Keeping Your Weave Clean

• Do not hold your head upside down to rinse, as this can cause tangles. [3] X Research source
• After washing, sit under a hooded dryer to let the braids that serve as the foundation to your weave dry fully.

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• If you're having trouble reaching the roots with the conditioner, use a nozzle bottle to help you get into those areas.
• Rinse with warm water and follow with a light, leave-in conditioner.

• Sit under a hooded dryer after washing to keep tight braids from smelling damp or moldy.

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Protecting Your Weave

• Mix tea tree oil with grapeseed, olive or coconut oils. Use a nozzle bottle to apply directly to your scalp. The tea tree oil will sooth and refresh your scalp. Don't use too much or your extensions will get oily.

• Excess heat can cause synthetic hair to melt or burn. Ask your stylist the best way to dry a synthetic weave.

Keep your hair up. To relieve tension on your natural hair, as well as prevent frizz, tie your hair up whenever possible. If you are working around the house, jogging, heading to the grocery or just hanging out, keeping your hair up will allow your weave to look fresher and last longer when you want to wear it down.

Cover your hair when sleeping. Wrapping your hair in a scarf at night will prevent it from tangling or getting frizzy and lumpy while you sleep. Any material will work, but many prefer the smoothness of a satin or silk scarf. Using a satin pillow case, with or without a head scarf, will also protect your weave. [10] X Research source

• If you wear your extensions straight, you can simply cover them at night. If you are looking for big, soft curls, use bobby pins to hold pin curls in place under your scarf. [12] X Research source
• If you wear your extensions straight, wrap your extensions around your head before putting on a head scarf at night. You can even place the hair in a ponytail, so you won't wake up with tangles.

Drying and Styling Your Weave

Use a wide-tooth comb to detangle. Working with wet, just-conditioned hair will make combing easier. Start combing at the bottom and gently work your way up until the weft is tangle-free. Be very gentle. If you pull too hard, you can loosen the weft and even damage your natural hair to the point it falls out. [4] X Research source

• Heat can loosen the bond of your weave, so limit the use of heat-styling tools as much as you can.

• Avoid using too much product, which could weigh down your hair and make it look greasy.

Moisturize your weave daily. To freshen up between shampoos, apply a small amount leave-in conditioner to your weave each day. Massage the moisturizer gently into your scalp and through your natural hair and weft. This will keep your weave untangled and looking shiny. [7] X Research source

Visit your stylist once a month. Visiting your stylist often for professional maintenance will keep your weave fresh-looking. The stylist will trim any broken hairs, tighten loose braids, and make sure the weft is secure and your natural hair is healthy. [8] X Research source

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1. Shampoo and massage scalp

The first step to care for your sew-in is to make sure it’s clean and untangled.

• If it’s slightly tangled, you can gently detangle with a brush before you begin shampooing.
• If your weave is very tangled, you might want to detangle it in the shower with your fingers and conditioner before you shampoo it.

Your sew-in needs to be thoroughly washed to remove any product buildup. You can use your regular shampoo for this. When washing your sew-in, it’s very important to reach your braids. Your scalp will continue to produce oil under your weave, so you still need to make sure it’s properly cleansed to protect your natural hair and scalp.

Stylists recommend using tools like scalp scrubbers and applicator bottles to ensure that you’re properly cleansing your scalp each time you shampoo your sew-in. Make sure you target your hairline and the nape of your neck when you’re shampooing your hair.

Sometimes diluting your shampoo while you’re washing makes penetrating your braids easier, especially if you’re wearing a weave with a net. You’ll also have to spend more time rinsing out your sew-in than you do with your natural hair. To avoid irritation, it’s important to get all the shampoo out of your hair before conditioning.