Clip-ins are a quick and easy way to change your look. They can add length and volume to your natural hair instantly.
But like our own hair, clip-in extensions need care. If you want them to stay soft, shiny, and tangle-free, you’ve got to treat them right. And that starts with washing.
So, how to wash clip in hair extensions without ruining the texture or making a mess? Today's guide breaks it down step by step.
We’ll also cover some of the most common questions people have—like how often to wash them, what products to use, and if you can use regular shampoo.
How to Wash Clip In Hair Extensions (The No-Nonsense Way)
Washing clip-ins isn’t hard, but there’s a right way to do it if you want them to last. Here's how to keep them clean without stripping them or making them frizzy.
1. Start with detangling
Before you even think about water, brush out your extensions. Use a wide-tooth comb or a loop brush. Be gentle—start from the end and work your way up.
If there’s a knot, don’t yank. Hold the hair above the knot and ease it out slowly. This keeps the strands from snapping.
2. Rinse with lukewarm water
Run lukewarm water over the hair.
Not hot—just warm enough to loosen dirt and product. For clip-ins with heavy buildup (from hairspray or styling products), you can soak them for 10–15 minutes in water mixed with a small amount of shampoo.
Just don’t leave them in too long or they’ll feel dry later.
3. Use the right shampoo
Go for something gentle. A clarifying shampoo works well if there’s a lot of product in the hair, but it can be drying.
If you use one, follow it up with a moisturizing shampoo right after. If there’s not much buildup, you can just skip to a good moisturizing shampoo.
Massage the shampoo in carefully—don’t rub or twist the hair.
4. Rinse it all out
Make sure there’s no shampoo left. Leftover products can cause frizz and make the hair feel stiff. Use your fingers to gently separate the wefts as you rinse.
5. Condition and let it soak
This part matters. Apply a deep conditioner or hydrating mask from top to bottom. Avoid the clips. Let it sit for a few hours if you can—or even overnight if the hair feels really dry. Just make sure the hair’s laid out neatly so it doesn’t get tangled while soaking.
6. Rinse again, then gently towel-dry
Use lukewarm water to rinse out the conditioner completely. Then, use a towel to gently squeeze out the extra water. Don’t rub. Just press the hair between the towel and let it absorb the moisture.
7. Air dry—flat or hanging
You can lay the extensions flat on a clean towel or hang them up by the clips. Don’t use heat. Let the air do the work. This keeps the texture smooth and helps the hair last longer.
What if it’s frizzy after drying?
That happens sometimes—especially with older extensions or after a deep wash. Here’s what you can do:
Use a little leave-in conditioner or hair serum. Not too much, just enough to smooth things out.
Run a wide-tooth comb through the hair to reshape it.
If the ends feel dry, trim them slightly or apply a bit of argan oil.
*If you want to know more about oils and curly hair, we have a post about "are oils good for curly hair?", which will help you out!
For extra frizz, you can run a flat iron on the lowest heat—but only if the hair is 100% dry and it’s safe for heat.
How Often to Wash Clip In Hair Extensions?
There’s no strict rule for this—it depends on how you use them. Some people wear clip-ins every day. Others just pull them out for special occasions. What matters more is how much product you’ve used and how the hair feels.
Here’s what to consider:
1. Styling Products Build Up Fast
If you’re using hairspray, mousse, gel, or dry shampoo on your extensions, they’ll need a wash sooner.
That buildup can make the hair look dull and feel sticky. If the strands start clumping together or look flat, it’s probably time to rinse them out.
2. How Often You Wear Them
If you wear clip-ins daily or even a few times a week, they’ll collect sweat, dirt, and oils from your natural hair.
Weekly or biweekly washes make sense in that case. But if you only wear them occasionally, you can go longer between washes—maybe once every 4 to 6 wears.
3. Hair Texture Matters
Smoother, silkier extensions (like straight or body wave) tend to stay clean-looking longer.
Coarser or curlier textures may dry out faster and need more frequent conditioning—not always a full wash, but a refresh.
