Hair Extensions: 7 Routine Changes to Know Before You Commit

Hair extensions can deliver the long, full look that years of growing and styling may not achieve. The trade-off is a more involved routine: washing takes longer, brushing needs care, and even bedtime calls for a little planning. If you’re weighing up extensions, that daily upkeep deserves as much thought as the finished style.

After cutting my hair into a bob in 2021, I spent years growing it out. My hair seemed to stall at a certain length, perhaps after years of bleaching and heated styling. Extensions offered a shortcut, whether the aim is length, extra fullness for fine hair or a hint of colour without bleaching natural strands.

I’ve worn Great Lengths tapes in the past and currently have Remi Cachet ultra tips. Both experiences taught me that the salon appointment is only the start. Here are seven changes I’d have liked to understand beforehand.

Credit: @chloeburcham

1. Wash day needs more time

A wash and blow-dry that once took around 30 minutes now needs a place in my weekly schedule. Extra length takes longer to wet, cleanse and dry, and the attachment points add another detail to manage.

I section my hair in the shower so shampoo reaches my scalp instead of cleansing only the hair on top. Drying takes just as much patience: I work in sections and make sure the roots and bonds are completely dry before moving on to the lengths. There isn’t much of a shortcut when the attachment points need careful attention.

If you’re used to washing your hair and getting out the door soon after, factor in extra time. It’s a practical part of having extensions, not an occasional inconvenience.

2. Your natural texture may stand out

Extensions can look sleek beside hair that’s dry, damaged or prone to frizz, which can make the difference in texture more visible. When I rough-dry my own hair, I can see where my natural strands end and the smoother extensions begin. Smoothing or straightening my hair helps the two textures sit together.

I already used heated tools regularly, so the extra styling hasn’t felt like a dramatic change. Still, think about how your natural hair behaves when discussing the finished look with your stylist. If I have extensions fitted again, I may consider a keratin treatment beforehand to make my own texture easier to blend.

That choice depends on your hair and the look you want. A stylist can help you discuss the texture match before you settle on an extension method.

3. Colour placement can help you wear less bleach

One welcome surprise has been using extensions to add brightness through my lengths. My natural hair is light brown, but I’ve bleached it for much of the past 20 years. With nano-tip extensions, brighter blonde pieces can sit through the lengths without bleaching those sections of my own hair.

I’ve now gone more than six months without having my colour done. I have more of my natural shade than I’ve had in years, while the lighter extensions keep the blonde effect I like. My own hair feels thicker, softer and healthier to me.

The result will depend on your starting colour and the finish you’re after. If reducing how often you bleach is a priority, talk with your extensionist about placing lighter pieces strategically.

Credit: @chloeburcham

4. Brushing becomes part of the upkeep

Longer hair has more opportunity to tangle, and I find extensions sit and blend better when they’re freshly brushed. The key is to be gentle: I hold the hair near the roots to support it, then brush upwards from the ends instead of pulling from the top down.

After washing, I use a Tangle Teezer Wet Detangler. Near the roots, I reach for a brush suited to extensions so it won’t catch on the attachment points. For the lengths, my choice is the Oribe Flat Brush, which smooths my hair and leaves the ends soft and swishy.

5. Scalp cleansing takes a gentler hand

With tapes or individual bonds between your fingers and scalp, it can be harder to massage shampoo in the way you might be used to. I find product, oil and general build-up can collect more easily, so I use a clarifying scalp shampoo about once a week.

I part my hair in sections, apply shampoo directly to the scalp and work it around the bonds with my fingertips. The aim is a thorough cleanse without vigorously rubbing the lengths or tugging at attachments. Your extension method will shape the details, so take your extensionist’s aftercare guidance into account.

6. Make room for a bedtime routine

Before extensions, I could go to bed without thinking much about my hair. Now I brush it gently and loosely secure the lengths, usually in a plait, to limit tangling while I sleep.

Drying matters most. Damp extensions can tangle and mat around the roots, so I make sure the attachment points are dry before turning in. A silk or satin pillowcase may reduce friction, but it doesn’t replace drying your hair properly. Washing just before bed only works if you’ve left enough time to finish the job.

7. Apply products where they’re needed

My old habit was to spread hair masks, oils and conditioner quite freely. With extensions, I’m more deliberate. The lengths still need moisture, particularly because extension hair doesn’t receive natural oils from the scalp, but rich products don’t necessarily belong on the attachment points.

I treat my scalp and lengths as separate areas: shampoo goes at the roots, while conditioner and masks go through the mid-lengths and ends. I concentrate oils and leave-in treatments where the hair needs them rather than applying everything from root to tip. The details vary by method, so follow the aftercare advice for your tapes, bonds or other attachments.

Are extensions worth the extra care?

For me, yes. Washing and styling take longer, and I think about my hair more throughout the day. But I love having long hair again, and I know I’ll like the result once it’s styled. After years of trying to grow it naturally, there’s real satisfaction in having the length I wanted.

My advice is to consider the routine alongside the look: salon appointments, extra wash time, careful brushing and drying before bed all come with the commitment. Extensions can change your length and colour in a few hours; the best fit is one you’re ready to care for afterwards.

Images: courtesy of @chloeburcham