Frame & Thread Hair Extensions Care Guide
Even if you've had other types of extensions before, your first time with hand-tied is always exciting. They blend better and give you length and thickness that's so hard to achieve with other types.
With proper care, hand-tied & micro weft extensions last longer than many other types of extensions.
Start With Great Hair
Your stylist made a choice to use Frame & Thread extensions and that says a lot about the work that they do.
There are dozens of brands out there. What sets us apart is the quality of our hair.
Frame & Thread provides only the best Slavic remy hair with the cuticle intact for longer life and minimal tangling.
All of our hair is silicone-free.
We process our hair to minimize color fade and our wefts provide maximum thickness and density.
Premium quality hair can last 8 to 12 months if you take care of it properly. Keep in mind that darker colors last longer than blonde wefts and single-color wefts are easier to tone and refresh during future salon visits.
Daily
Brushing
You'll want to brush 3 to 4 times per day to prevent tangles.
We recommend a Wet Brush. Not a brush that's wet, "Wet Brush" is a brand. If your salon sells them, it's great to support a local business and buy from them. If not, they are pretty easy to find online. Buy a couple! They will be your best friends.
With your Wet Brush in one hand, hold the track (the point where your extensions are sewn into your natural hair) firmly with your other hand. Brush from mid-shaft to ends and be gentle.
If you have multiple rows of hair, remember to brush the natural hair between the rows. That hair can be easily missed and end up tangled.
Brush until your hair is tangle-free.
Daily Oil is Essential to Prevents Dry Ends
As your natural hair grows, the ends get trimmed. This helps remove damage and keeps the ends fresh. Extensions don't grow so the same ends have to last for months! It takes extra care to keep them strong, hydrated, and healthy.
Your pores emit oil that hydrates your natural hair through the shaft. Since hair extensions don’t grow from your pores, they don’t get the benefit of these oils.
That’s okay, we'll make up for it with a light daily oil or serum. Never use a dark heavy oil like Moroccanoil or other argan oils, macadamia oils etc. Dark oils can stain extensions and heavy oils can block moisture from entering the hair shaft resulting in dry hair. Heavy oils like coconut and castor oil will cause buildup and should always be avoided.
Your stylist can help you select a silicone-free light daily oil to keep your ends hydrated, shiny, soft, and healthy.
Just apply the oil from mid-shaft to ends. Apply evenly and always do your best to avoid the track.

