How to Clean Your Hair System: A Guide
A clean hair system doesn’t just look better; it also performs better.
Over time, adhesives, body oils, sweat, styling products, and everyday residue on your hair system and your scalp. Without regular cleaning, that residue can shorten adhesive hold times, make reinstallation more difficult, dull the appearance of the hair system, and reduce the overall lifespan of your hair system.
This guide walks you through the best practices for cleaning your hair system, so you can extend its life and enjoy a more secure, comfortable attachment.
How Often Should You Clean Your Hair System?
Similar to choosing the right tape or liquid adhesive for bonding, the optimal cleaning routine depends on your lifestyle, body chemistry, activity level, and the type of adhesive you wear.
Many wearers tend to do a full cleaning every 2–4 weeks, while those with active lifestyles or daily wear routines may clean their systems more frequently.
Generally, it’s time for a cleaning when:
- Adhesive begins to lift
- Sticky residue builds on the base
- Oil or styling product build up
- Hair appearance starts to dull
- Difficulty achieving a secure reattachment
Regular maintenance helps protect your hair system, improve adhesive performance, and keep your hair looking and feeling its best.
Step 1: Remove the Hair System Carefully
Begin by carefully removing your hair system.
For general removal, adhesive removers like C-22® Solvent, Action, or Walker Signature Remover are made to quickly break down tape and liquid adhesives for a quick and easy removal process.
For lace and other more fragile systems, Lace Release helps separate the lace from the adhesive, leaving most of the adhesive residue on the scalp, where it can be removed with a stronger solvent.
Step 2: Remove Adhesive Residue from the Base
Next, remove any remaining adhesive residue from the base of the hair system.
Light adhesive residue is usually easy to clean away with an adhesive remover and a wash over with 99% Alcohol. If you’re dealing with thicker or more stubborn buildup, a solvent soak can make the job much easier. A solvent soak is one of the most effective ways to loosen stubborn adhesive residue.
Place the hair system base-side down in a container filled with an adhesive remover such as Walker Solvent. Allow it to soak for at least one minute so the adhesive can begin breaking down before gently working the residue away from the base.
Step 3: Wash the Hair System
Once all adhesive residue has been removed, thoroughly wash both the hair and the base using Bond Breaker Shampoo.
Bond Breaker Shampoo is designed specifically for hair systems. It helps effectively remove residual adhesive, oils, and leftover remover, creating a clean system base that’s ready for your next installation. Be sure to rinse thoroughly to ensure no adhesive residue remains once you’re done cleaning.
After rinsing, apply Leave-In Conditioner (for human hair) or System Revitalizing Mist (for synthetic hair). These products help detangle, moisturize, reduce frizz, and restore softness to the hair fibers.
Let the chosen conditioner sit for roughly 30 seconds, then gently comb the system until the product is fully worked into the hair. Then, using a wide-tooth comb or loop brush, gently comb through the hair, starting at the ends and working your way toward the base. This helps minimize shedding and protects the hair fibers while evenly distributing the conditioner.
Step 4: Dry
Allow the hair system to air dry completely before doing reinstalling it.
The system can either be stored away for a later appointment, or be re-installed onto the scalp.
Keep Your Hair System Looking Its Best
Proper cleaning is one of the easiest ways to extend the life of your hair system while improving every installation. A clean system provides better adhesive performance, a more natural appearance, and greater comfort between maintenance appointments.
With the right routine and products, keeping your system clean becomes a simple part of protecting your investment and maintaining confidence every day.
The Walker Tape® Marketing Team consists of experienced employees with a wide knowledge of hair systems, tapes, liquid adhesives, hair extensions, and hair replacement products.
The team writes and publishes trusted blogs and other resources designed to help stylists, wearers, and distributors achieve better installs, longer hold times, and more confident results.
