Everything You Need to Know

Every set is prepared specifically for your chosen extension method, shade, length, fullness, hair quality and texture. Where colouring is required, the hair is gently processed over approximately seven days to help preserve its strength, softness and longevity.

Your order is then thoroughly quality checked and includes a complimentary 100% silk sleep bonnet to help protect your extensions overnight. Please allow up to 28 days before dispatch.

Our collection is built around premium Vietnamese Remy human hair, chosen for softness, strength, natural movement and full-looking ends. We offer professional extension methods across multiple lengths, shades, textures and fullness options so your result can be tailored rather than one-size-fits-all.

Our ethically sourced Vietnamese hair is chosen for its silky-smooth texture, natural movement and lasting quality. You can read more on our Ethically Sourced page.

Remy describes human hair that has been collected and processed with the cuticles kept running in the same direction. Keeping the cuticle direction aligned helps the hair behave more naturally and reduces unnecessary friction, tangling and matting when compared with lower-grade mixed-cuticle hair.

“Drawn” refers to how consistent the strand lengths are through a bundle. Double Drawn hair contains a higher proportion of longer strands, creating a fuller finish from mid-lengths to ends. Super Double Drawn is selected for even greater density through the ends, making it ideal when you want a particularly luxurious, high-impact result.

Your ideal choice depends on your natural density, desired finish and how much weight your own hair can comfortably support.

Match extensions to your mid-lengths and ends rather than your roots. The root area is often naturally deeper and is not the part the extensions need to disappear into.

Photograph your hair in indirect natural daylight, without filters or strong artificial lighting. If your colour sits between shades, blending two shades often creates a more dimensional and believable result than forcing a single exact match. Our Find Your Perfect Match service can help.

Absolutely. Real hair is rarely one flat colour. Combining neighbouring shades, highlights or balayage tones can create depth and make the blend look more natural. A stylist can strategically place different shades to mirror your own colour pattern.

The right amount depends on your natural density, haircut, starting length, chosen extension method and whether your goal is subtle volume or a full length transformation. Longer lengths usually require more hair to keep the result balanced through the ends.

If you are unsure, send us photos or ask your extension stylist before ordering. More hair is not automatically better: the goal is enough density for a seamless blend without placing unnecessary weight on your natural hair.

They can be, but method, weight and placement matter enormously. Finer hair generally benefits from lightweight, discreet attachment methods and conservative density. A qualified extension professional should assess the strength of your natural hair and scalp before installation.

There is no single “best” method. The best choice is the one that suits your hair density, scalp sensitivity, lifestyle, styling habits, maintenance commitment and desired result.

Our range includes Tape and Invisible Tape, Nano Tip, U-Tip and Flat Tip keratin bonds, and Machine, Flat, Butterfly and Genius Wefts. Fine hair may need a lighter, flatter attachment; dense hair may comfortably support a fuller weft or combination approach. A professional consultation is the best starting point.

All wefts add hair in a continuous row, but they differ in seam thickness, flexibility and how flat they sit against the head. Traditional machine wefts are robust and familiar to many stylists. Flatter modern wefts, including Genius-style options, are designed to reduce bulk and sit closer to the scalp. Butterfly-style construction offers another approach to flexibility and installation.

Your stylist should select the weft according to your natural density, row placement and the finished look you want.

Tapes use slim adhesive tabs to sandwich small sections of natural hair and create a flat, fast installation. Nano tips attach individual strands with very small rings, giving flexible movement and targeted placement. Keratin bonds attach individual strands using a keratin-based bond and are useful when highly customised placement is needed.

Each method has different maintenance, removal and re-use considerations, so professional application is important.

For semi-permanent methods, yes. Correct sectioning, weight distribution, tension, placement and removal protect both the extension hair and your natural hair. Professional fitting also makes the finished result significantly more discreet.

Your maintenance interval depends on method and how quickly your natural hair grows. Many professional extension methods are reviewed or moved up within roughly 6–10 weeks, but your stylist may recommend a shorter or longer interval for your hair.

Do not wait until attachments feel uncomfortable, twist excessively or become heavily grown out. Timely maintenance helps prevent tangling around shed natural hairs and reduces unnecessary tension.

With correct professional installation, regular maintenance and careful home care, we expect the hair itself to last approximately 9–12 months. Many application methods can be professionally removed and reinstalled during that time, although attachment materials may need to be replaced.

Lifespan varies depending on wear, aftercare, heat styling, colouring and environmental exposure. Looking after your extensions carefully will give them the best opportunity to remain soft, polished and wearable for longer.

Yes, when the extensions have been placed with your preferred styling habits in mind. Keep styles comfortable rather than excessively tight, avoid repeated tension in the same area and never backcomb directly over tapes, bonds, rings or weft attachments.

Extension hair is no longer nourished by the oils produced by your scalp. That means moisture lost through washing, heat, sun, minerals and styling is not naturally replenished in the same way. Gentle cleansing, conditioning and heat protection are therefore essential to keeping the hair soft and polished.

For most wearers, around one to two washes per week is enough, although your scalp, exercise routine and method may require something different. Over-washing can strip moisture, while under-washing can allow product and oil to build up around attachment points.

Detangle the hair while dry before you shower. Use lukewarm water and a gentle, extension-friendly shampoo. Keep the hair hanging downward and massage the scalp carefully rather than scrubbing the lengths together or piling everything on top of your head.