Wash & Dry
Pre-Wash
Hair extensions are not the same as your natural hair and they can't be treated the same way. The more you baby them, the better they'll look. Before you shower, gently brush your hair to remove the tangles.
Quick Note
We're going to mention a few products here. Don't be overwhelmed. You'll get the hang of this pretty quickly and your stylist will help you along the way.
We've even created a quick product shopping list for you to use after you review this guide.
Your stylist is a small local business. They put a lot of time into selecting and learning about the great hair-care products that they offer and they can provide custom tailored recommendations based on your hair type and lifestyle. You could just as easily buy something on Amazon or at Ulta but we love the idea of supporting a small business. Trust your stylist.
Avoid Protein!
Always avoid protein products that are designed for damaged hair. Protein will dry your extensions.
As you read through, you'll see that we heavily emphasize moisturizing products. Protein-based products that are designed to repair damage, including "bond-builders" like B3, Olaplex and Olaplex oil, should always be avoided.
While it's important to use "salon-quality" products but, just because a product is considered "salon-quality" does not mean it is the right product for extensions.
Shampoo & Conditioner
We can't stress enough how important it is to use the right shampoo and conditioner. Hair extensions need moisture. Your stylist will help you select shampoo & conditioner to hydrate your wefts. The best shampoos for your hair extensions are either sulfate-free or have high-quality, gentle sulfates.
Avoid non water-soluble silicone. Silicone is an inexpensive ingredient that provides smoothness and shine but it can also build up, cause dryness, and weigh your extensions down. Scroll to the bottom of the page for a list of silicones to avoid.
Your best option is a hydrating shampoo with high quality lightweight oils.
What Should I do if My Natural Hair is Damaged?
If your natural hair needs to be treated for damage, your stylist can help you. They can recommend a reparative shampoo that is less drying but you should still do everything you can to completely avoid getting protein-based products on your wefts. You will also want to put extra effort into hydration during your pre-wash and conditioning. If you must use protein on your natural hair, we recommend a half-wash. Tie your wefts in a pony to separate them from your natural hair. Tip you head forward in the shower and wash the top with your protein shampoo to avoid contact with the wefts. You would them come back and wash your wefts with a more suitable moisture shampoo.
Deep Condition Every Few Washes
Your daily conditioner should be light yet hydrating enough to maintain the moisture level of your hair extensions. Alternate every third wash or so with a deep conditioner. Avoid heavy masques.
Even if your hair is stick-straight, don't overlook products designed for curly hair since curly hair is often very dry and those products are often extra-hydrating.
For very deep conditioning, ask your stylist about professional in-salon treatments.
Daily Oil is Essential to Prevents Dry Ends
As your natural hair grows, the ends get trimmed. This helps remove damage and keeps the ends fresh. Extensions don't grow so the same ends have to last for months! It takes extra care to keep them strong, hydrated, and healthy.
Your pores emit oil that hydrates your natural hair through the shaft. Since hair extensions don’t grow from your pores, they don’t get the benefit of these oils.
That’s okay, we'll make up for it with a light daily oil or serum. Never use a dark heavy oil like Moroccanoil or other argan oils, macadamia oils etc. Dark oils can stain extensions and heavy oils can block moisture from entering the hair shaft resulting in dry hair. Heavy oils like coconut and castor oil will cause buildup and should always be avoided.
Your stylist can help you select a silicone-free light daily oil to keep your ends hydrated, shiny, soft, and healthy.
Just apply the oil from mid-shaft to ends. Apply evenly and always do your best to avoid the track.
Use a Dry Shampoo to Extend Time Between Washings
Washing hair extensions as little as possible will prolonging their life. If you can cut back to two or three times a week, your extensions will last longer.
To look great between shampoos, invest in a quality dry shampoo. There are a few dry shampoos out there that even have heat protection and nourishing properties built-in.
How You Wash is Just as Important as What You Use
After your pre-wash routine, your tangle-free hair is ready for the shower. Let your hair fall naturally. Avoid tilting your head forward or backward as the weight of the water in your hair will pull on the track. Water should be running straight down your back.
Use Extra Care When Washing the Track
You want to get the track clean but you don't want to disturb it or pull on it. Avoid circular or vigorous movement. Be gentle while massaging the shampoo into your scalp.
Once wet, apply a little shampoo, mostly to your roots, then briefly wet your hair again (don't rinse yet). You have more hair than before so you'll need more shampoo. After the first bit of shampoo is in, go ahead and apply a little more. This 2-step process helps spread the shampoo and create lather. Remember to be gentle and avoid circular motions.
You will feel the weight of the water in your hair extensions. Do what you can to alleviate tension. Using your hand as a comb, run the shampoo from mid-shaft to ends. This is where you will appreciate the de-tangling that you did before your shower.
Get Your Conditioner in the Right Spots
When conditioning, only condition mid-shaft to ends. Avoid the track. The oil in many conditioners can cause build-up that’s hard to rinse out. Be generous with conditioner and let it sit three to five minutes so your extensions soak in the moisture before rinsing it out. Loudly singing a catchy song in the shower can help you time this process. We can recommend a few.
Drying and Brushing Beaded Weft Hair Extensions
"Gentle and careful" continues after the shower. Drying, brushing, and styling are a delicate process as well.
Pat Dry Excess Water and Never Rub
After you finish washing, use a micro-fiber towel to pat your hair dry. Sandwich your hair in the towel and press to absorb excess water.
Avoid harsh movements and attempt to have your hair fall naturally. Circular or rubbing motions will cause your extensions to tangle and knot.
It is best to remove around 75% of the moisture before you begin brushing. A quick rough-dry with a blow dryer (no brushing yet) can also help.
De-Tangle Again After Washing
Whether you blow dry or air dry, you'll want to de-tangle first. Use a wet brush or round brush and be gentle. Again, hair falling from each weft should be natural and separate. Your stylist can recommend a salon-quality de-tangler to help.
We also recommend a primer. The pores in your natural hair are different from the pores in your extensions. As a result, styling products will absorb and spread unevenly. Primers even out the porosity of the hair and make styling much easier. They can also speed drying time by up to half.
If oils are part of your styling routine, only apply them mid-shaft to ends, never at the track. Use a little heat to help the oil saturate evenly.
If you plan to use a blow dryer or flat iron, now is the time to apply a heat protector. This is essential to protect both your hair extensions and your natural hair.
Section your hair by rows. Avoid clipping or styling half of a weft at one time.
If you'd like to curl your hair, pre-heat the entire length of your strands to avoid "climbing" which is where the hair in the iron will tighten as it heats.
If this sounds like a lot of products, don't worry, there are some great all-in-one products out there that prime, de-tangle, and provide heat protection. Your stylist is the best person to help you select the best one for you.
Dry Your Hair as Naturally as Possible
When blow drying, point your blow dryer downward. You want water to naturally dry and move through your extensions in the same direction as the cuticle. This will prolong the life of the extensions.
Blow dry your hair as normal, just pay extra attention to the track. Make sure it ends up dry. To avoid knots and tangles, don’t tousle your hair. Always avoid any heat over 330°F.
Heat protective styling products are always recommended but avoid products that say they speed up your blow dry or reduce blow dry time. Blow dry accelerators can often cause breakage.
Never Flat Iron or Curl Wet Hair
A hot iron and wet hair do not mix! Moisture inside the hair shaft turns to steam and expands. When the water expands, it can weaken/damage the hair shaft which will be especially noticeable at the ends. Always make sure hair is 100% completely dry before using an iron.
Toning Shampoos
Purple and green toning shampoos often cause dryness and, due to texture differences, pigment grabs in extension hair differently than it would in natural hair. This can cause unpredictable or inconsistent results including staining.
While it is generally okay for a stylist to tone in-salon with a diluted shampoo bath, we do not recommend the use of toning shampoos, conditioners, or masques at home.
Color Maintenance
Our wefts spend up to a month in their color bath and they are made to hold their original tone as long as possible. Just like your own hair will experience some fading between salon visits, all human hair extensions will require some touch-ups along the way.
Each stylist will approach this differently and a lot depends on how well you adhere to the care guide and how frequently you wash your hair. During your move-up appointments, many stylists will do a color gloss so your natural hair and your extensions will always look their best. This helps refresh the layer of pigment that neutralizes the underlying naturally warm tones of the hair.
Blondes, especially those with low-lights and melts, should expect more maintenance then brunettes.
Hand-Tied & Micro Weft After-Care Difference
Do I treat my micro wefts the same as I would hand-tied wefts?
The hair is the same but the track is different so the answer is yes, mostly, but there are some things you should know.
Active lifestyle?
The track on a micro weft is synthetic so it will not absorb moisture. This can be beneficial to people who workout a lot and for some of us who skip a blow-dry every now and then. If you ever experienced a musty smell from hand-tied wefts, it's from not drying the weft track completely. Micros can help.
Are you rough on your wefts?
It's okay to admit it. Hand-tied wefts are amazing but they are hand-stitched using human hair and string to create a track that holds each individual hair. If you brush them heavily at the track, use the wrong brush, or you go to bed with wet hair, the hairs can get pulled out of the top of the track. It's called looping.
Since micro wefts use a synthetic track, the hair can't loop. You can still damage the installation work that your stylist did so brushing the track still isn't recommended.
Appliqué-Tips After-Care
Do Appliqué-Tips require special care?
The hair is the same so most of our after-care tips will apply. The way they are attached to your hair is different though and there are some special considerations to prevent damage to that bond.
Heat styling
The keratin bonds on our Appliqué-Tips are designed to melt during installation so they can be attached to your hair. The bond can melt again if it is exposed to too much heat. Avoid any contact with flat-irons and blow dryer brushes at the bond and avoid excessive heat from a blow dryer at the bond. Ceramic round brushes are designed to trap heat and should not be used near the bonds. If the bond does soften, it can slip lower on your hair and it may have to be removed.
Air drying
Since the bond does not hold moisture, Appliqué-Tips are great for people who like to air-dry. To avoid tangles, your hair should be completely dry before you go to bed.
Brushing
Unlike a weft application, the keratin bonds need to be brushed root to tip daily. Brush directly over your bonds with an oval or paddle brush to insure the bonds do not tangle together. If you have a hybrid install where keratin bonds are installed at the front and hand-tied or micro wefts are installed at the back, you should only brush over the keratin bonds.

