Hair Extension After Care Guide

Aftercare Guide

General Aftercare

  • Allow 48–72 hours after application before wetting your hair.
  • Regular maintenance is essential to prevent extensions from becoming visible and to keep your natural hair healthy.
  • Maintenance appointments are required every 4–6 weeks.
  • Extensions must be removed by a trained professional within 10 weeks of application.

Brushing

  • Brush your hair at least three times daily with a soft-bristle extension brush.
  • Divide your hair into two sections over your shoulders to make brushing easier.
  • Hold the base of your hair for support and gently brush from the ends upward to the roots.

Washing

  • Limit washing to 2–3 times per week.
  • Always detangle and brush your hair before washing.
  • Use a sulphate-free and paraben-free shampoo and conditioner.

⚠️ Important: Do not use products containing protein, keratin, or biotin on your extensions, as these can cause irreversible damage. Always check product labels carefully.

Shampooing:

  • Split hair into two sections over the shoulders.
  • Gently massage shampoo into scalp, mid-lengths, and ends.
  • Rinse thoroughly and repeat if necessary.

Conditioning:

  • Apply conditioner generously to mid-lengths and ends (avoid the roots to prevent slippage).
  • Towel-dry gently by blotting and squeezing - never rub.
  • Blow-dry as soon as possible.

Treatments

Extensions require additional moisture as they do not benefit from natural scalp oils.

  • Use salon-quality, sulphate- and paraben-free treatments or masks when hair feels dry.
  • Avoid keratin or protein-based products.

Sophia Hair Approved Aftercare Products

Heat Styling

  • Heat tools (straighteners, curlers, dryers) should not exceed 180°C.
  • Always apply a heat protectant spray before styling.
  • Minimise excessive heat use to prevent dryness and breakage.
  • Finish with Moroccan or argan oil on mid-lengths and ends to lock in hydration and protect against split ends.

Sleeping

  • Tie hair in a loose braid or low ponytail to reduce tangling.
  • Never sleep with damp or wet hair, as this can cause mould in the wefts, bond breakdown, or bacterial growth.
  • If washing at night, always blow-dry fully before bed.

Swimming

  • Avoid swimming in chlorinated or salt water where possible, as this can cause dryness, matting, and discolouration.
  • If swimming cannot be avoided:
    Wear hair in a loose braid and
    apply a leave-in conditioner to act as a protective barrier. Rinse hair immediately afterward, then shampoo and apply a hydrating treatment as soon as possible.

Sunscreen Interaction

  • Chemical Warning: Avoid allowing your hair extensions to come into contact with general sunscreen. This includes direct application and indirect contact from residue on your skin, face, pool water or items like chairs and towels.
  • Risk of Discoloration: Sunscreen ingredients such as Avobenzone (Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane) and Octocrylene cause rapid discoloration of hair extensions, turning them pink or orange within an hour of exposure.
  • Recommendation: Opt for natural zinc-based sunscreen below:
  1. Neutrogena Sheer Zinc Sunscreen Lotion
  2. Bondi Sands Zinc Mineral Body Lotion
  3. Invisible Zinc Sport Mineral Sunscreen

Chemical Services

Do not bleach, perm, or chemically straighten Sophia Hair Extensions.

Still have questions?

Send us a message here.