Hair extensions can be colored, but it is important to keep in mind that human hair extensions behave differently from natural locks and lightening or creating an ombre effect may not be advised.
Always consult a professional salon hairdresser, as they will have extensive experience with dyeing human hair extensions and will guarantee an ideal end result. Before beginning this process, be sure to do a patch test on a small section of hair.
Do I Need to Wash the Extensions First?
If you’re planning to dye your hair extensions, we strongly suggest consulting a professional who specializes in coloring your particular type of extension. A hairdresser who knows their stuff can give you a color that blends flawlessly and looks fabulous!
Before dyeing your extensions, carefully comb through them to untangle any tangles and wash with a sulfate-free shampoo to ensure they’re clean and dry.
Assemble your hair dye according to its manufacturer’s instructions, using equal parts color and developer. Most hair dyes require between 3-5 ounces of dye for your extensions – be sure to have enough on hand before beginning coloring as running out can ruin their look! Once it’s time to rinse off your extensions with cool water under gentle pressure; be careful not to twist or rub at your extensions vigorously as this could damage their locks!
Do I Need to Do a Patch Test?
Professional salon hair extensions are made from human hair and therefore dyeable. Before applying the dye to all strands at once, it is recommended that you test one strand to see how the color responds.
Patch testing is an essential process that all salon stylists perform before applying any hair colour product to any client’s head. It ensures there won’t be an allergic reaction.
Hairdressers typically will take a small dab of the shade selected during consultation and mix it with developer before applying it to a small section on your scalp. After waiting a designated amount of time, they’ll check for allergic reactions before continuing with full service if no allergic reactions have been identified.
Do I Need to Rinse the Extensions?
Clean the extensions by rinsing with cool water at low pressure to eliminate any excess dye. Make sure that you rinse for at least 20 minutes to make sure all the color has been eliminated, and consider shampooing them afterwards with a sulfate-free, moisture-rich conditioner to preserve their color from premature dulling.
For extensions that resemble natural dark-to-light ombre effects, apply color evenly across both wefts and textile strips of each extension. Also make sure that when painting them with color brush that it covers both sides of weft and all ends of extensions.
For your best results with hair extensions, avoid overusing heat styling tools, protecting from sunlight exposure, and avoiding chlorine and saltwater environments. It is advisable to do any coloring a week or so prior to your consultation in order to give your locks ample time to adapt to its new color.
Do I Need to Apply the Dye?
Hair extensions are an effective way to transform your look without damaging natural locks, yet dyeing them can be challenging. First off, consider whether the extensions are human or synthetic: only human-hair extensions can be dyed safely while synthetic ones (made of plastic) cannot.
Before applying dye to your extensions, be sure they are free of tangles. Next, carefully use a brush to apply color without getting it on adhesives or seams. Finally, loosely wrap them in plastic for processing time indicated on your manufacturer directions.
Keep in mind that extensions absorb dye differently than natural hair, so the processing time may need to be extended in order for you to achieve your desired result. After it has run its course, rinse your extensions carefully in warm water and apply conditioner in order to soften and nourish your tresses.