The Best Shampoo for Hair Extensions Based on Type & Style

On the hunt for the best shampoo for hair extensions to cleanse your freshly fitted wefts? We’ve rounded up the best types of products to use (and those to avoid) to ensure your extensions stay looking their best for longer.

We've seen girls use the wrong techniques and products time and time again, and their extensions have really suffered the consequences.

Take this as your sign not to be one of those unlucky girls, and make sure your hair extensions last a gorgeously long time.

You don't wanna fry your hair extensions; that would be devastating. So sit back, relax, and take some notes before your next shampoo.

Before we get into the guide, below are some of our hair extension care products that you need in your basket immediately. Shop today and get 10% off *!

So, what types of shampoo should you be using on your extensions? Here’s what we recommend…

When it comes to shampoo, sulphates are the enemy. The harsh chemical can strip away natural oils, cause irritation, and dry out hair.

That's why sulphate-free shampoo for hair extensions is becoming more and more popular.

It's gentle and hydrating, making it perfect for sensitive scalps, conditions like dandruff, and hair extensions.

Sulphate-free is the best thing for your natural hair and hair extensions —that's like hair care 101.

Specially formulated to protect colour from fading, colour-protecting shampoo will block UV rays, chlorine, and other elements from fading your beloved coloured locks.

Hair extensions, especially human ones, are susceptible to colour fade since they're made out of real hair, so using a colour-protecting shampoo will keep your hair vibrant, healthy, and full of life.

No one wants frizzy extensions, so the best thing you can do is use a frizz-reducing shampoo to help control the birds' nest.

A frizz-reducing shampoo will make your hair more manageable and restore its shine and smoothness.

This means heat and humidity (not so much heat in the UK, but omg, the humidity? We can't cope) will have less of an effect on your hair extensions, which is a win in our books.

If you have chosen extensions with a curl or wave pattern (and you have naturally curly hair, too), a shampoo specially formulated with curly hair in mind will be a saving grace.

A curly shampoo, usually containing ingredients like glycerin and jojoba oil , will help moisturise your hair, prevent frizz, and define your curls once more.

As a result, your hair extensions will have fewer tangles, be more manageable, and have an extended lifespan. Stunning.

You obviously need to condition your extensions after a thorough wash, but again, you should avoid all the ingredients we listed above. They're total no-nos.

You also shouldn't use a 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner. You might have heard this before, but seriously, stay away.

Instead, try using a shampoo and conditioner that are from the same brand and range—just not the same bottle.

The actual sort of hair extensions you have (tape-in, sewn-in, micro-ring…) can also affect which shampoo products you can use on your hair.

For example, some shampoo can break down the glue used for tapes, so you obviously want to steer clear of those.

So, with that in mind, below is a breakdown of the types of shampoo you should use to keep your extensions happy.

Choosing a shampoo for human clip-ins is a little easier than the semi-permanent or permanent methods, as you can easily avoid getting product on the wefts.

However, you still have to think about what’s coming into contact with the hair, which means avoiding those nasty silicones, sulphates, and alcohol.

A nourishing shampoo is best to look for here , as some clip-in extensions can be a tad more prone to tangling and dryness due to the constant removal and reapplication.

You may also want to go for a colour-protectant shampoo if your extensions are dyed as well. Similarly, colour balancing shampoos (anti-yellow, for example) can help eliminate any fading or changing of colour over time.

Ingredients like argan oil will help with hydration and smoothing any frizz.

You need to take a lot of care when choosing the shampoo for your tape-in extensions because different ingredients, like sulphates, can weaken the bonds used to install them.

We recommend using a sulphate-free, lightweight, and silicone-free shampoo. Shampoo that contains silicone can leave a residue on the tapes, making them super hard to clean.

Basically, these two ingredients are likely to cause your beloved extensions to fall out. It would be a tragedy.

Our recommended ingredients to look for in shampoos that are actually good for your tape-ins are cocamidopropyl betaine (derived from coconuts and known for being mild in personal care products), hydrating ingredients like argan oil, aloe vera, or keratin.

Sewn-in extensions don't have adhesives, but product build-up and dirt can still get trapped at the roots, so a deep clean with a safe shampoo is necessary.

Of course, you need to avoid the three main nasties (sulphate, silicone, and alcohol) at all times because of the damage they can do.

We recommend using a moisturising, clarifying shampoo to really get the most out of your extensions.

Ingredients like coconut, argan, or castor oil are amazing at moisturising, and tea tree or peppermint oil are the best at helping with scalp build-up.

Again, micro-ring extensions don't use glue, but shampoos with heavy oils or silicones can coat the beads and cause slippage.

You need a lightweight, non-greasy shampoo for these bad boys.

You know what you need to avoid by now, but the ingredients you should aim to have in your micro-ring shampoo are hydrating agents like aloe vera or panthenol . You should also look for pH-balanced formulas to keep your scalp nice and healthy.

You should now be a master in the art of hair-washing your extensions, and we hope you take this advice on board. We'd hate to see you shorten the life of your beaut extensions just because you didn't use the right shampoo.

But, girlies, if you're anything like us, you'd never do anything to risk damaging your extensions. They're too precious.

If you want to shop the products you've seen in this article, you can have a lil look below.