Apply conditioner or a hydrating mask through the mid-lengths and ends, keeping rich products away from tapes, rings, bonds and attachment points unless your stylist specifically advises otherwise. Rinse thoroughly.

Blot rather than rub with a microfibre towel, apply heat protectant and dry the attachment area thoroughly. You can allow the lengths to air-dry partway if your method permits, but roots, wefts, tapes, bonds and rings should be completely dry before sleeping or tying the hair up.

Use an extension-safe detangling or loop brush. Support the hair with one hand, start at the ends and gradually work upward. Brush the surface and the hidden sections between rows so shed natural hairs do not accumulate around attachments. Never rip through a knot.

Yes. Before bed, gently brush your extensions, make sure they are completely dry and secure the lengths in a loose braid. Then wear your complimentary 100% silk sleep bonnet to reduce friction and help protect the hair overnight. Every custom order includes one.

Never sleep on wet or damp extension hair; this is one of the most common causes of severe tangling and matting.

Avoid harsh cleansing products and excessive clarifying unless needed, and keep heavy oils, conditioners and masks away from attachment points because they may encourage slippage. Be cautious with very protein-heavy or alcohol-heavy formulas if they leave the hair dry or rigid. When in doubt, choose products specifically formulated for human-hair extensions or follow your stylist’s recommendation.

Yes. Human hair extensions can be curled, waved and straightened. Always use heat protectant and use the lowest effective temperature—generally keeping tools at or below about 180°C is a sensible ceiling for routine styling. Avoid holding direct heat on tapes, bonds or other attachment points.

Human hair can often be toned or coloured, but chemical processing permanently changes the hair and may affect its lifespan. We recommend having colour adjustments performed by an experienced professional and testing a hidden strand first.

It is generally safer to choose the closest shade at purchase rather than relying on major colour correction later. Lightening or bleaching pre-coloured extension hair carries a particularly high risk of dryness, uneven colour and damage.

You can, but chlorine, salt water and prolonged soaking can dry the hair and affect colour. Before swimming, detangle and loosely braid the hair. Pre-wetting the lengths with fresh water and using an appropriate leave-in product can reduce absorption. Rinse with fresh water immediately afterwards and dry the attachment area thoroughly.

Light hair is more visibly affected by its environment. UV exposure, hot tools, hard-water minerals, chlorine, copper deposits, sunscreen, tanning products and other product transfer can all alter the tone. Blonde hair may become brassy, dull, pink/orange or occasionally green/ashy depending on the exposure.

Prevention is easier than correction: protect the hair from sun and heat, rinse after swimming, be mindful of body products touching the lengths and consider a shower filter if your water is mineral-heavy.

Yes, some sunscreen and tanning formulations can transfer onto extension hair, particularly pale blondes, and create warm pink, orange or peach staining. Keep body products away from the hair where possible, allow them to absorb fully before the hair touches skin and wash your hands after application.

Common causes include dryness, sleeping with damp hair, mineral or product buildup, insufficient brushing, overdue maintenance and friction at the nape. Start by gently detangling dry hair from the ends upward, then review your wash, hydration and drying routine.

If matting is close to the attachments, do not pull it apart aggressively at home—contact your stylist.

Dryness usually reflects moisture loss from heat, sun, frequent washing or environmental exposure; dullness can also be caused by product or mineral buildup. The solution differs, so simply adding more oil is not always the answer. A gentle cleanse followed by a hydrating mask can help, while persistent buildup may need professional clarifying or chelating treatment.

A small amount of shedding over time can occur with human hair extensions and with normal wear. However, sudden or excessive shedding, bond breakdown or visible weft failure is not something to ignore. Stop tugging or brushing aggressively and contact us or your stylist with clear photos so the cause can be assessed.

Slippage can happen from oil or conditioner near attachment points, incorrect installation, excessive tension, product buildup or individual hair/scalp factors. Do not attempt to glue, tighten or reposition professional attachments yourself. Book your stylist so the placement and condition of your natural hair can be checked safely.

Contact your stylist if you have persistent scalp pain, unusual tension, significant matting near attachments, rapid slippage, broken bonds, excessive shedding or any concern about your natural hair. Extension wear should feel secure and comfortable—not painful.

Please ask us. Shade, length, quantity and method are much easier to get right before the package is opened or the hair is installed. Use our colour and extension matching service or contact us with photos and your desired result.

Our extensions are custom prepared to your selected method, shade, length, fullness, quality and texture. Please allow up to 28 days before dispatch while your order is selected, prepared and quality checked.

Available shipping services and estimated transit times are shown at checkout for your destination. Once your order is dispatched, use the tracking information provided to follow its journey.

Because human hair is a personal-use product, return eligibility depends on the condition of the item and whether packaging, hygiene seals or bindings have been opened, altered or removed. Please check our current Returns & Refunds policy before opening your hair if there is any possibility you may need to return or exchange it.

Hair that has been worn, installed, coloured, washed, cut or otherwise altered cannot generally be returned as new.

Yes. The Mermaid Hair Collective works with qualified salons, hairstylists and extension specialists. Trade partners can access professional pricing, product support and a range designed for salon use. Visit our Trade Account page to apply.

Yes. Trade partners can contact us for support with shade selection, method choice, lengths and ordering. We want stylists to feel confident about what they are installing and clients to receive a result that looks intentional and beautifully blended.