f you are a hair extension lover, or maybe you are thinking about finally getting your first tape-in extensions, then you must be aware that, just like your own mane, hair extensions need lots of care and attention. A good place to start is always with a great shampoo for hair extensions.
As we were saying, hair extensions need the right products and proper maintenance; and some would agree that extensions need even more caring than your own hair. Why? Well, the reason is simple; while your hair receives nutrients from being attached to your head, hair extensions do not, and this is why external care is key.
Therefore, if you wish your extensions to look healthy, feel soft, and stay shiny and fabulous for as long as possible, finding an extensions shampoo is a much-needed and smart investment. While it is true that hair extensions have already cost you your hard-earned money, aftercare is absolutely necessary.
If you are new to the whole topic and have no idea where or what to look for in hair extension best shampoo, we are here to help. While it can be overwhelming trying to choose among a sea of options, you don’t have to, as we’ve rounded up the top five best options for shampoo for hair extensions below; these choices are also great for shampoos for smelly hair.
Shampoo For Hair Extensions Reviewed In This Guide
Best Overall: SheaMoisture Residue Remover Shampoo
⇣ Jump to ReviewBest on Amazon: Color Wow Color Security Shampoo
⇣ Jump to ReviewBest Affordable: OGX Nourishing + Coconut Milk Moisturizing Shampoo
⇣ Jump to ReviewBest for Oily Hair: OUAI Detox Shampoo
⇣ Jump to ReviewBest for Colored Hair: SALT SULFATE FREE SHAMPOO
⇣ Jump to ReviewHow To Choose The Perfect Shampoo For Hair Extensions For You?
The shampoo for a hair extension you will ultimately choose largely depends on a specific hair texture. You really want to go from there to make the better choice.
How about we tell you what not to use instead? If you are searching for the best shampoo for hair extensions, you must clearly read the label and see what exactly is in your potential choice.
You ultimately want to avoid formulas containing sulfates, parabens, silicone, or other harsh chemicals damaging your hair extensions. Hence, you must avoid these ingredients in your shampoos to maintain the smooth texture of the extensions.
Top 5 Best Shampoo For Hair Extensions
SheaMoisture Residue Remover Shampoo For Hair Extensions
What We Like
- Tea Tree & Borage Seed
- Sulfate-Free Clarifying Shampoo
What We Don’t Like
- Strong Scent
SheaMoisture Tea Tree and borage Seed oil residue remover shampoo is deep cleansing shampoo, purifying shampoo, and nourishing shampoo for synthetic and natural hair.
This gentle yet effective hydrating shampoo, Sulfate free clarifying shampoo, and anti-residue shampoo get rid of excess buildup from our bonding glue after removing your wig or Weave.
Infused with tea Tree oil, borage seed oil, and Aloe Vera, this women’s shampoo, detox shampoo, and tea tree oil quickly lift away leftover residue without stripping hair’s natural hair moisture.
Tips
Apply shampoo to wet hair and along the hairline, targeting the remaining adhesive residue. Use fingertips to massage Sulfate free shampoo until hair is clean.
Color Wow Color Security Shampoo For Hair Extensions
What We Like
- 100% Clean
- Sulfate-free
- Silicone-free
- Leaves no residues behind
What We Don’t Like
- Pricey
- Tube
A unique, 100% clean, no-residue shampoo for hair extensions that leaves nothing behind to dull hair, weigh it down, block follicles, impede hair growth, or cause unhealthy scalp conditions.
Optimally clean, build-up-free results for freshest, brightest color, and healthiest hair and scalp. Every ingredient in this shampoo rinses completely off. It contains one of the additional because it only cleans the hair and scalp for optimum results.
Apply a coin-sized amount to wet hair and massage it into a lather. Rinse, repeat, follow with color security conditioner, and style as usual.
What Our Testers Say
I started using this product out of pure curiosity. I lost over half my hair and was almost ready to shave it off. Let me say it literally changed my hair after one washing. I have oily hair, and it’s never felt and looked cleaner, and my hair stopped falling out. I HIGHLY recommend this.
