Prepare for Your Best Install | SimplyHairCo Hair Extension Care
The SimplyHairCo Edit
Prepare for Your
Best Install
Beautiful installs begin before installation day. Learn how to prepare your hair, communicate with your stylist, and protect your investment from day one.
The preparation you do before you sit in the chair makes all the difference. Healthy habits before, during, and after installation help your extensions look better, feel better, and last longer. This guide walks you through every stage—so your stylist can focus entirely on creating the result you've been imagining.
The quality of your install is shaped long before your appointment begins.
Section One
Before Installation
Arriving prepared is the single most impactful thing you can do for the longevity of your extensions. Your stylist works with what you bring them—clean, product-free hair creates a cleaner bond, a more seamless blend, and a result that holds beautifully.
Wash your hair the day before your appointment using a clarifying or sulfate-free shampoo—nothing heavy, nothing with silicone. Clean hair gives your stylist a neutral canvas and ensures any adhesive or attachment method bonds properly without interference from residue.
If you're transitioning from previous extensions, your removal appointment should happen at a separate visit, giving your natural hair time to breathe before the new installation. Any leftover residue—keratin, adhesive, weft glue— should be professionally removed before you arrive.
Come with clarity on your vision. Bring reference photos that reflect your desired length, volume, and texture. The more specific you are, the more confidently your stylist can match color, select gram weight, and advise on the right method for your lifestyle.
Before You Arrive — Checklist
- Wash hair with a clarifying or sulfate-free shampoo the day before
- Avoid heavy oils, dry shampoo, and silicone-based products for 48 hours prior
- Remove all previous extension residue at a dedicated removal appointment
- Save reference photos for length, volume, texture, and color inspiration
- Message your stylist in advance to discuss color matching and desired fullness
- Confirm your maintenance schedule so your stylist can plan row placement
- Arrive with dry, detangled, product-free hair—no dry shampoo
Section Two
Questions to Ask Your Stylist
A great consultation is a two-way conversation. These questions will help you understand your options, set realistic expectations, and build a long-term relationship with your stylist—one built on clarity rather than guesswork.
Consultation Questions
- 01 Which installation method is best for my hair type, texture, and lifestyle?
- 02 How often will I need maintenance appointments, and what does that involve?
- 03 How many grams do I need to achieve my desired volume and length?
- 04 What heat styling tools and temperatures are safe to use?
- 05 Which products should I absolutely avoid near the attachment points?
- 06 What brush type do you recommend, and what technique should I use?
- 07 How should I prepare my hair for sleep each night?
- 08 Are there any activities—swimming, saunas, exercise—I should approach differently?
Section Three
Installation Day
A few small preparations on the day itself can meaningfully improve your experience and your result. These details matter more than they seem.
Wear a Button-Up
Avoid pulling clothing over your head. A button-down or zip-up protects fresh attachments and keeps your new look intact.
Allow Extra Time
A thorough install is never rushed. Block more time than you think you'll need—especially for full installations or color work.
Bring Inspiration
Reference photos remove ambiguity. Bring multiple images showing the result you're after—length, volume, and finish.
Wait Before Washing
For most installation methods, avoid washing for the first 48–72 hours. Ask your stylist for the specific window that applies to your method.
Book Maintenance Before Leaving
Schedule your next appointment before you walk out. Good stylists book out quickly—securing your slot protects your investment.
Arrive Clean & Dry
Clean hair the night before. Arrive dry and product-free—no dry shampoo, no leave-in, no oils.
Section Four
Your First Week Matters Most
The first seven days set the tone for how your extensions settle, behave, and feel for the weeks ahead. Treat them with intention—and patience.
1
Day One — Installation Day
Let Them Settle
Your attachments are fresh and your scalp needs time to adjust. Avoid any unnecessary tension—no tight ponytails, no heat, no touching the attachment points. Sleep with your hair in a loose braid and on a silk or satin pillowcase. If any discomfort feels sharp or unusual, contact your stylist.
2
Day Two — First Brush
Begin Gentle Brushing
Start from the ends and work upward in small sections using a loop brush or extension-safe paddle brush. Hold the hair below each section to prevent tension at the root. Brush morning and night to prevent matting—especially at the nape and around the ears where tangles form fastest.
