How Often Should You Move Up or Retape Your Extensions? Here’s What Stylists Recommend

If you wear extensions, you already know how much confidence they bring. You leave the salon with fuller, longer hair that makes you feel unstoppable. But here’s something most clients don’t realize until it’s too late: keeping that perfect look depends entirely on how often you move them up.

I’ve seen every version of this mistake at LAHH Salon here in Bay Harbor Islands. Clients who wait too long, try to fix them at home, or book “just one more week” after the six-week mark. What happens next is almost always the same: slipping beads, tangling near the scalp, and unnecessary breakage that could have been completely avoided.

That’s why I wanted to share two stories from real clients, both of whom learned how timing makes all the difference.

When Amara Waited Too Long

Amara came to me on a humid Friday, clutching her hair like she was trying to hold it together. She had installed hybrid wefts two months earlier at another salon but hadn’t come back for a move-up. She said, “It still feels fine,” as she ran her fingers through her hair, but the moment I looked closer, I saw the problem.

The beads had slipped more than an inch from her scalp. A few were sitting at awkward angles, and fine strands underneath had started to tangle around them. That’s what happens when the natural hair grows out: the weight of the extension pulls on weaker areas. It’s not visible right away, but it’s happening underneath.

When I started removing her rows, she froze. “Oh my god, that’s my hair in there?” she asked, looking at the tiny web of shed strands stuck in the weft. I nodded gently. “This is normal shedding. It just gets trapped when extensions aren’t moved up on time.”

We cleansed everything carefully, replaced the worn-out beads, and gave her scalp a hydration treatment before reinstalling her extensions closer to the root. The difference was instant. The next morning, she texted, “It feels lighter, cleaner, and my scalp isn’t sore anymore.”

Four weeks later, she came back right on schedule. This time, no tangles, no slipping, no panic. Six months later, she’s still one of my most consistent clients. Every six weeks, she’s here, coffee in hand, ready for her move-up. She laughs now when she remembers that first appointment. “I thought I could stretch it to eight weeks,” she said last time. “Never again.”

The Move-Up that Saved Malia’s Wedding Hair

Malia’s story was different. She came in for what was supposed to be her regular retape until I noticed something off. She was getting married in two weeks, but her extensions were overdue by almost three weeks because she had been too busy with wedding planning.

She sat down and sighed. “I know, I pushed it too far. I just need it to look good for the wedding.”

When I started examining her tape-ins, I could see small mats forming near the roots where the adhesive had loosened. A few sections were twisting slightly, which can lead to breakage if left alone. I told her, “If we try to style over this, it’ll look fine today but won’t survive the weekend. Let’s fix it properly now.”

She agreed, though she looked nervous when I said we’d need to fully remove and reapply everything. But three hours later, when she saw her reflection, she smiled for the first time all week. Her hair looked seamless, full, glossy, and weightless again.

Two weeks later, on the morning of her wedding, I got a message: “My hair still feels perfect. Not one piece lifted. You’re a miracle worker.”

Three months later, she came back for her regular maintenance and told me she’d been complimented nonstop on her hair at the wedding. “Even my photographer asked where I got them done,” she said.

Now she books every eight weeks without fail because she’s learned that timing isn’t optional. It’s part of the investment.

The Magic Number: Six to Eight Weeks

So, how often should you move up or retape your extensions?

For most clients, the sweet spot is every six to eight weeks. That’s the ideal window where the extensions have grown out just enough to need adjustment but not so much that they start to pull or tangle.

Here’s why timing matters so much:

• Prevents tension and damage: The farther the bead or tape moves from the scalp, the more strain it places on your natural hair.
• Keeps extensions discreet: Proper repositioning ensures the wefts or tapes stay invisible and natural-looking.
• Protects your investment: Extensions aren’t cheap. Regular move-ups extend their lifespan and save you from replacing hair prematurely.
• Keeps your scalp healthy: When extensions sit too far from the root, oils and buildup can trap underneath, leading to irritation or breakage.
  
  

For hybrid wefts, I typically recommend a mini move-up at six weeks and a full removal and reinstallation at twelve. For tape-ins, it’s usually every six to eight weeks depending on your hair growth rate.

If you’re someone who styles daily, works out often, or lives in Florida’s humid climate, you might need to come in closer to that six-week mark.

What Happens During a Move-Up

At LAHH Salon, a move-up isn’t just a quick tightening appointment. It’s a full maintenance service designed to refresh and protect your extensions.

Here’s what we usually do:

1. Assess the condition of your extensions by checking bead placement, scalp health, and overall wear.
2. Remove and clean each section, carefully detangling shed hair and buildup.
3. Replace worn-out beads or tapes, ensuring perfect alignment with your scalp.
4. Reinstall extensions closer to the root for even tension and comfort.
5. Perform a gloss or toner, especially for blended color extensions that need tonal refresh every few weeks.
6. Finish with a hydrating treatment to keep both your natural hair and extensions soft and strong.
   
   

It’s part of why clients love our move-up appointments. They don’t just leave with refreshed extensions. Their entire hair feels lighter, healthier, and more manageable.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

If you’re new to extensions, these are the mistakes I see most often:

• Waiting too long between appointments
  “I’ll go next week” turns into tangles, slipping, and unnecessary damage. Stick to your stylist’s schedule.
• Using the wrong brush or comb
  Only use extension-safe brushes and always start detangling from the ends upward.
• Skipping professional products
  Sulfate-free shampoo and heat protectant aren’t optional. They’re essential.
• Applying oils or conditioners too close to the scalp
  It can break down the adhesive or cause beads to slip.
• Trying to fix problems at home
  If you feel tension or a bead slipping, don’t pull or re-tighten it yourself. That’s how most damage starts.
  
  

What Stylists Want You to Know

Extensions are an incredible confidence boost, but they require partnership between you and your stylist. Your hair will always tell us what it needs; you just have to come in often enough for us to listen.

If you ever feel unsure, call or text before trying something at home. We would rather see you for a quick check-in than have to repair damage later.

At LAHH Salon, every extension service is customized for your lifestyle, hair type, and routine. Whether you’re wearing hybrid wefts, tape-ins, or keratin bonds, we’ll build a maintenance plan that protects your hair and keeps your extensions looking seamless through every season.

Final Thoughts

Amara and Malia both learned the same lesson in different ways: extensions only look effortless when you maintain them consistently.

So if it’s been longer than eight weeks since your last move-up or retape, this is your sign. Don’t wait until your scalp feels tight or your beads start slipping. Healthy extensions depend on care and timing, and a professional who knows your hair as well as you do.

If you’re ready to refresh your extensions or want a stylist who truly understands maintenance, we’re here for you.

Call (305) 877-7706 or book online to reserve your appointment at LAHH Salon, 1090 Kane Concourse Unit B, Bay Harbor Islands, FL 33154.

Because great hair isn’t just installed. It’s maintained.