OGX Nourishing + Coconut Milk Moisturizing Shampoo For Hair Extensions
What We Like
- Coconut Oil
- Paraben-Free
- Sulfate-Free
What We Don’t Like
- Artificial Smell
This exclusive blend with coconut milk, egg white proteins, and coconut oils helps bring out your hair’s natural strength, elasticity, hydration, and balance-all with a shine inspired by the tropics.
The deeply nourishing blend contains coconut oil, which helps add lustrous shine and softness to hair, coconut milk to keep hair strong and smooth, and whipped egg white protein for smooth and healthy-looking hair.
It is suitable for all hair types and textures; this creamy, nourishing shampoo leaves hair with super shine and added moisture that won’t weigh down your tresses.
Tips
Apply Organix Shampoo generously to wet hair, massage into a lather through to ends, then rinse the hair thoroughly. After shampooing, follows with Organix Conditioner. For best results, use in conjunction with other Organix products.
OUAI Detox Shampoo For Hair Extensions
What We Like
- Clarifying Cleanse
- Sulfate-Free
- Paraben-Free
What We Don’t Like
- Expensive
Get rid of product and hard water buildup, dirt, and oil with this 1-2x a week clarifying treatment. Here’s to a fresh start.
This concentrated shampoo with apple cider vinegar gets you back on good terms with overworked tresses. Wet hair, lather up, and rinse clean. Follow up with any OUAI conditioner to soften your squeaky clean strands.
Use Detox shampoo whenever a deeper cleanse is needed. Thoroughly wet hair from roots to ends with lukewarm water. Squeeze out excess moisture, and lather a quarter size amount in your hands.
What Our Testers Say
I have very long and thick hair as well as hand-tied extensions. It takes so long to wash and dry my hair every time I put it off for as long as possible. That means that I use a lot of dry shampoo in the interim and also have hair spray and oil build-up. This detox shampoo cuts through all of that and leaves my hair light and clean with one lather.
SALT SULFATE FREE SHAMPOO For Hair Extensions
What We Like
- Color Treated Hair
- Paraben-Free
- Sulfate-Free
What We Don’t Like
- Pricey
YK1 No Salt or Sulfate, paraben-free shampoo was created to be very gentle but thorough cleansing on all hair types.
It contains Oil of Coconut to withhold moisture and deep condition to give super soft, shiny hair. It provides great results, making you say WOW from your first use. Sulfate-free shampoos reduce the chances of developing irritation and causing an itchy scalp.
Regular shampoos and conditioners are far too harsh, leaving your extensions very dry, itchy, dull, and faded. However, this shampoo protects your adhesive bonds and prevents them from perishing, becoming loose, and falling out.
What Our Testers Say
All the other sulfate-free shampoos didn’t clean my normal/oily scalp well enough. In addition to being sulfate and salt-free, this shampoo lathers beautifully and cleanses thoroughly.
Steps To Use Shampoo For Hair Extensions
Step 1: Detangle your hair
Detangle your locks and keep them free of any knots. When your extensions are detangled before a wash, it avoids unnecessary breakage and damage.
Step 2: Wet your hair
Wash your extensions with a shampoo that focuses more on cleansing the hair gently rather than one that focuses on cleaning the scalp.
Step 3: Apply shampoo
Spread the shampoo through the length of your synthetic hair and massage gently. This will help remove dirt, buildup, and excess oil to bring a fresh and shiny look to your extensions.
Step 4: Deep condition
Deep condition or use a hydrating product to make detangling easier.
Step 5: Allow hair to dry
Let your hair dry out on its own. Do not comb your hair while it is wet. Also, avoid using a blow dryer as it may make your extensions dull and rough.
Shampoo For Hair Extensions Buying Guide
What is a shampoo for hair extensions?
Shampoo for hair extensions is exactly that; it turns out hair extensions also need proper care, including proper hygiene, to ensure it stays healthy, soft, and frizz-free.
That brings us to shampoo for hair extensions, which does what your regular shampoo does; however, it contains the right ingredients to avoid messing with your hair extensions.
