How Often Should I Wash my Hair Extensions?

Like your regular hair, hair extensions need to be taken care of if they are to remain in good condition for as long as possible. Washing your hair extensions is one task that might seem optional, because, after all, aren’t you removing them whenever you aren’t’? That may be true but washing them will help keep them in good shape for a longer time, so don’t skip out on this step.

There are two things you need to remember when it comes to how often you should wash your extension. First, you should not wash them every day. In fact, many women are coming to learn that their natural hair doesn’t even need to be washed that often. Washing too regularly over-encourages sebum secretion, which is what makes hair greasy on the scalp. If you wear hair extensions daily, your natural sebum will release onto the hair extensions along with your natural locks. Washing once or twice a week with a gentle, sulfate-free shampoo will help keep your extensions healthy and shiny.

The second thing you need to remember is that there will also be times where you’ll wash your hair extensions “as needed.” This means that along with your once or twice-weekly washing, you may need to give an additional wash, especially if you use a lot of hair products. If you notice a buildup of hairspray or dry shampoo, your extensions are probably getting sticky or dull. This is a good sign that it’s time to wash, particularly if you want to keep wearing your extensions for a long time. Finally, you should also consider weekly or monthly leave-in treatments or masks to encourage shine.