Pack the Right Hair Extension Products
Before you leave, make sure your travel bag includes the products you already use at home for your extensions.
Bring:
- Extension-safe shampoo and conditioner
- A leave-in conditioner or moisturizing spray
- Spray bottle with water
- A lightweight hair oil or serum for mids and ends
- A hair extension brush
- Soft hair ties or scrunchies
- A silk or satin pillowcase, bonnet, or scarf
- A wide-brim hat or UV-protective hair covering
Avoid relying on hotel shampoo and conditioner. They are often too harsh or drying for extension hair and may leave your hair feeling rough, tangled, or difficult to manage.
Be Careful With Sunscreen Around Hair Extensions
This is one of the most important vacation care tips.
Some sunscreens can stain hair extensions, especially lighter blonde, grey, silver, white, or highlighted hair. Certain ingredients can cause extensions to turn pink, orange, peach, or brassy, and this type of discoloration may be permanent.
Before applying sunscreen, pull your hair up and away from your shoulders, back, and face. Wash your hands before touching your extensions, and avoid letting sunscreen transfer onto your hair.
For a list of Glo-approved options, visit our safe sunscreen guide:
Safe Sunscreen for Hair Extensions
Protect Your Extensions Before Swimming
Before you swim, saturate your hair with clean, fresh water. Hair acts like a sponge, and dry hair will absorb far more chlorinated or salt water than hair that is already wet. Taking a minute to thoroughly wet your extensions with fresh water first helps reduce how much chlorine, salt, and minerals they absorb.
Before swimming:
- Brush your hair thoroughly
- Saturate hair with fresh, clean water
- Apply a leave-in conditioner to the mids and ends
- Secure your hair in a loose braid or low ponytail
- Avoid tight buns that can pull on the attachment points
- Keep your hair out of the water when possible
Never go to bed with wet extension hair. Wet hair is more fragile, and sleeping on damp extensions can lead to tangling, matting, and stress at the attachment points.
Rinse and Care for Your Hair After Swimming
If your extensions are exposed to pool water, ocean water, lake water, or heavy sunscreen residue, rinse your hair as soon as possible with clean water.
After swimming:
- Gently rinse your hair
- Shampoo and condition when needed
- Apply a moisturizing leave-in product
- Detangle carefully once your hair is ready to be brushed
- Dry the attachment areas before going to sleep
The goal is to remove chlorine, salt, minerals, and product buildup before they have time to dry into the hair.
Brush Your Extensions Often
Travel, wind, humidity, dry air, and salt in the air can all cause tangling.
Bring your extension brush with you and use it throughout the day. Hold your hair near the base to avoid pulling, then brush from the ends upward in small sections.
Brush your extensions:
- Before swimming
- After windy outdoor activities
- Before showering
- Before bed
- In the morning before styling
Consistent brushing is one of the easiest ways to prevent tangles from becoming a bigger problem.
This is our favorite extensions brush.
Wear Your Hair Up to Avoid Tangles
Vacation hair does not have to be complicated. A loose braid, low ponytail, claw clip style, or soft bun can help protect your extensions while still looking polished.
Wear your hair secured when you are:
- Flying
- Boating
- Hiking
- Swimming
- Walking in windy weather
- Applying sunscreen
- Sleeping
The less friction and tangling your hair experiences, the better your extensions will look when you get home.
Plan a Post-Vacation Extension Check
If your hair feels dry, tangled, heavy with product, or harder to manage after your trip, schedule a visit with Glo.
A post-vacation appointment allows us to check your extensions, remove buildup, refresh your blend, trim dry ends if needed, and make sure everything still feels comfortable and healthy.
Keep Your Extensions Beautiful All Summer
A little planning goes a long way. With the right products, safe sunscreen, careful brushing, and smart swimming habits, you can enjoy your vacation without compromising your hair extensions.
If you are preparing for a trip and have questions about your specific extension method, contact Glo before you leave so we can help you pack and plan with confidence.