An Expert Guide to How to Brush Your Hair with Extensions
Wondering how to brush your hair now you have extensions?
Wearing hair extensions is one of the easiest ways to add volume, length and a little extra confidence to your look. But to keep them looking their best, the way you brush them matters more than you might think. The right technique can help prevent tangles, minimise breakage, and keep both your natural hair and extensions soft, smooth and healthy.
Whether you’re wearing clip-ins for a night out or a professional method for longer-term wear, brushing doesn’t have to be complicated - it just takes a little care and the right hairbrush. This guide walks you through everything you need to know: from choosing the perfect brush to brushing by extension type.
Top Tips for Brushing Hair Extensions
Tip #1 - Choose the Right Brush
Brushing your hair the right way starts with the right tool. Whether you're detangling after washing or smoothing out styles, the perfect brush helps protect your extensions while keeping hair soft, shiny and tangle-free. Here's how to find your perfect hair brush:
Detangling Brushes:
Detangling is one of the most important steps in your extension care routine - especially when hair is wet and more prone to damage. Our Detangling Brushes are designed to glide through knots without pulling, making them ideal for use in the shower or post-wash. With no cushion base to trap water, they stay hygienic and in perfect condition over time.
Choose from:
· White Detangling Brush - Wide paddle design, ideal for brushing through longer or thicker hair.
· Beauty Works x Huda Detangling Brush - A sleeker design with dual-length vegan bristles and ball-tip comfort, delivered in a luxe box – perfect for gifting.
Best for:
- Wet or dry hair
- Shower use
- Detangling
Boar Bristle Brushes:
Boar bristles are a natural fibre known for distributing oils from your scalp through the mid-lengths and ends – ideal for extensions as they don’t produce their own natural oils. These brushes aren’t made for detangling but are perfect for polishing, styling, and maintaining healthy shine.
Choose from:
· Large Paddle Brush – Ideal for thick or long hair thanks to its wide coverage.
· Medium Oval Brush – A slightly more compact option that delivers the same smoothing results.
Best for:
- Distributing natural oils
- Longer-lasting shine
- Daily brushing (not wet detangling)
White Vegan Bristle Brush
Love the benefits of boar bristles but prefer a vegan option? This brush offers the same smoothing, oil-distributing benefits but is made entirely from vegan-friendly materials. Gentle yet effective, it's ideal for brushing extensions or natural hair alike.
Best for:
- Shine + smoothing
- Vegan-friendly haircare
- Distributing natural oils
Soft Bristle Brushes
The Beauty Works x Molly-Mae Soft Bristle Brushes are your go-to styling tools for smoothing hair after curling, creating slick-back looks, or simply brushing throughout the day. With vegan-friendly ball-tipped bristles, they’re gentle on sensitive scalps and safe for extensions. Our Beauty Works x Molly-Mae Soft Bristle Brushes also come beautifully boxed, making them ideal for gifts.
Choose from:
· Molly-Mae Soft Bristle Brush – Full-sized for everyday use at home.
· Molly-Mae Petite Soft Bristle Brush – A compact handbag essential.
· Soft Bristle Duo Set – Get the best of both with one for home and one for on-the-go.
Best for:
- Styling + smoothing
- Slick-back looks
- Post-curl brushing
- Travel + gifting
Tip #2 - Detangle Before Washing
Before washing your hair, gently remove any knots or tangles. Start at the ends and work your way up to the roots, supporting the top of your hair with one hand to protect the top of the extensions and avoid unnecessary pulling.
Hair is at its weakest when wet, which makes it more prone to stretching, snapping, or damage. That’s why we always recommend brushing or detangling before you wash – it means you’ll spend less time brushing while it’s wet, reducing stress on your natural hair and extensions.
Top #3 - Take Care When Hair Is Wet
As mentioned in Tip #2, hair is at its most fragile when wet, so it’s important to handle it with extra care. Never tug or pull, as this can lead to breakage or stress on your extensions.
If you do need to detangle after washing, apply the Beauty Works 10-in-1 Miracle Spray first to help soften knots and protect the hair. Then, use a Detangling Brush to gently glide through the lengths, starting at the ends and working your way up - never from the root down.
Tip #4 Brush Regularly - But Gently
Brush your hair 2–3 times a day to prevent tangling, especially before bed or after wearing it up. Separate your hair into sections and brush between the bonds, tapes or wefts, keeping tension off the roots.
Regular, gentle brushing helps keep your extensions tangle-free and maintains their natural flow, especially around the root area where matting can occur. By brushing in sections and avoiding direct tension on the bonds, you protect the attachment points and prevent loosening, slipping or unnecessary pressure on your natural hair.
Tip #5 Nighttime Routine
Before going to bed, gently brush your hair and tie it into a loose braid or low ponytail to reduce tangling while you sleep.
This simple nightly step helps prevent knots and matting, especially at the root area where extensions are most vulnerable. During sleep, hair can rub against your pillow or move around, causing friction and unnecessary tension at the bonds or tapes.
Tip #6 – General Maintenance
To keep your hair extensions looking their best for longer, it’s important to follow a few key maintenance habits:
· Always support your roots when brushing. This helps prevent unnecessary tension on the bonds, tapes or wefts and protects both your natural hair and the extension attachments from strain or slippage.
· Avoid backcombing or teasing near the bonds or wefts. These techniques can create tangles at the root, weaken the attachment points and lead to matting that’s difficult to remove without damage.
· Book in for regular maintenance appointments. Make sure you are booking in for regular maintenance appointments to ensure your extensions are still sitting correctly and avoid any matting.
How to Brush your Hair for your Specific Hair Extension Method?
While there's no major difference in how you brush depending on the type of extensions you wear, the most important rule is to always take extra care around the attachment areas.
Avoid pulling or brushing too close to the root and always support your extensions with one hand when detangling near the scalp. This prevents stress on the attachments and helps prolong the life of your extensions.
All Beauty Works brushes are suitable for use on hair extensions but if you’re wearing micro-ring methods, be extra careful when using brushes with ball-tipped bristles, as these can catch at the root if not used gently.
Here’s a quick reminder by method:
· Clip-in extensions: Always remove before bed and brush from the ends upward while holding the top of the weft.
· Tape-in extensions: Avoid brushing directly over the tapes. Support the root and glide through the lengths gently.
· Weft extensions: Brush in sections along the rows and never tug at the stitched or beaded base.
· Micro rings: Glide gently between the rows and avoid disturbing the beads by brushing too close to the root.
No matter your method, brushing regularly with the right technique helps prevent tangles, keeps your hair looking polished, and supports the longevity of your extensions.
Brushing Made Simple
Brushing your hair with extensions doesn’t need to be complicated. With the right brush and a gentle technique, you can keep your hair smooth, tangle-free, and your extensions looking their best every day.
All of our brushes are hair extension safe and designed to protect your strands from root to tip.
Make sure to follow us on TikTok and Instagram for more tips, tricks and expert advice on caring for your hair extensions.
