A tape extension is a delicate bond. What follows is what is worth telling the client as she leaves the chair — it decides whether the extension holds for the whole period or starts slipping after a month.
What she needs at home
- A salt-free shampoo.
- A hair mask.
- A brush made for extensions.
The instructions
What is allowed, what is not, and when
Washing
- No washing for the first 48 hours after application.
- Oily hair — every other day, and in extreme cases daily. The stylist decides.
- Wash gently, with the pads of the fingers only.
- After the sea or a pool — rinse in cold water first, and only then wash.
Mask and conditioner
- A good mask on the ends, two to three times a week.
- Never apply mask or conditioner at the root. From the mid-length down only.
Brushing and drying
- Do not brush fully wet hair, only damp.
- Brush from the ends upwards, so as not to tangle or pull on the bond.
- Blow-drying outside the salon — do not overheat the tape, it can be destroyed.
- Heavy use of straighteners and curling irons shortens the life of the extension.
What to avoid
- Sulphurous water — hot springs and the Dead Sea — can damage the extension and change its colour.
- Fitting extensions immediately after a straightening treatment is not advised. Some treatments do allow it, and the stylist knows which.
- If the client had straightening done by another stylist, that needs to be mentioned before application.
These instructions were originally written for Smartape, and they hold for the two tape lines — Smartape and Tapeit. For TOPEGO PREMIUM+, which is weaving rather than tape, there are no documented aftercare instructions: what is written here about heat on the bond and about where the mask goes was phrased for tape, and we have no source saying it applies to weaving as well. See compare bonding methods.