Brushing your hair might seem simple, something you’ve done your whole life without thinking. But when you wear hair extensions, the way you brush becomes a whole new skill. Whether you’ve just had a professional fitting or you’re a seasoned extension lover, the technique, tools, and habits you use when brushing play a huge role in how long your hair extensions last and how flawless they look each day.
Hair extensions are an investment, and brushing them correctly protects that investment. Done right, your hair stays glossy, smooth, tangle-free and effortlessly glam. Done wrong, brushing can cause snagging, shedding, matting and weakened bonds, all the things every extension wearer wants to avoid.
In this expert guide, we’ll walk you through exactly how to brush your hair with SWAY hair extensions, what brush to use, and the daily habits that keep your hair beautifully maintained with minimal effort.
Why Brushing Matters So Much with Hair Extensions
Brushing plays a bigger role in hair extension maintenance than most people realise. While natural hair sheds and replaces itself, extensions don’t, which means how you care for them directly impacts their condition and longevity.
1. It prevents knots
Extensions add extra length and thickness, which means more hair to potentially tangle. Regular, gentle brushing prevents knots from forming and keeps your hair smooth throughout the day.
2. It keeps your extensions looking fresh
Brushing helps distribute natural oils, ensuring extensions stay soft, hydrated and salon-sleek.
3. It protects your bonds or attachment method
Hard tugging can weaken tapes, loosen nanos, or strain a weft. Proper brushing keeps your extensions secure for longer.
4. It reduces shedding and breakage
When you brush from roots to ends, you pull against attachment points. The right technique massively reduces shedding and protects the health of your extensions.
“When it comes to hair extensions, the brush you choose and the way you use it are absolutely essential. Beautiful hair isn’t just about how it’s styled, it’s about how it’s cared for. With the right brushing routine, and regular maintenance your extensions will look sleek, polished and effortlessly luxurious every single day.”
- Tom Clark, CEO & Founder at SWAY
The Best Brush to Use with Hair Extensions
Using the right brush is essential. Many everyday brushes, especially those with hard prongs can catch on hair extension attachments and contribute to breakage.
Introducing our hair extension-friendly brush:
Professional Oval Brush
Ideal for every hair type, including hair extensions - our Oval Brushes feature a signature mix of natural and nylon bristles that gently detangle, reduce static, and evenly distribute natural oils from root to tip.
Professional Paddle Brush
Our Award-Winning SWAY Professional Large Paddle Brush is an expertly designed paddle brush that combines natural and nylon bristles to gently detangle, tame static, and spread natural oils evenly from root to tip. Your go-to brush for achieving healthy, sleek, and radiant hair with ease.
Professional Vent Brush
Our Vent Brush is your ultimate styling companion for quick, effortless results. Its specially designed vents maximise airflow from your blow dryer, reducing drying time while protecting hair from heat damage (when used with our heat protection spray). With widely spaced, flexible bristles, it gently detangles without pulling or breaking strands. The lightweight, ergonomic handle ensures a comfortable grip for easy styling.
How to Brush Hair Extensions: The Correct Technique
Here’s the expert-approved method that protects your extensions and gives you smooth, flawless results.
Step 1 - Support the hair with your hand
Before brushing, gently hold the hair just above the section you're about to brush. This stabilises the area and prevents pulling on bonds or attachment points.
Step 2 - Start at the ends
Always begin by brushing the bottom few inches of your hair. This allows you to work through knots gradually without dragging them downward.
Step 3 - Work upward in small sections
Once the ends are smooth, move upward to the mid-lengths, then finally to the top. Smaller sections give you control and prevent unnecessary tension.
Step 4 - Be gentle around attachment points
Never force a brush through the roots. For tapes, nanos, and wefts, brush around the bonds, not through them.
Step 5 - Detangle and Protect
Start and finish off by using our Award Winning Hair Hero to protect, hydrate and prevent breakage. Our Hair Hero is great for detangling to soften tangles and protects the hair during brushing. Plus it give that added extra shine that you deserve.
How to Prevent Tangling and Keep Extensions Smooth
Brushing is only part of the routine. Your daily habits play a huge role too.
1. Sleep with care
Use a silk pillowcase or loosely braid your hair to avoid nighttime friction, if using clip-in, remember to remove and store correctly.
2. Hydrate daily
Hydrated hair tangles significantly less. Investing in our Hydrate System is a great start to healthy and beautiful hair and hair extensions.
3. Reduce friction
Scarves, coats, jumpers and windy weather can all cause tangles. Brush more frequently in winter or on days when your hair has extra movement. Using our Hair Hero is great for reducing hair friction while protecting.
4. Tie your hair up for exercise
A low ponytail or braid keeps your extensions secure and tangle-free during workouts, while also protecting your natural hair from friction and breakage, and helps maintain your style for longer after exercise.
5. Book regular maintenance appointments with our Salon Professionals
Professional check-ins keep your rows tidy, your tapes clean, and any matting under control. It is important that you book regular appointments with our salon professionals to ensure the health of your hair extensions are maximised for sway worthy hair.
Brushing Extensions the Expert Way
Brushing your hair with extensions isn’t complicated, but it is important. With the correct technique, the right tools, and consistent maintenance, you can keep your extensions soft, sleek, and stunning for far longer.
This simple daily ritual protects your investment, enhances your confidence, and ensures your hair looks beautifully maintained from root to tip. Hair extensions are more than a style upgrade, they’re a luxury that deserves care, and brushing is the foundation of that care.
Brushing Hair Extensions: FAQs
1. Should brushing ever pull or hurt?
No, brushing should always feel gentle. If brushing is uncomfortable, you may be brushing too harshly, too close to the bond, or using the wrong brush.
2. My extensions feel dry, is brushing making it worse?
If your hair feels dry, it’s usually a hydration issue rather than a brushing issue. Use our nourishing, sulphate-free, extension-safe product range on your mid-lengths and ends to keep your hair silky and hydrated.
3. Why do my extensions tangle at the back?
This area experiences the most friction from wind, scarves, coats and movement. Brushing frequently, keeping hair hydrated, and wearing protective styles (like a braid) helps prevent tangling.
4. What should I apply before brushing to protect my extensions?
The Hair Hero known for its benefits on detangling or our award winning hydrating conditioner, adds slip, reduces friction and helps the brush glide through without stress on the bonds.
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