Keep Your Hair Soft Without Making Your Extensions Slide. Hair extensions need extra moisture because they don’t get natural oils from your scalp. But for pre-bonded extensions, oil is a “bond-killer.” If it touches the keratin glue, your extensions will slide right out. Here is the simple way to nourish your hair while keeping your bonds strong and secure.
Keep a 2-Inch Gap from the Roots
Why the “No-Go Zone” is Essential
Keratin bonds are slightly porous. When oil or heavy conditioner touches them, it acts like a lubricant. It seeps into the bond, softens the glue, and causes the extension to slide down your natural hair. This “No-Go Zone” near your scalp is the most important rule for long-lasting extensions.
How to Measure the Safe Zone
A good rule of thumb is the “Three-Finger Rule.” Place three fingers horizontally against your scalp. Only apply oils or masks to the hair below your fingers. This ensures that even if the product spreads slightly, it won’t reach the sensitive bond area.
Apply Product to the Ends Only
The “Ponytail Grip” Technique
To avoid accidental contact with your bonds, gather your hair as if you are making a low ponytail. Hold the “ponytail” firmly with one hand just below the bonds. Use your other hand to apply the oil or mask. Your hand acts as a physical barrier that stops the product from traveling up to the roots.
Using a Wide-Tooth Comb for Spreading
After applying the mask to the ends, use a wide-tooth comb to gently brush the product through the bottom half of your hair. This ensures every strand is coated evenly without you having to massage the product in with your fingers, which often leads to messy, oily roots.
Avoid These “Bond-Killing” Ingredients
The Danger of Drying Alcohols
Check the labels of your hair products. Avoid ingredients like Ethanol, Isopropyl Alcohol, or Propanol. These are “drying alcohols” that can make your keratin bonds brittle. Over time, the bonds will crack and crumble, causing the hair to shed from the extension.
Why Slippery Silicones Cause Slippage
While silicones make hair look shiny, heavy silicones (like Dimethicone) are very slippery. If these ingredients sit near your bonds, they create a slick surface that makes it almost impossible for the bond to stay attached to your natural hair. Always choose “extension-friendly” products.
Always Rinse Standing Up
The Problem with Washing Upside Down
Many people like to rinse their hair over a sink or bathtub, but this is a mistake. When you are upside down, the gravity pulls the oily, soapy water directly over your bonds. This coats the glue in residue that is very hard to rinse away.
Choosing the Right Water Temperature
Always rinse in the shower with your head upright. Use lukewarm water. Water that is too hot can soften the keratin bonds, especially if they have already been in contact with oils or conditioners. A cool rinse at the end is great for sealing the hair cuticle and adding shine.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Why You Should Never Sleep with a Mask
It might be tempting to leave a hair mask on overnight, but for pre-bonded extensions, this is a disaster. The constant moisture and oil will sit on the bonds for 8 hours, turning the keratin “mushy.” This permanently weakens the bond.
Dry Your Bonds Before Oiling Your Ends
Water weakens the bond’s grip. Always blow-dry your roots and bonds 100% dry before you apply any styling oil to the ends. If you apply oil to damp hair, it can trap moisture inside the bond, leading to a breakdown of the glue.
FAQ: What to Do if Oil Hits Your Bonds?
Quick Fix: The Blotting Method
If you accidentally get oil on a bond, don’t panic. Immediately take a dry paper towel or cloth and blot (press) the area to soak up as much oil as possible. Do not rub, as this will push the oil deeper into the keratin.
When to Use Dry Shampoo as a Rescue
After blotting, spray a little bit of dry shampoo directly onto the affected bond. The powder will help absorb any remaining oil residue. At your next wash, make sure to use a sulfate-free clarifying shampoo on that specific area to ensure it’s clean.
CONTACT US
Written by Skyee, Senior Stylist at Full Shine Hair with 10+ years of extension experience. With over 12 years of hands-on experience in the professional hair industry, Lily specializes in the application and maintenance of seamless hair systems. As a lead educator at Full Shine, she bridges the gap between salon-grade expertise and at-home care. Her “Support & Stroke” method has helped thousands of clients extend the lifespan of their ultra-thin PU wefts.
About Full Shine
At Full Shine, our content is crafted and reviewed by hair extension professionals. We combine decades of salon experience with rigorous product testing to provide you with safe, effective maintenance strategies for your Butterfly Wefts.