Some curl patterns can also hold onto product more, so a good rinse might be needed sooner than expected.
Bottom line?
Wash your clip-in extensions when they look or feel dirty, or when they’re hard to style.
Don’t overwash just to be safe—too much cleaning dries them out and shortens their lifespan. Less is usually better, as long as you’re storing them right and brushing gently after use.
How to Wash Human Hair Clip In Extensions?
Human hair clip-ins can handle more than synthetic ones, but they still need care. You’re dealing with real hair, but it’s no longer getting oils from a scalp, so once it dries out, it stays that way.
Here’s what to watch for:
Use gentle, sulfate-free shampoo. Even though it's human hair, harsh shampoo will strip moisture fast. Go for something mild, like you’d use on dry or color-treated hair.
Moisture is everything. Always follow up with a deep conditioner. You can even leave it in overnight if the hair feels rough.
Don’t overwash. Washing too often makes the extensions stiff and dull. Aim to clean them only when they’ve got a buildup or smell off.
Watch your water temperature. Lukewarm is fine. Hot water makes hair frizzier and fades any dye faster.
Be gentle while wet. Wet hair is fragile—don’t tug or twist. Detangle before washing and handle it like you would your own hair after a salon deep-conditioning treatment.
Bonus tip: If the extensions are dyed or bleached, they’ll be more fragile. Skip clarifying shampoo and stick with hydrating products.
Can QVR Clip-In Extensions Be Washed?
Yes, QVR clip-in hair extensions can be washed. Since they’re made from 100% human hair, you can treat them a lot like your natural hair.
Use a gentle shampoo to clean the hair and follow up with conditioner to keep it soft and moisturized. Just be careful not to scrub or tangle the wefts too much while washing.
After rinsing, let them air dry flat or hang them up to dry—no heat tools needed unless you’re styling them later.
Washing helps keep your clip-ins fresh, especially after multiple wears or when they start to feel a little dull.
How to Wash Synthetic Clip In Extensions?
Synthetic hair isn’t as flexible—it doesn’t absorb moisture the same way, and it can melt under heat. So the washing process is less about nourishing the hair and more about keeping it clean and manageable.
What to keep in mind:
No heat. Ever. Hot water can damage synthetic fibers. Stick to cool or lukewarm water—never hot.
Use a synthetic-safe shampoo. Regular shampoo might be too harsh or leave a weird film. If you don’t have wig shampoo, a tiny bit of baby shampoo works too.
Skip conditioner—unless it's made for synthetic hair. Regular conditioner doesn’t absorb into synthetic strands. If it builds up, it can make the hair look oily or heavy.
Don’t soak for too long. Five to ten minutes max. Too much water exposure can mess with the shape or finish of synthetic fibers.
Let them air dry flat. Hanging them can stretch or warp the weft if they're still wet. A towel-lined surface works better.
Final tip: Synthetic extensions won’t bounce back the way human hair does. Once they’re tangled or heat-damaged, it’s hard to fix. So focus on gentle handling and low-maintenance care.
FAQ: Washing Clip In Hair Extensions
Q: How do I wash my hair with clip in extensions in?
A: You really shouldn’t. Clip-ins are made to be taken out before washing your natural hair. If you leave them in, they can tangle, slip, or get damaged.
Just remove them first—it’ll make everything easier and cleaner.
Q: How do I air dry clip in hair extensions?
A: After rinsing, gently squeeze out the extra water with a towel—don’t rub. Then lay the pieces flat on a clean towel or hang them up using a clip hanger.
Let them dry naturally in a cool, shaded spot. Avoid direct sun and definitely skip the blow dryer unless it’s on a cool setting.
Q: Can I wash my extensions with regular shampoo?
A: Sometimes. If your shampoo is gentle and sulfate-free, it should be fine—especially for human hair extensions.
But if it’s super strong or made for oily hair, it might be too harsh. For synthetic hair, use a shampoo made for wigs or something super mild like baby shampoo.
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