You’ll find that these shampoos have been expertly formulated to maintain healthy hair extensions while keeping your natural hair and extensions clean and nourished.
How does shampoo for hair extensions work?
Essential ingredients in our shampoos work to remove any impurities and build-up, leaving hair feeling hydrated and revitalized.
Using the best shampoo for hair extensions will do wonders for your hair, and you will avoid having to worry about several different situations, such as product and dirt build-up and bad smell coming out of your extensions.
Shampoo for hair extensions will also ensure your extensions don’t suffer from damage caused by constant styling, coloring, and heat tools.
Features To Look For In Shampoo For Hair Extensions
Ingredients
Keep an eye on shampoos containing natural ingredients to help retain moisture and hydrate your scalp hair and scalp. A gentle cleanser that removes grease without stripping the natural oils and the original texture of the extensions would work best.
Hair Type
Understanding your hair type to make the right choice while choosing a shampoo for your extensions is crucial. A shampoo will show the best results only if it is suitable for your hair type and needs.
Shampoos for hair extensions are designed specifically for strands made from natural human hair or synthetic strands. So, choose a shampoo with gentle ingredients based on the kind of extensions you wear.
Extensions Type
It is important to understand the kind of shampoo that would suit the type of extensions you use. Some extensions are held with the help of glue; therefore, you must ensure that the shampoo ingredients do not interfere with the formula of the glue.
If your extensions are braided or clipped, choose shampoos that help detangle the hair and protect it from damage.
Common Questions About Shampoo For Hair Extensions
Can you use regular shampoo on extensions?
It’s absolutely critical you use the right shampoo and conditioner. The best shampoos for hair extensions are sulfate-free and gentle.
Remember to avoid shampoos with heavy protein, silicone, or shampoos designed for damaged hair. These are too heavy and can cause oil build-up on your beads.
How often should hair extensions be washed?
This depends entirely on the texture of the hair. If you have curly hair extensions, you can limit the washing to 1-3 times a week. For African American hair, this number would be less as this hair type doesn’t need washing.
And for straight hair, you might have to wash hair extensions more often (about 3-5 times a week) as it’s more prone to greasiness.
What shampoos are not to use on extensions?
The biggest mistake you could make is to think that it is ok to use a sulfate-based shampoo on extensions; sulfates can dry out hair extensions just as they can dry out natural hair. Therefore, never use a sulfate-based shampoo on extensions.
Why do you need shampoo for extensions?
- If you want to maintain your extensions and the rest of your hair, for that matter, soft and silky, you’ll want one of these.
- It is absolutely key to take proper care of hair extensions to make them look healthy and more manageable. Being negligent about your hair care routine or not using suitable aftercare products will probably cost you to lose your extensions quickly.
- In addition to the best shampoo for extensions, you must also avoid using heat-styling tools to maintain your hair extensions’ soft and silky texture.
- Learn the right way to brush your locks gently, and oil your hair regularly. Also, avoid coloring or bleaching your hair.
Is it OK to use dry shampoo with extensions?
Experts say you shouldn’t. It is best to limit using dry shampoos with extensions as it may result in rough and lifeless hair.
How To Apply Shampoo For Hair Extensions Video Tutorial
The video below will instruct you on everything you need, plus the steps you must take to wash your extensions using shampoo for hair extensions successfully.
Products Mentioned In This Article
- SheaMoisture Residue Remover Shampoo
- Color Wow Color Security Shampoo
- OGX Nourishing + Coconut Milk Moisturizing Shampoo
- OUAI Detox Shampoo
- SALT SULFATE FREE SHAMPOO
Enjoy Your New Shampoo For Hair Extensions
Now that you’ve learned about our top picks for shampoo for hair extensions, you can make an informed decision and see what’s best for your specific hair needs.
Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or comments. We are always happy to hear from you.
Disclosure: The Hair Products recommended in this article are our top favorites because they have a great combination of quality, features, and affordability. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases made through the links as a way to support this site. If you buy a qualifying product, you’re not charged anything extra, but I’ll get a small commission to help pay for my expenses. I hope you find our advice helpful and discover the Best Hair Products for your needs on this list.
