Don’t wash your hair for at least 24 hours. although the ideal time is 48 hours. The more time you give bonds, tapes to seal, the better. This also helps with your slippage, giving no chance for moisture to get in between the bonds.

‍Don’t use products that contain parabens, or sulfates. They dry out the oil in your natural hair and causes a worse result with extensions. You will also be prone to irritation in the scalp, and a fade in colour.

Do be careful with conditioners, oils, or sprays. Only apply from the mid-shaft down, avoiding the attachments. If the extensions are feeling dry, leave-in conditioners and hydrating oils are great, but be mindful of placement.

Do make dry shampoo your new bestie - if it isn’t already. Even without extensions, you should be washing your hair as little as possible. With extensions, aim for washing no more than twice a week. This is where a GOOD dry shampoo is imperative, getting rid of oiliness and ensuring less slippage. The lines I recommend are Kevin Murphy, Oribe, Living Proof, and Amika.

Keep a gentle brush on hand. Be sure to keep your extensions tangle free at all times. Start with the bottom of your hair and brush out the tangles, then continue to work upwards towards the points of attachments. Sleeping with a soft braid or pony can help to minimize tangles while sleeping. Quality Boar brushes work especially well to keep hair extensions soft and tangle free!

Don’t sleep with wet hair. Here is why. With tapes, it makes them slip faster, with beads, the moisture can cause the beads to slip, with fusions, it breaks down the bond, and with wefts, it causes mold and mildew.

Do avoid salty or chlorinated water. Salt and chlorine can harm your extensions the same way they harm your natural hair. Salt water….. It absolutely, 100 percent will make the bonds slip and the tapes loosen. Also, chlorine can start changing the texture and sometimes the color of the extensions.

Avoid sunscreens that contain two SPF protection ingredients, Avobenzone (Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane) and Octocrylene. These ingredients will discolour the hair by a Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) process, causing a chemical reaction that change the hair extensions' color to orange, pink, peachy, and brassy.

Do use mineral sunscreen. Mineral sunscreen contains titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, which is approved by the FDA as safe to use on skin and is a tested sunscreen type that does not affect hair extensions or cause discoloration.

Do use extensions specific hair care. Extend the life of your hair extensions by up to one year with BELLAMI’s all-new clinically proven formulas, a meticulously crafted collection designed to deliver exceptional results behind the chair and at home.