How to Look After Tape-In Hair Extensions: Aftercare Guide

Wondering how to look after tape hair extensions now, they’re in? If you’ve just had your tape-in hair extensions fitted and they look amazing, let’s keep them that way. The good news is that looking after them is easy once you know a few rules. Most of it comes down to four things: water, oil, heat and not pulling on the tapes.

How to Look After Tape Hair Extensions: The Quick Version

To look after tape hair extensions, wash them about twice a week with sulphate-free products, keep conditioner and oil off the tapes, dry your roots straight after washing, brush gently while holding the roots and book a refit every 6 to 8 weeks. Here’s your tape in extensions aftercare at a glance.

Your tape-in aftercare checklist

• Wait 48 hours before your first wash.
• Wash about twice a week, no more.
• Use sulphate-free shampoo and conditioner.
• Keep conditioner off the tapes.
• Dry your roots and tapes first, every time.
• Brush gently 2 to 3 times a day while holding the roots.
• Sleep with dry hair in a loose plait.
• Use heat protection and keep hot tools off the tapes.
• Avoid swimming where you can.
• Book a refit every 6 to 8 weeks.

Why tape-ins need a little extra care

Each tape is a thin adhesive tab sandwiching a slice of your own hair. Water, oils, heat and pulling all weaken it over time, so caring for tape in extensions is about protecting that bond. The extension hair also doesn’t get natural oils from your scalp, so it needs more moisture than your own hair. Get those two things right and tape hair extension maintenance becomes second nature and part of your routine.

The First 48 Hours After Your Fitting

Don’t wash your hair for 48 hours

Your tapes need about two days to fully bond, and wetting them sooner can make them slip. For the full first-wash Q&A, see what to know before getting tape in extensions.

Skip heat, sweat and swimming too

For the same 48 hours, keep hot tools away from your roots, give heavy workouts a miss and stay out of the pool! Heat and moisture both soften the adhesive while it’s still settling in, which could ruin your new look!

Getting used to the feel

It’s completely normal to notice your tapes for the first few days, but you just need to get used to them. If anything feels painful or pulls a lot, contact your specialist rather than adjusting the tapes yourself.

How to Wash Tape-In Extensions Without Loosening Them

How often should you wash tape-ins?

About twice a week is what we’d advise - washing every day softens the adhesive and dries out the lengths.

Choose the right shampoo and conditioner

Use a sulphate-free, moisturising shampoo like our Deep Moisture Shampoo. Sulphates and alcohol strip moisture from the hair and weaken the tapes. Follow with our Deep Moisture Conditioner from mid-lengths to ends only, because your tapes and conditioner should never meet.

Once a fortnight, treat the lengths to our Deep Moisture Hair Mask to keep them soft. The Hydration Bundle has all three if you’d rather grab the set. For more product advice and good tape in hair extensions care, read our guide to the best shampoo for tape-in hair extensions.

Washing technique in five steps

1. Brush out any knots before you get your hair wet.
2. Wash upright in the shower, never flipped over the bath or sink.
3. Use lukewarm water, not hot.
4. Massage shampoo into your scalp with your fingertips, working between the rows without scrubbing the tapes.
5. Rinse thoroughly without rubbing or wringing.

For the full method, see our guide on how to wash tape in hair extensions without loosening them.

How to Dry Tape-In Extensions

Pat, don’t rub

Gently squeeze out the water, then pat your hair with a microfibre towel. Rubbing tangles the lengths (just like it can on your own hair) and tugs on the tapes, so be gentle.

Dry your roots and tapes first

Damp tapes can slip, so this is the one time the hairdryer is your best friend. Dry your roots and tapes on a low or cool setting until they’re completely dry, then let the lengths air dry, or blow-dry them after a spritz of our Heat Protection Spray. For more on how to dry tape in extensions after washing, see our guide to the best ways to dry hair extensions.

Never tie up or sleep on damp roots

The combination of damp tapes plus a hair tie or a pillow is the fastest route to slipping and matting, so please avoid this to keep your extensions in good condition.

How to Brush Tape-In Extensions

Use an extension-friendly brush

Choose a soft, flexible brush that glides over the tapes without catching. Our Detangling Hairbrush is made for exactly that. For detangling with conditioner in, our Wave Comb is a handy one to keep in the shower.

Hold the roots and start at the ends

Brush 2 to 3 times a day, and hold your hair just below the tapes with one hand, so the brush never pulls on them. Start at the ends, work your way up, and brush gently between the rows rather than dragging hard over the tapes.

Be gentle when your hair is wet

Wet hair stretches and snaps more easily, and wet tapes are softer too. Only detangle the lengths in the shower with conditioner in, using a wide-tooth comb like our Wave Comb. Also, always keep the brush away from the tapes until they’re dry.