3
Day Three — First Wash
Wash With Care
If your stylist has cleared you to wash, do so now with a sulfate-free, paraben-free shampoo. Work shampoo gently through the lengths—never scrub the scalp aggressively near attachment points. Condition mid-shaft to ends only. Always brush before washing to remove any tangles first, and never sleep with wet extensions.
1
End of Week One
Establish Your Routine
By the end of your first week, you should have a clear sense of how your extensions move, how they feel, and what your daily routine looks like. Aim to wash 2–3 times weekly. Protect your hair each night. Keep heat tools on lower settings and away from attachment areas. If anything feels off— excessive shedding, slipping, or irritation—reach out to your stylist before your next scheduled maintenance visit.
From Our Hair Care Guide
The Habits That Make the Difference
We've distilled the most important principles from our Hair Care Guide into the categories that matter most. Each one is simple—together, they're transformative.
Brushing
Always brush before washing. Work from ends upward in small sections using a loop brush or extension-safe paddle brush. Never brush wet extensions aggressively.
Washing
Shampoo 2–3 times per week. Use only sulfate-free, paraben-free, and alcohol-free products. Avoid Moroccan oil and dry shampoo—both leave residue at the bonds.
Conditioning
Apply conditioner from mid-shaft to ends only. Keep it well away from attachment points—conditioner near bonds can cause slipping over time.
Sleeping
Never sleep with wet extensions. Braid longer hair loosely before bed. Sleep on a silk or satin pillowcase to minimize friction and reduce tangling overnight.
Heat Styling
Use lower heat settings than you typically would on natural hair. Keep heat tools at a distance from attachment areas, and always use a heat protectant on the lengths.
Swimming & Saunas
Braid or protect hair before entering the water. Rinse immediately after swimming. Avoid prolonged exposure to chlorine, salt water, or high heat in saunas and steam rooms.
For the complete guide, visit simplyhairco.com/pages/hair-care-guide
The One Product We Recommend
Keep Your Extensions Looking Salon Fresh
Bohyme Remi Revitalize — SimplyHairCo Hair Care
Premium extensions are an investment—one that rewards consistent, intentional care. Bohyme Remi Revitalize is the single product we return to again and again, because it does exactly what extension hair needs: deep hydration, softness you can feel, and a finish that looks freshly styled long after your salon visit.
Formulated with Marula and Argan oils alongside 12 strengthening amino acids and ProVitamin B5, this collection is designed specifically for the unique needs of Remy extension hair—hair that no longer receives natural oils from the scalp.
- Marula Oil — deep hydration, lightweight finish
- Argan Oil — smooths, adds luminous shine
- ProVitamin B5 — strengthens and softens
- 12 strengthening amino acids — frizz control and detangling
Common Questions
Everything You've Been Wondering
Aim to wash 2–3 times per week—no more frequently unless your lifestyle requires it. Over-washing strips moisture from extension hair, which doesn't replenish naturally the way your own hair does. When you do wash, use a sulfate-free shampoo and focus on the scalp and lengths rather than scrubbing near attachment points.
We advise against it. Dry shampoo leaves residue that builds up at the attachment points over time, which can weaken bonds and cause slipping. If you need volume or freshness between washes, reach for a lightweight extension-safe product or simply brush and restyle.
Yes, with preparation. Before swimming, braid or loosely plait your hair to minimize tangling. After swimming—especially in pools or the ocean—rinse thoroughly with fresh water as soon as possible. Chlorine and salt are drying and can deteriorate bonds over time, so minimizing prolonged exposure will protect your investment significantly.
Yes—Remy human hair extensions are fully heat-stylable. The key is temperature. Use a lower setting than you would on your natural hair, apply a heat protectant to the lengths, and keep tools away from the attachment points. Consistent, excessive heat dries extension hair faster than natural hair since it can't self-moisturize.
At minimum, morning and night—more if you're active or in humid conditions. Always use a loop brush or extension-safe paddle brush. Start at the ends and work upward in sections, holding the hair below each section to avoid pulling at the root. Brushing before washing is essential to prevent tangles from worsening in water.
Yes. Avoid shampoos containing sulfates, parabens, alcohol, and silicones—these ingredients either strip moisture from the hair or leave residue that builds up on the bonds. Moroccan oil–based products are also best avoided. A gentle, extension-safe formula like Bohyme Remi Revitalize is designed specifically to cleanse without compromising the hair's integrity or the attachment points.
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