Most problems with hair extensions don't start at the installation. They start in the weeks afterwards – in the aftercare, in the timing of the maintenance appointment, or because the method never suited the hair in the first place. Not sure what suits you? Start with our overview of all hair extension methods.
The good news: every one of those problems has a solution, and almost all of them can be prevented next time.
1. The hair tangles at the bonds
The most common issue of all. Hair that has naturally shed from your scalp stays trapped in the bond instead of falling out, and matts together at the nape.
How to solve it:
- Brush two or three times a day with a brush made for extensions, always from the ends upwards.
- Separate the bonds with your fingers every evening, especially during the first few weeks.
- Sleep with your hair in a loose braid.
- If the matting has already hardened, don't pull at it. Book an appointment and we'll work it loose without sacrificing hair.
2. The bonds show
Either they've been placed too close to the hairline and parting, or the hair has grown out so the bond has moved down into view.
How to solve it: an installation should always leave a margin at the parting and temples. If it has grown out, the answer is a maintenance appointment, not a new hairstyle to hide it.
As a guideline, most methods need attention within roughly these intervals:
- Tape: around every one to two months
- Micro rings and micro wefts: around every two to three months
- Keratin bonds: around every three to four months
- Weft and sew-in: around every two months
The exact interval depends on how fast your hair grows and how you care for it – we book your next appointment already at the installation. If you want to be able to wear your hair up high, weft or sew-in is often a better choice than individual bonds.
3. Your scalp itches
Itching usually comes from product residue, washing too seldom, or bonds that sit too tightly.
How to solve it:
- Wash more often than you think – extensions can take, and need, regular washing.
- Use a mild shampoo without heavy silicones and rinse thoroughly.
- Massage the scalp with your fingertips, not your nails.
- If it itches from day one and feels tight, get in touch. Bonds should never hurt.
4. The extension hair feels dry and dull
Extension hair gets no natural oils from the scalp. What you don't give it, it never gets.
How to solve it:
- Use a haircare range designed to work on both your own hair and extensions. We recommend KIS Keratin Infusion System – the keratin rebuilds the hair from within and keeps the quality up throughout the wear period.
- Apply conditioner and masks from ear level down, never on the bonds.
- Always use heat protection before a straightener or curling iron.
- A haircare set for damaged and chemically treated hair does more for longevity than anything else you can buy.
5. It pulls and hurts
A new bond can feel unfamiliar for a day or so. Pain, pressure or headaches, on the other hand, are a sign that something needs adjusting.
How to solve it: contact the salon straight away. A bond that's too tight, or an installation that's too heavy for your own hair, should be fixed immediately – not endured.
6. The bonds slip or come loose too early
Tape that loosens after a couple of weeks is nearly always down to products: oils, silicones and heavy masks break down the adhesive.
How to solve it: keep the top few centimetres free of oil and conditioner, dry the hair properly at the roots, and avoid sleeping with wet hair. If it still comes loose, tape may be the wrong method for your hair type – keratin bonds or micro rings hold better on fine, slippery hair.
7. A colour difference after a few weeks
Sun, chlorine and sulphate-based haircare pull colour out of your own hair and your extensions at different rates. After a couple of months the join can start to show.
How to solve it: a toner or gloss in the salon evens out the difference without damage. Colour-protecting haircare prevents it. Bleaching the extensions at home, however, is not a solution – it's usually the start of the next problem.
8. "My own hair got thinner"
This is the worry we hear most, and it deserves to be taken seriously. Properly done, hair extensions don't damage the hair. Damage happens with installations that are too heavy, maintenance left too late, or hair that's pulled out instead of released.
How to solve it:
- Keep to your maintenance and removal intervals. Don't wait until it's matted.
- Always have a trained technician remove the bonds.
- If your hair needs a break, give it one. Clip-on extensions provide length and volume in the meantime, with nothing attached.
There's always a solution
We've solved most of it over 17 years – matting that looked hopeless, the wrong method on the wrong hair type, hair that needed a rest. Often all it takes is one appointment and the right care at home.
In the webshop you'll find haircare sets, the KIS range, brushes and accessories for extensions.
If you're unsure which method suits your hair, book a free consultation with us:
- Fairwithhair Odenplan, Norrtullsgatan 26A, Stockholm – Monday to Friday 10.00–19.00, Saturdays by arrangement. We work with keratin bonds, tape, weft, micro rings and sew-in.
- Fairwithhair Uppsala, Skolgatan 49 – by appointment, same prices as Stockholm.
We go through your hair, your everyday routine and how long you want to wear the extensions before anything is installed. That's where most problems get solved – before they happen.