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Your K-Tip extensions are an investment, and the right aftercare will help keep your extensions looking beautiful while protecting the health of your natural hair.
Follow this guide throughout your wear period and contact your extension specialist if you are unsure about anything.
YOUR FIRST 48 HOURS
The first two days are especially important while the keratin bonds settle.
During this time:
- Avoid washing your hair for 48 hours after your appointment.
- Keep direct heat away from the bonds.
- Avoid swimming, saunas and intense workouts where possible.
- Sleep with your hair loose or secured in a very soft, low braid.
- Avoid tight ponytails, buns or hairstyles that place tension on the new bonds.
A little scalp awareness or tenderness immediately after installation can be completely normal as you adjust to your extensions.
YOUR FIRST FEW WEEKS
During the first few weeks, your extensions may feel slightly different from your natural hair.
You may notice:
- Mild scalp sensitivity or awareness.
- Some tension around individual bonds.
- Bonds being slightly more noticeable when your hair is pulled into certain styles.
This should settle as your hair and extensions adjust.
Brushing and correct washing are particularly important during this stage. Gently work through your hair every day to prevent loose hairs from becoming trapped around the bonds.
If a bond feels uncomfortable, excessively tight or appears to have shifted, book a complimentary checkup.
WEEKS 4–12
As your natural hair grows, your bonds will gradually move further away from the scalp.
This is completely normal, but it means your aftercare becomes even more important.
You may notice:
- More space between your scalp and the bonds.
- Increased tangling around the root area.
- Bonds becoming easier to see when your hair is tied up.
- More loose or shed natural hair accumulating around the bonds.
Regular brushing helps prevent this shed hair from matting.
We recommend having your extensions checked during the wear period so your stylist can assess the bonds, your natural hair and whether it is time to schedule maintenance.
WHEN IS IT TIME FOR REMOVAL?
K-Tip extensions should not be worn indefinitely.
Your stylist will recommend the appropriate maintenance or removal time based on your hair, extension type and amount of regrowth.
Signs that your extensions may need attention include:
- Significant regrowth.
- Tangling or matting around the bonds.
- Difficulty brushing through your roots.
- Bonds that have moved considerably away from the scalp.
- Excessive shedding or slipping.
Leaving extensions in for too long can place unnecessary stress on your natural hair.
Never attempt to remove K-Tip extensions yourself. Professional removal is essential to minimise unnecessary pulling or damage.
DAILY CARE
A few minutes of care each day can make a huge difference to the lifespan of your extensions.
Brush every day
Gently brush from the roots down, taking extra care around the bonds.
You can also use your fingers to gently separate individual bonds if they begin to sit close together.
Never aggressively pull through a knot.
If your curls get frizzy after brushing, you can skip brushing and use your fingers to untwist any twisted bonds.
Keep your extensions nourished
Hair extensions are not attached to a living follicle, so they don’t receive the natural oils produced by your scalp.
Use a suitable hair oil or nourishing product through the mid-lengths and ends to help keep the hair soft and manageable.
Keep oils and heavy products away from the bonds. However, it is very much advised to oil your ends.
Protect your hair from heat
Always use a heat protectant before using hot tools.
Avoid placing excessive heat directly over the keratin bonds, as high temperatures can compromise them.
Avoid constant tension
Try not to wear your hair in very tight ponytails, buns or other styles every day.
Repeated tension can place unnecessary stress on both your extensions and natural hair.
WASHING YOUR HAIR
Your washing technique is one of the most important parts of extension aftercare.
Before you wash
Gently brush through your hair and separate any bonds that have become tangled.
Shampoo
Apply shampoo to the scalp and gently massage between the bonds using your fingertips or ideally a scalp massage brush.
Do not aggressively scrub or pull at the bonds.
If your scalp needs a second cleanse, repeat gently rather than trying to remove everything with one aggressive wash.
Choose a sulphate-free and citric acid-free shampoo suitable for hair extensions.
Conditioner
Apply conditioner primarily through the mid-lengths and ends.
Avoid applying heavy conditioner directly onto the keratin bonds.
Your extensions don’t need to be heavily shampooed through the lengths every wash.
Deep conditioning
A nourishing treatment once a week can help keep extension hair soft, smooth and manageable. Keep these off your bonds.
Wet hair
Wet hair is more vulnerable to stretching and breakage.
Avoid aggressively brushing your hair while it is soaking wet.
Instead, gently squeeze out excess water and carefully detangle using an extension-friendly brush when appropriate.
