How To Wash Hair With Tape In Extensions (Best Techniques)

Tape in extensions are a quick and easy way to achieve long, beautiful hair. It is important to take proper care of your hair extensions to keep them looking soft and beautiful. If cared for correctly, tape in extensions can last up to two months!

Washing hair with tape in extensions is not as difficult as it seems. In this post, I’ve gathered the best technique on how to wash hair with tape in extensions. Below, I’ve also recommended the best shampoo and conditioner for tape in extensions.

Without further ado, here’s how to wash your hair with tape in extensions (and how to dry tape in extensions after washing)!

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Can I Wash My Hair With Tape In Extensions?

Can you wash your hair with tape in extensions? The quick answer: yes!

The longer answer: washing hair with tape in extensions does require a little extra care. For example, you’ll need to use right shampoo for tape in extensions and limit hair washes to two times a week. Below, I’ve gathered the best showering tips and techniques to keep your extensions looking their best!

If you’ve just applied tape in extensions, wait 48 hours before washing your hair. The tape adhesive needs time to properly adhere to your hair. Until then, make sure to wear a shower cap when showering.

Best Hair Products For Tape In Extensions

How To Wash Hair With Tape In Extensions

  1. Detangle your hair with an extension friendly brush before showering.
  2. Use a hair extension friendly shampoo.
  3. Moisturize your hair with a lightweight conditioner.
  4. Apply a heat protectant and blow dry your hair.
  5. Touch up oily hair with a dry shampoo in between washes.

1. Brush Your Hair

Before washing hair with tape in extensions, brush your hair. This will help reduce tangles. Make sure to use a gentle bristled brush that won’t pull on the tape adhesive.

I recommend selecting a brush designed specifically for extensions. For tape in extensions, I highly recommend using RemySoft’s Beauty & Opulence Boar Bristle Brush. This product is safe to use on extensions, weaves, and wigs.

Boar bristles gently detangle and condition hair, giving your locks a shiny, silky, and smooth look! This amazing brush glides through hair smoothly, and will not pull or catch onto extensions. For best results, I recommend brushing your hair two to three times a day to reduce tangles. Note: To prevent damage, you should NEVER brush wet extensions.

The Right Way To Brush Your Hair With Tape In Extensions

  1. Select an extension friendly hair brush. Make sure your hair is dry before brushing.
  2. Before showering, carefully brush your hair starting from the ends and work your way up to the roots. For best results, brush your hair two to three times a day.

Best Brush For Tape In Extensions

2. Use The Right Shampoo

When washing hair with tape in extensions, it’s important to select a shampoo that won’t damage the extension adhesive. Use a shampoo made for hair extensions and avoid over scrubbing. Try not to disturb the tape in extensions as much as possible and shampoo carefully.

For best results, I highly recommend using Matrix Total Results Length Goals Shampoo. This is the best shampoo for tape in extensions and is formulated specifically for hair extensions. The shampoo is sulfate free and won’t compromise the tape adhesive.

This product gently cleanses your hair, and leaves your extensions feeling super soft and silky. If you are looking for a shampoo that will help prolong the life of tape in extensions, I highly recommend this product! Here’s how to wash your hair with tape in extensions:

How To Wash Hair With Tape In Extensions

  1. Select a hair extension friendly shampoo. Wet hair before shampooing.
  2. Apply a generous amount of product on your hands and lather until foamy. Gently rub the shampoo onto the roots and work the product downwards. To prevent dry ends, avoid shampooing down to the tips.
  3. Rinse off your hair with water until clean.

Best Shampoo For Tape In Extensions

3. Use A Lightweight Conditioner

Now that you’ve learned how to wash hair with tape in extensions using shampoo, the next step is conditioner. A good conditioner will keep your extensions looking soft and silky! For best results, select an ultra light leave-in conditioner and apply it only below your hair extensions.

For tape in extensions, I highly recommend using this Grow Long Biotin Leave-In Conditioner Spray from Marc Anthony. This product is sulfate and paraben free, inexpensive, and super gentle on hair. This is an excellent leave-in conditioner to soften and detangle your hair extensions after shampooing.

Besides moisturizing your hair, this conditioner is formulated to reduce hair breakage and split ends. It also helps promotes longer, stronger and healthier looking hair, so you won’t need extensions! After washing hair with tape in extensions, make sure to always hydrate the ends with a quality conditioner!

How To Apply Conditioner To Your Hair With Tape In Extensions

  1. Select a lightweight leave-in conditioner spray. Shampoo and rinse your hair.
  2. Spray the conditioner onto wet hair. Only apply the conditioner from the mid-shaft down.

Best Conditioner For Tape In Extensions

4. Apply A Heat Protectant + Blow Dry

Not sure how to dry tape in extensions after washing? After washing hair with tape in extensions, it’s important to immediately dry damp hair. You don’t want the water to slowly loosen the extension adhesive.

For this reason, blow drying is the best method to quickly re-dry the tape glue. Before blow drying, use a heat protectant to protect your hair and extensions. Blow dry your hair in sections and use an extension friendly brush to detangle your hair. Make sure your hair is completely dry before brushing.

Amika’s Blockade Heat Defense Serum is an excellent lightweight heat protectant for your tape in extensions. This product makes hair super soft and shiny, and prevents moisture loss without weighting hair down. It also won’t make your hair greasy and a little serum goes a long way!

How To Dry Tape In Extensions After Washing

  1. Before blow drying, apply 1 to 3 pumps of heat protectant serum throughout damp hair.
  2. Blow dry and brush hair in sections. Make sure your hair is completely dry before brushing.

Best Heat Protectant For Tape In Extensions

5. Use A Dry Shampoo Between Washes

Frequently washing hair with tape in extensions can damage the adhesive. To make your extensions last longer, limit hair washes to twice a week. Use a dry shampoo to touch up greasy hair between washes.

Select a gentle dry hair shampoo like this Dry Shampoo Volume Powder from Hair Dance. A little powder goes a long way and a single bottle lasts for months! This dry shampoo is all natural, is suitable all hair colors, and adds instant volume.

It’s a great product to touch up your hair between washes! For best results, apply the powdered hair shampoo before going to bed. You’ll wake up with gorgeous hair!

How To “Wash” Your Hair With Tape In Extensions Using Dry Hair Shampoo

  1. Apply a small amount of powdered shampoo directly onto the roots of your hair. Use your fingertips to help gently disperse the powder.
  2. Leave the powder in your hair overnight. The next morning, use an extension friendly brush to brush out any excess powder.

Best Dry Shampoo For Tape In Extensions

Summarized: How To Wash Hair With Tape In Extensions

In this post, I’ve gathered the best technique on how to wash hair with tape in extensions. Here’s all the recommended hair products in one convenient list:

Conclusion

Tape in extensions are a quick and easy way to add length and volume to your hair. Like with any other kind of extension, it’s important to take proper care of them. To keep your tape in extensions looking their best, make sure to follow the hair washing techniques recommended above.

In this post, I’ve gathered the best method on how to wash hair with tape in extensions. I’ve recommended the best shampoo and conditioner for tape in extensions, and technique on how to dry tape in extensions after washing.

Washing your hair with tape in extensions is not as difficult as it seems. The key is to know how to do it properly and what products to use. In fact, this method might not be too different than your normal hair care routine!

I hope this post gave you some helpful tips on how to wash your hair with tape in extensions. Good luck!