US
CAD
AU
GBP
Good-quality human hair extensions last up to 12 months for regular wear and up to 2+ years for occasional wear. Two things decide whether yours get there: the quality of the hair itself and a handful of everyday habits. If your hair extensions start to feel dry or tangled after a few months, one of those two things is usually behind it, and your habits are the part you can start improving today.
Why do some hair extensions only last a few months?
Most of the time, the reason comes down to the cuticle, the thin outer layer of each strand of hair.
In good-quality human hair extensions, the cuticle is left intact and aligned from root to tip, so the strands slide past each other instead of catching. When the cuticle has been stripped away, or the strands are mixed in different directions, the hair can knot against itself. Some lower-cost hair extensions are coated with silicone to add temporary shine and mask poor quality. Once that silicone coating washes away after a few shampoos, the hair can start to tangle. That's usually why a set that felt lovely in month one feels very different by month three.
The other half of the story is how the hair is cared for. Hair extensions don't get natural oils from your scalp, so keeping them hydrated is essential. A few small habits, repeated every day, keep that moisture in and help your set last.
Choose the best extensions for your lifestyle with Bombay Hair
What makes hair extensions last longer?
The first step is choosing hair that's made to last. Bombay Hair clip-in hair extensions are 100% cuticle Remy human hair, double-drawn so the hair is thick from root to tip. Full, even ends wear better and keep blending for longer, because the ends are where hair shows its age first.
Our semi-permanent tape-in, K-tip, I-tip and weft hair extensions are crafted with 100% Remy human hair sourced from donor hair with the cuticle intact and aligned, with no silicone coating and no harsh chemicals. There's no coating to wash away, so what you feel on day one is the hair itself.
Which everyday habits make the biggest difference to how long hair extensions last?
Each of these habits has an easy fix, and small changes, repeated every day, make a real difference to how long your set lasts.
| The habit | How it affects the hair | The easy fix |
|---|---|---|
| Brushing from the roots down | Can turn small tangles into knots and weaken the ends | Brush from the ends up with a loop brush or wide-tooth comb, holding the hair just above each tangle |
| Washing after every wear | Can dry the hair out faster than wearing it does | Wash clip-in hair extensions every 15 to 20 wears, and between washes use a little dry shampoo at your natural roots |
| Using high heat with no heat protectant | Can dry out the ends, which don't get natural oils from your scalp | Switch to styling tools with adjustable heat, use the lowest heat setting and apply heat protectant every time |
| Sleeping in clip-in or halo hair extensions | Can tangle the hair at the nape and put strain on the pieces | Always remove clip-in and halo hair extensions before bed. If you wear tape-in hair extensions, sleep with your hair in a loose braid on a silk or satin pillowcase |
| Swimming or working out with your hair loose | Chlorine, salt and sweat can dry the hair and tangle the ends | Remove clip-in and halo hair extensions before you swim. Otherwise, braid your hair before a swim or workout, wet it with clean water before you swim, and rinse it soon after |
| Storing clip-in or halo hair extensions loose in a drawer or bag | The pieces can tangle with each other before the next wear | Detangle the pieces, let them dry completely, and store them flat or hanging in a hair extension storage carrier |
| Tying your hair with tight elastics | Can crease and snag the hair where the band sits | Use a silk scrunchie, which holds your hair gently and helps prevent creases and snags |
Brushing is the easiest habit to improve. Working from the ends up, a little at a time, is much kinder to the hair, and it soon becomes second nature. Our guide to brushing hair when it's wet explains why wet hair needs extra care. For nighttime care, our guides to sleeping with hair extensions and silk vs satin pillowcases explain how to protect your hair overnight. If you swim or work out often, see our guides to swimming with hair extensions and working out with hair extensions.
How often should you wash hair extensions?
Hair extensions need washing less often than your own hair. Clip-in and halo hair extensions only need a wash every 15 to 20 wears, or a little sooner if you use a lot of styling products. Between washes, a little dry shampoo at your natural roots keeps your hair fresh without water, and our guide to dry shampoo and between-wash care shows how to use it safely with hair extensions.