Ingredients to avoid: citric acid, keratin and drying alcohols can penetrate the bonds.
SWIMMING
Swimming can be particularly drying for extension hair.
Before entering the water:
- Wet your hair with clean water.
- Apply a small amount of suitable leave-in conditioner through the lengths.
- Secure your hair gently if needed.
After swimming, rinse your hair thoroughly with fresh water as soon as possible.
Avoid leaving chlorine or salt water sitting on your extensions.
Swimming can be drying for the hair but with the proper care risks are reduced.
SLEEPING WITH EXTENSIONS
Before bed, gently brush through your hair and make sure there are no tangles around the bonds.
For longer hair, loosely braid your hair or secure it in another soft, low-tension style.
A silk bonnet can also help reduce friction while you sleep and makes a major difference.
Never go to bed with heavily tangled or wet hair.
SUN & ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE
Extended exposure to sunlight, chlorine, salt water and heat can affect the condition and colour of extension hair.
Protect your extensions whenever possible and rinse thoroughly after swimming.
Some hair types and extension colours can be particularly sensitive to certain sunscreen ingredients, so check with your stylist if you are unsure which products are suitable for your extensions.
If you are wearing Asian hair, avoid sunscreens with avobenzone, this will turn your extensions pink (most of the hair we provide will be Slavic, we will tell you if we think Asian hair is a better fit for you)
PRODUCTS TO AVOID
Always check your product labels and follow your stylist’s recommendations.
Avoid products that may compromise the bonds or excessively dry the extension hair, particularly:
- Sulphate-heavy shampoos.
- Excessively oily products around the bonds.
- Products containing ingredients your stylist has specifically advised against.
- Excessive heat directly on the bonds.
- Heavy buildup around the root area.
- Citric acid.
- Drying alcohols.
- Purple toning shampoos can be harsh, opt for toning deep treatments instead.
If you have coloured, blonde or chemically treated extensions, your stylist may recommend additional product restrictions.
EXTENSION-FRIENDLY PRODUCTS
The best products for your extensions will depend on the hair type, texture and condition of your extensions.
Your stylist can recommend the appropriate:
Shampoo
For gentle cleansing without unnecessarily drying the extension hair.
Conditioner
For maintaining softness and manageability through the lengths.
Treatment
For additional moisture and nourishment.
Leave-in conditioner
For detangling, hydration and protection.
Oil
For keeping the mid-lengths and ends smooth and glossy.
Heat protectant
Essential whenever heat styling is involved.
THE GOLDEN RULES
If you only remember a few things, remember these:
BRUSH DAILY
Don’t allow shed hair to accumulate around your bonds. If your hair frizzes up when brushing, then use your fingers to gently untwist any twisted bonds. This likely won’t occur until growth begins to happen.
WASH GENTLY
Clean your scalp thoroughly without aggressively scrubbing your bonds. Use a scalp massage brush instead of fingers for a softer application.
PROTECT FROM HEAT
Use heat protection and keep high heat away from the keratin.
KEEP THE BONDS CLEAN
Avoid heavy product buildup around the attachment points.
MOISTURISE THE LENGTHS
Your extensions need nourishment to stay soft and healthy-looking.
AVOID CONSTANT TENSION
Give your natural hair and extensions a break from tight styles.
DON’T OVERWEAR THEM
Book your maintenance or removal at the recommended time.
ASK YOUR STYLIST
If something doesn’t feel right, don’t wait. Professional advice is always better than trying to troubleshoot the bonds yourself.
WET HAIR
Do salon blow outs at your own risk. Putting tension on the hair can weaken it and is not advised. You are also placing trust in the salon to be gentle and to avoid putting heat on the bonds. This can result in less longevity.
Do not dry your wet hair with tension, this is when hair and follicles are the weakest.
Your extensions should feel comfortable.
With consistent aftercare, gentle handling and regular professional maintenance, you can help maximise the beauty and longevity of your extensions while keeping your natural hair in the best possible condition.
Around 10% of bonds slipping in 3 months is normal. You will notice this increase towards the end of the wear period.
Your naturally shed hair will get stuck in the bonds, this means that as they grow out there will be less hair holding onto them which is why on time maintenance is essential
Blonde extensions and longer extensions have a significantly shorter life span, treat them with extra care
Your bonds will get tangled if you aren’t brushing over them daily, this doesn’t hurt or pull them out. It simply pushes that shed hair down
You will lose a small amount of length and some volume during the re-tipping process should you choose to reuse your hair extensions