle handling, keeping conditioning products away from the tapes, and drying the attachment area thoroughly. Start with the aftercare instructions supplied by the stylist who fitted the extensions.
Before the first wash
The waiting period depends on the extension system and adhesive.
Ask your fitting salon how long to wait after tape application before washing, and follow the instructions for the adhesive used.
Follow the instructions for the extensions actually fitted, including any advice about exercise or moisture during that time.
Use the recommended products for that system, and check any product requirements attached to its warranty.
Detangle before wetting
Support each section above the area being brushed, then ease out tangles from the ends upwards.
Use the extension brush recommended by the stylist and avoid pulling against the attachment points.
Cleanse the scalp gently
Let the hair hang down while washing, rather than piling the lengths on top of the head.
Concentrate shampoo on the scalp, work gently around the rows and rinse thoroughly without rubbing the extensions together.
If The Shampoo is part of the routine agreed with the stylist, massage it through wet hair into a lather, then rinse.
Condition the lengths, away from the tapes
Apply conditioner through the mid-lengths and ends, keeping it off the attachment points.
Keep conditioner and oils away from the tapes, where they can affect the adhesive.
For a Hadrill wash, The Conditioner is left for one to two minutes before rinsing.
When using The Treatment Mask, apply it after shampooing to damp mid-lengths and ends, away from the tapes.
The Hadrill directions specify five to ten minutes, one to two times weekly, followed by conditioner.
The guide to shampoo, mask and conditioner order explains the sequence in more detail.
Dry the attachment area thoroughly
Press moisture out gently with a towel, without rubbing or twisting the hair.
Use low to moderate heat, working carefully around the rows so the attachment area dries thoroughly.
Finish drying the lengths before bed; avoid leaving the hair wet overnight.
Between washes
Brush gently and secure dry hair loosely for sleep, avoiding tension on the tapes.
Discuss wash frequency with the stylist if training, swimming or scalp needs make the usual schedule impractical.
For recurring tangles through the lengths, read why extension hair gets dry and tangled.
Can conditioner make tape-ins slip?
Conditioner directly on the tapes can affect the adhesive, but keeping it on the lengths does not guarantee that slipping cannot happen.
What if a tape feels loose after washing?
Contact the fitting salon for an assessment instead of assuming one product or washing habit caused it.
Does this method apply to every kind of extension?
This guide is for fitted tape-ins; clip-ins, wefts and bonded extensions have their own care requirements.