Whatever type you wear, wash your hair extensions with a sulfate-free, alcohol-free shampoo and conditioner, and keep conditioner and oils away from tapes, bonds and clips. Avoid wringing the hair out. Instead, gently squeeze out the water with a hair drying towel, which also reduces frizz and prevents damage. Hang clip-in and halo hair extensions on a hair extension holder to air-dry so they stay smooth and tangle-free. If you're short on time, let them air-dry until just damp, then blow-dry them on a low setting while they're still hanging. Our guide to washing and caring for hair extensions walks through the full routine, and our guide to what temperature to use on hair extensions covers heat styling afterward.
How should you store hair extensions between wears?
Store your hair extensions clean, dry and flat or hanging. Detangle the hair from the ends up, make sure every piece is completely dry, then hang the pieces in our hair extension storage carrier and hanger, in the order you wear them, so they're ready for next time. Storing them this way keeps the hair smooth and saves you extra brushing every time you wear them.
When you're traveling, keep your hair extensions in a hair extension storage carrier rather than loose in a bag. Our guide to traveling with hair extensions has more packing tips.
Choose the best extensions for your lifestyle with Bombay Hair
Can you bring dry, tangled hair extensions back to life?
In many cases you can bring dry, tangled hair extensions back to life, especially if the hair was good quality to begin with.
- Work a little conditioner through the mid-lengths and ends, then detangle slowly from the ends up with a wide-tooth comb, holding the hair just above each knot. Once the knots are out, a loop brush gently smooths the hair through.
- Wash gently with a sulfate-free, alcohol-free shampoo, then apply conditioner to the mid-lengths and ends and leave it on for a few minutes before rinsing with cool water.
- Gently squeeze out the water with a hair drying towel, hang the pieces on a hair extension holder, and let them air-dry completely.
- Style on the lowest heat setting that works, always with heat protectant, and go easy on heat for the next few wears.
- If the very ends are split, a light trim tidies them up and helps the whole set look fuller again.
When is it time to replace your hair extensions?
It's time for a new set of hair extensions when the hair no longer responds to care. If the ends still feel dry after conditioning, the hair tangles again soon after detangling, or the set no longer blends the way it used to, it's ready to be replaced.
With tape-in hair extensions, slipping tapes or extra pull as your hair grows usually means it's time for a move-up rather than new hair. Your stylist can remove them with a proper Tape Bond Remover and reapply them with fresh reinstallation tape, so you can keep wearing the same hair. Our guide to how long hair extensions last covers each type of hair extension.
As a woman-owned brand trusted by 500,000+ customers worldwide since 2013, we want you to get the most out of every set. Looked after this way, good-quality human hair extensions last up to 12 months for regular wear and up to 2+ years for occasional wear.
Good hair days ahead.
Frequently asked questions
How long do human hair extensions last?
Good-quality human hair extensions last up to 12 months for regular wear and up to 2+ years for occasional wear. How close you get to that depends on the quality of the hair and on how it's washed, styled and stored.
Why do my hair extensions tangle at the back of my neck?
Hair extensions tangle at the back of the neck because the hair there rubs against collars, scarves and your pillow more than anywhere else, and it picks up sweat. Brush that area gently from the ends up every day, wear your hair in a loose braid when you're active, and always remove clip-in hair extensions before bed.
Do hair extensions last longer if you wear them less often?
Yes, hair extensions last longer when you wear them less often. Fewer wears mean fewer washes, less heat and less brushing, which is why, with occasional wear, your hair extensions can last up to 2+ years.
Can you use regular shampoo on hair extensions?
It's best to avoid regular shampoo on hair extensions and use a sulfate-free, alcohol-free shampoo and conditioner instead. These gentler products help the hair keep its moisture, which matters because hair extensions don't get natural oils from your scalp the way your own hair does.
Can you reuse tape-in hair extensions?
Yes, Bombay Hair tape-in hair extensions can be reused up to four times. At each move-up, your stylist removes them with a proper Tape Bond Remover and reapplies them with fresh reinstallation tape, so one set of hair can see you through several installs.
xo, Team Bombay