Additional Advice to Maximize the Life of Your Extensions
Is there anything I should do before bed to care for my extensions?
Treat yourself to a silk pillow-case to prevent snags and mating during sleep. Always avoid sleeping with wet hair. This can cause tangles and stress on the hair. A loose braid or a bun before bed will also help prevent tangles and pulling.
Can I use sunscreen?
This is a very important question! Many types of sunscreen can turn your extensions peachy-orange and it most likely can not be fixed. This is a chemical reaction with the dye that is used in human hair extensions. Any sunscreen with Avobenzone (Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane) MUST BE AVOIDED! Bare Republic makes a safe option that also happens to be reef-friendly. Zinc Oxide based sunscreen is the safest but be sure it is not mixed with other harmful ingredients. Regardless of sunscreen type, we advise that you pull your hair up when applying and leave it up to keep it off your skin.
Can I swim in a pool and go to the beach?
Swimming and hair extensions really don't mix. Just as your own hair can be affected by pool chemicals, minerals, salt water, and sun exposure, you will want to avoid swimming. If you must swim, you'll need to use extra precautions to prevent color fade, tangling, staining, dryness, and damage.
Swimming and salt-water or chlorine exposure will dehydrate the wefts and significantly reduce their life expectancy. You can't know exactly what's in the water and often, your hair will absorb harmful chemicals and residual sunscreen from other swimmers. If you do decide to chance it, right before you swim, pre-wet your hair with fresh water and apply a leave-in conditioner to help prevent the absorption of harmful water and chemicals. Use a protective product with added UV protection to prevent damage from salt, chlorine, and other chemicals that may damage your extensions. Braiding your hair before swimming can help prevent tangles.
Always wash and condition directly after swimming! Unfortunately, no hair extensions company can provide a warranty for hair that has been stained or that has changed color after a swim. To learn more about why this can happen to hair extensions and for some advice if you find yourself in this situation, click here.
How about physical activities like tennis, running, or regular workouts?
As with swimming, you will want to take extra precaution. If you will be outside, it is essential to use a proper UV protective product. You should brush, wash, and condition after intense physical activity.
Can I have my hair colored with extensions?
Yes, your stylist who is certified in the application of hand-tied wefts will have no problem maintaining your hair color. If you decide you want to go lighter, you will likely have to replace your extensions as it may be impossible to get them to match the new color of your natural hair.
What can I do about hard water?
Hard water is very tough on all hair! It can strip, stain, or damage color and it dries the hair leaving it dull and frizzy.
We just can't get excited enough about soft water! Soft water not only makes your hair and skin look and feel dramatically better, it helps your products lather and last longer and helps fight frizz.
You'll also love not having hard water scale on your sinks, faucets, shower doors, and your car after a wash. Soft water even helps hot water heaters last longer and use less energy. Unless you have extremely hard water, you shouldn't need to spend thousands to get a softener. The softeners offered at Home Depot or Lowes will work well for most people.
Is there anything else I should avoid?
Dimethicone, cetyl dimethicone, cetearyl methicone, stearyl dimethicone, dimethicone copolymer, cyclomethicone, amodimethicone, trimethylsilylamodimethicone, and cyclopentasiloxane are non-water soluble silicone-based polymers that coat the hair leaving it smooth and shiny. While you will see these in most shampoos, premium-quality salon brands will use them in lower concentrations. Unfortunately, many lower-quality products heavily rely on these silicones for a quick fix but, in higher concentrations, they will build up and prevent water and other important moisturizing products from entering the hair shaft. Heavy silicone can eventually leave your hair limp, oily looking, dry, damaged, and dull with brittle ends that are prone to breakage. To remove silicone build-up, use a silicone free, sulfate free shampoo. It may take a few wash cycles. This should help prevent further damage and reduce the oily look but, unfortunately, damaged and brittle wefts are impossible to correct. Typically a clarifying shampoo is recommended to remove silicone from your natural hair but, with hair extensions, it is not a good idea.
Dimethiconol is a less greasy version of dimethicone that is less prone to build-up and can help with split ends. It is okay when used only every few washes. Frequent use should be avoided.
Dimethicone copolyol, stearoxy dimethicone, and behenoxy dimethicone are okay to use. They are water soluble and will not coat your hair or prevent moisture from entering the shaft.
Quaternium 16, Quaternium 80, and Quaternium 95 are commonly found in products that help speed up your blow-dry. They will cause breakage.
Important! This is not a full list. Please see above for additional products and chemicals that are known to be incompatible with hair extensions.
This information may not apply to all brands and types of extensions. Use of this information for brands other than Frame & Thread is "at your risk."
Stylist photo credits for our hand-tied weft aftercare cards:

Stylist: @wendyheydenstyling
Frame & Thread wefts: Uptown Girl

Stylist: @balayagebygabrielle
Frame & Thread wefts: LA Woman, California Dreamin', & Copacabana

Stylist: @malorie.montyhair
Frame & Thread wefts: I Think I Love You

Stylist: @hairbyericasargent
Frame & Thread wefts: Dancing Queen, Shimmy Shimmy, & I Think I Love You

Stylist: @daniellevarelahair
Frame & Thread wefts: La Woman & California Dreamin'

Stylist: @stellalucasalon
Frame & Thread wefts: Paint It Black

Stylist: @julesulman
Frame & Thread wefts: LA Woman & Winter's Day

Stylist: @thatsseauxkiya
Frame & Thread wefts: Black Magic Woman & Brown Eyed Girl

Stylist: @andrea.gilded
Frame & Thread wefts: Crush On You

Stylist: @labsalondenver
Frame & Thread wefts: Black Magic Woman

Stylist: @caitlinamigo
Frame & Thread wefts: Melt With You, Dancing Queen, & Copacabana

Stylist: @tabithawstyling
Frame & Thread wefts: Dancing Queen & Copacabana

Stylist: @threestrands.becca
Frame & Thread wefts: Melt With You & Modern Love

Stylist: @glossedsociety_
Frame & Thread wefts: Shimmy Shimmy & Brown Eyed Girl

Stylist: @lovechelsea.styling
Frame & Thread wefts: Crush On You, Gold Dust Woman, & Uptown Girl

Stylist: @danixdaze
Frame & Thread wefts: Copacabana
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