How to Wash Hair Extensions: Clip-Ins, Sew-Ins & Wigs

Your extensions are an investment — and like your own hair, they need washing to stay soft, shiny, and tangle-free. The trick is doing it gently, and a little less often than you’d think. Here’s exactly how to wash every type.

5 golden rules (for any extension)

• Sulfate-free, always — sulfates strip moisture and dull the hair.
• Lukewarm water — hot damages, cold won’t clean.
• Don’t over-wash — every 8–12 wears (or weekly for daily/sew-in wear).
• Condition mid-to-ends — never at the roots, wefts, or bonds.
• Air-dry when you can — and always detangle gently, ends first.

Clip-ins & loose wefts

1. Detangle gently before washing.
2. Fill a sink or bowl with lukewarm water and swish the hair through (keep the clips dry).
3. Work a sulfate-free shampoo through with your fingers; rinse.
4. Apply conditioner mid-to-ends, leave 2 minutes, rinse.
5. Lay flat or hang to air-dry; brush once dry.

Sew-ins (weaves)

1. Brush through to remove tangles.
2. Wet, then shampoo — gently massage your scalp and braids too; rinse and repeat 2–3 times.
3. Condition, leave 10 minutes, rinse.
4. Brush gently; air-dry or cool-blow the roots so they don’t stay damp.

Wigs

1. Finger-detangle first.
2. Submerge in cool water; apply shampoo to the hair, not the cap.
3. Rinse, condition (avoid the cap), rinse.
4. Press out water in a towel (don’t wring); air-dry on a stand; style when dry.

Texture tweaks

• Curly & coily: co-wash, add extra leave-in, and detangle wet only. (Full guide: curly maintenance.)
• Blonde & grey: purple or sulfate-free shampoo + a weekly deep conditioner to keep the tone bright.

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References & further reading

• How to make curly extensions last
• Raw vs. processed hair guide