Keratin Bond
Extension Aftercare

Keratin bonds need time to fully set.

• —Avoid washing, heavy sweating, and heat styling for 48 hours.
• —Keep hair in a loose, low style — no tight ponytails or clips near the bonds.

• Avoid Over-Washing

  Once or twice a week is the standard to set. Over-washing strips moisture and shortens extension lifespan.

• Always Brush Before Showering

  A quick brush before getting into the shower helps prevent tangling and matting once hair is wet and more fragile.

• Detergents Are Not Your Friend

  A sulfate-free shampoo protects both hair color and extension longevity — sulfates break down keratin bonds.

• Wash Upright

  Wash standing in the shower with your head tilted back — never flip hair forward over the sink, which tangles the bonds.

• Cleanse the Scalp Gently

  Work shampoo between the bonds with your fingertips, never your nails, and rinse thoroughly so no product sits at the bonds.

• Use a Light Conditioner

  Mid-lengths and ends only. Conditioner and masks on the bonds will soften the keratin and cause slipping.

• Use a Deep Conditioning Treatment

  Once a week, use a deep conditioning treatment on the mid-lengths and ends to keep your extensions healthy and soft.

• Use a Clarifying Shampoo

  Every 4–6 weeks, a clarifying shampoo removes product buildup that dries hair out over time.

• After Showering

  Squeeze hair dry, apply a leave-in on the ends, and wrap hair in a towel turban — never rub.

Brush with the extensions brush in your kit, a few times a day.

• —Hold the hair at the bonds with one hand so nothing is pulled.
• —Brush from the ends upward in small sections.
• —If the brush catches, stop and detangle by hand — never yank a knot through.

Your bonds sit close together at the root, and a bond that stays stuck to its neighbor is where matting begins. Once a day, take two or three minutes to free each one with your fingers.

• —Work on dry hair. Lift a section at a time and slide your fingertips between the bonds until each one moves on its own.
• —Hold the base of a bond with one hand and gently move the hair below it — never twist, pull, or pick at the bond itself.
• —If two bonds have fused together, ease them apart with your fingernail. Never cut them with scissors.
• —While you are in there, notice how each bond feels. If one sits looser or slides more than it did last week, message me before your next appointment.

Never go to bed or tie hair up with damp bonds.

• —Dry the roots and bonds first, on cool or medium heat, keeping the dryer moving.
• —Always use a heat protectant, and keep hot tools under 350°F.
• —Keep flat irons, curling wands, and hot air away from the bonds — heat melts keratin.

Hair must be completely dry before bed. Sleep in a loose braid or a low, soft ponytail with a silk scrunchie, and cover your hair with a silk bonnet — or, at minimum, rest on a silk or satin pillowcase.

Oils and alcohol are what break keratin bonds down.

• —Oils, serums, and leave-ins go on mid-lengths and ends only — never on the bonds.
• —Skip sulfates, alcohol-heavy sprays, and dry shampoo at the roots.
• —If you are unsure whether something is safe, send me a photo of the label before you use it.

Salt water, chlorine, and sun dry out extensions and weaken bonds.

• —Before swimming: wet your hair with clean water, smooth on a leave-in, and braid it. Rinse and wash as soon as you are out.
• —For workouts: keep hair in a loose braid, and dry the roots soon after.

As your hair grows, the bonds move away from the scalp.

• —Come in every 6–8 weeks for a check-in, and for removal and reapplication when it's time.
• —Never pull, cut, or try to remove a bond at home — removal is done with a professional solution.