Check for knots at the roots every day

Once a day, run your fingers between the rows to separate any hair that’s starting to knot around the tapes. If it’s already matted at the roots, see your specialist, and look at our tips on how to prevent hair extensions matting.

How to Sleep With Tape-In Extensions

Always go to bed with dry hair

Wet hair is weaker, and damp tapes can slip overnight. When it comes to sleeping with tape in extensions, dry everything fully before your head hits the pillow.

Wear a loose plait or low ponytail

A loose plait (or braid) stops the lengths tangling while you sleep, which is the simplest answer on how to sleep with tape in extensions. Keep it soft at the nape (base of your neck where the hair ends), not tight. A silk or satin pillowcase also cuts down friction. For more ideas, see our protective hairstyles for sleeping with hair extensions.

Skip tight buns and high ponytails at night

They pull on the tapes for hours on end, whereas tape-ins suit loose, low styles best, so save tight, high looks for when you’re not wearing them!

Products to Use and Products to Avoid

Your tape-in aftercare kit

These are the tape in extensions aftercare products we’d keep on your bathroom shelf:

• Deep Moisture Shampoo, Conditioner and Hair Mask
• Heat Protection Spray
• Detangling Hairbrush
• Wave Comb
• Soft hair ties that won’t snag

You’ll find the lot in our hair care for extensions collection.

What to keep away from your tapes

Oil and adhesive don’t mix. In fact, the tape remover your specialist uses is oil-based, which is exactly why oils near your roots loosen tapes. These are the main products to avoid with tape in extensions.

Oils, serums and heavy leave-ins

So, can you use oil on tape in extensions? Yes, in small amounts on the mid-lengths and ends. Just never use it on the roots or tapes to avoid slipping.

Sulphates and alcohol

You’ll find these in many standard shampoos and some styling sprays. They dry out the hair and weaken the adhesive.

Conditioner on the tapes

Even a good conditioner makes the tapes slippery. Mid-lengths to ends only, every time.

Thinking of colouring your tape-ins?

Speak to your specialist first. Never put colour or bleach over the tapes.

Heat Styling, Swimming and the Gym

Can you straighten or curl tape-ins?

Yes, because our tape-ins are 100% Remy human hair, you can style them just like your own. Use a heat protectant like our Heat Protection Spray every time and keep the temperature moderate. Most importantly, keep your straighteners and curling tongs away from the tapes themselves.

Swimming with tape-ins

Chlorine and saltwater affect both the hair and the tapes, so avoid swimming where you can. If you do go in, plait your hair, wear a swim cap and rinse with fresh water straight after. Then dry your roots fully and use a hair mask that week. Read more in can you swim, sleep and work out with tape in extensions?

Working out

Tie your hair in a loose, low plait or ponytail and pop on a sweatband. Don’t leave sweat sitting at the roots for hours, rinse and dry them after your session. Our working out in tape hair extensions Q&A has more gym tips.

Refits: Keeping Your Tape-Ins Looking Fresh

How often do tape-ins need refitting?

Our Classic, Remy Royale and Invisible tape-ins need refitting every 6 to 8 weeks. Tape Wefts need it every 4 to 6 weeks. As your hair grows, the tapes move down, which is why tape in extensions need to be moved up regularly. Find out more in our guide on how to re-use tape in hair extensions.

What happens at a refit

At a tape in extensions refit, your specialist removes the tapes with a professional remover and cleans off any residue. They then re-tape the same hair with fresh tabs and fit it back near your root, so that’s what makes tape-ins reusable. This is always a job for a qualified specialist, never something to try at home.

Signs you’re due a refit

Look out for tapes showing as your hair grows, knots forming at the roots, or a tape that feels loose or keeps catching. Always book in to your hairdresser rather than fixing it yourself to avoid any damage – a specialist knows best! Our post on why tape in extensions slip explains what’s going on.

Common Tape-In Aftercare Mistakes

As we were founded in 2007, our 19 years of experience has meant we’ve seen the same few slip-ups again and again.

Washing too often

Daily washing is the biggest reason tapes loosen early. Stick to about twice a week.

Putting product on the tapes

Conditioner, oils and serums at the roots will make tapes slippery fast. Keep them to the mid-lengths and ends, as covered above.

Going to bed with damp roots

Damp tapes and a pillow are a recipe for slipping and matting overnight. Dry your roots fully, every single time – we get it, we’re all in a rush sometimes, but this is a step worth taking note of.

Picking at tapes or skipping refits

Never move, push up or re-stick a tape yourself, even if one feels a little loose, and don’t stretch your refits past 8 weeks. For more, see our 7 common tape-in hair extension mistakes.

Conclusion

Looking after tape-ins really is easy once you know the rules. Keep water, oil, heat and pulling away from your tapes, and they’ll keep looking fresh right up to your next refit.