"How long will these last" is in the top three questions every consultation includes, and it's the question where salons hedge the most. The honest answer depends on the hair grade, the install method, and how the client cares for the hair at home. Saying "a year" without context isn't useful.
This is the real timeline for double-drawn Slavic hair extensions in 2026, based on what we actually see in the chair at Beautico, broken down by month so you can plan your maintenance and your budget.
First, what "double-drawn" actually means
Hair is sold in two grades: single-drawn and double-drawn. The terms refer to how the bundles were sorted after harvest.
Single-drawn hair includes the natural taper of a ponytail. The bundle has long strands at the top and shorter strands mixed in below. This is how hair grows naturally, and it gives a soft tapered look at the ends but less density.
Double-drawn hair has been hand-sorted to remove most of the shorter strands. A 22 inch bundle is mostly 22 inch strands, not a mix of 18 to 22 inch strands with shorter ones underneath. The result is uniform thickness from root to tip, which is what most extension clients are paying for.
Double-drawn is more expensive because the sorting takes hours per bundle and discards 30 to 50 percent of the hair. It also lasts longer in service because the density doesn't thin out as the hair wears.
The 12 month timeline for double-drawn Slavic
Here's what to expect across a year of wear, assuming the hair is genuine single-donor Slavic, installed properly, and maintained on schedule.
Months 0 to 2: New hair, new look
The hair is at its best in the first 8 weeks. Soft, glossy, full density end to end. Tape-in clients usually book their first move-up at week 7 or 8. Hand-tied clients typically come in at week 9 or 10.
What to watch for: nothing concerning should happen in this window. If the hair feels dry, looks dull, or starts shedding noticeably in the first month, it wasn't double-drawn Slavic to start with.
Months 2 to 4: First and second move-ups
Your natural hair has grown about an inch. The attachment points are now visible if you part your hair carefully. Time for the first move-up.
The hair itself should look almost identical to install day after a wash and dry. Maybe a touch less shine because the toner has faded slightly. This is the window where your stylist will recommend a glaze refresh to bring the color back to install-day saturation. About $80 to $180 depending on salon.
Months 4 to 6: Hitting the rhythm
By month 6, you've had two to three move-ups. The hair has been washed, styled, and exposed to product for half a year. Double-drawn Slavic still looks full and the ends still match the rest of the bundle in density. The cuticle is starting to feel slightly less smooth in the bottom 2 inches, which is normal.
What to expect: a slightly more frequent need for hydrating masks, and slightly more careful blow-drying. The hair isn't damaged, just a little drier than month one.
Months 6 to 9: The real test
This is where lower-grade hair starts to fail. You'll see clients with mid-tier "Russian" hair start to shed visibly, tangle at the nape, and dull noticeably. Double-drawn Slavic doesn't.
What you might see in this window with quality hair: the very tip of the strands looking a touch less full than at install, especially around the face where the hair sees the most heat styling. Most clients can't tell the difference, but a stylist looking closely can.
This is when we recommend a dust trim. A quarter inch off the ends, no length lost, refreshes the look for the back half of the cycle.
Months 9 to 12: Late-cycle
The hair has been in for nearly a year. By now most clients are on their 5th or 6th move-up. The cuticle is no longer as fully aligned as it was on day one. Wash days take a touch longer because the hair likes more conditioner than it did originally.
For tape-in clients, the adhesive strips on the existing panels are getting thinner. Your stylist will probably recommend swapping a few panels in the highest wear zones (around the face, at the crown) for fresh ones. The hair gets transferred over to new tape strips. Cost is roughly $150 to $300 for a partial refresh.
For hand-tied clients, the wefts themselves usually go strong through this window. The anchors and beads might need refreshing, but the hair is fine.
Months 12 to 18: Decision point
This is when most clients face the "replace or extend" decision.
Tape-in extensions usually need their adhesive panels replaced by month 12 to 14. If the hair on the panels is still in good shape, your stylist can transfer the hair to new tape strips. Otherwise you're looking at a new set of hair.
Hand-tied Slavic wefts can often run to month 15 to 18 before replacement, sometimes longer if you've been careful with heat and sun exposure. The wefts get reattached to fresh anchor points at every move-up, so the install itself never "ages."
What shortens the lifespan
Even good hair fails faster when these things happen:
- Sulfate shampoos. They strip the cuticle. The hair will start to look dull and dry by month 4 instead of month 9.
- Daily heat styling above 400 F. Even good Slavic hair degrades under repeated high heat without protection.
- Chlorine and salt water without rinsing. Both dry the hair fast. Rinse with fresh water immediately after swimming and apply a leave-in.
- Sleeping with wet hair. The friction against a pillowcase weakens the cuticle and loosens tape-in bonds.
- Skipping move-ups. Hair that grows out past the move-up date starts to mat near the attachment points, which forces the next stylist to cut hair away to detangle.
- Box dye or at-home toning. The most common warranty-voiding mistake. Always have toning done at the salon.
What extends the lifespan
And the opposite. Clients who get 14 to 18 months out of one set of hair almost always do these things:
- Sulfate-free, silicone-light shampoo and conditioner
- Weekly hydrating mask, especially on the mid-lengths and ends
- Heat protectant before every styling tool
- Loop or extension-safe brush, not a regular paddle brush
- Silk or satin pillowcase
- Move-ups on schedule, every time
- Quarterly glaze refreshes to keep the color saturated
None of these are difficult. Most clients adopt the routine in the first month and keep it for the life of their hair.
The honest cost-per-month math
For a $3,650 hand-tied install that lasts 15 months including maintenance, the all-in cost works out to roughly $325 per month. That's the hair, the install, all six move-ups, and a glaze refresh. The same install with mid-tier hair that fails at month 6 ends up costing closer to $480 per month because you replace twice as often.
This is the real argument for double-drawn Slavic. Not that it's the cheapest hair on the shelf, but that the monthly cost of ownership is lower over time.
The summary
Double-drawn Slavic hair, installed properly and cared for correctly, lasts:
- Tape-in: 9 to 14 months on the original panels, longer if hair is transferred to fresh tape
- Hand-tied weft: 12 to 18 months on the original wefts, sometimes longer
If your hair is failing faster than that, the issue is usually grade (not actually double-drawn or not actually single-donor Slavic), or routine (sulfates, heat, skipping move-ups). Both fixable.
Book a consultation at Beautico if you want to see what your hair looks like under the loupe before deciding what to invest in.