Coloring Hair Extensions Tutorial: Dos and Don’ts
Coloring hair extensions could be a fun way to change your hairstyle if you need a makeover. The question, “Can I color extensions?” comes to mind. The short answer is sure, but there are a few essential considerations to remember before you go color-crazy.
Hair extensions are a great way to quickly lengthen, expand, and volumize your locks, but they are an investment. It can be tricky to dye them at home, so it is recommended to take extensions to a hair salon to minimize damage if you’re doubtful of your coloring skills. If you’re bold enough and want to reduce costs, the at-home dyeing procedure is ideal!
Check out our help line for colored hair extensions if you don’t have much time or don’t feel comfortable going the DIY method.
Before coloring hair extensions, you should be aware of the following:
Contents
- 1 THE PROCESS FOR COLORING EXTENSIONS DARKER IS DIFFERENT FROM GOING LIGHTER
- 2 MAKE SURE YOU GET HUMAN HAIR EXTENSIONS
- 3 How Should I Be Coloring Hair Extensions?
- 3.1 1. CHOOSE A COLOR
- 3.2 2. GATHER YOUR SUPPLIES
- 3.3 3. PREPARATION FOR COLORED HAIR EXTENSIONS
- 3.4 4. MIX THE COLORS
- 3.5 Precautions on Coloring Hair Extensions of the Blonde
- 3.6 5. APPLY THE HAIR COLOR
- 3.7 6. PROCESS THE COLOR
- 3.8 7. RINSE YOUR HAIR EXTENSIONS
- 3.9 8. COMB AND LET HAIR DRY
- 3.10 9. STYLE YOUR EXTENSIONS
- 4 Conclusion
THE PROCESS FOR COLORING EXTENSIONS DARKER IS DIFFERENT FROM GOING LIGHTER
Color extensions whatever color you choose, just like regular human hair. It is a straightforward operation you may carry out in the comfort of your home if you’re coloring hair extensions darker or shifting the tones.
We don’t advise coloring your extensions brighter if that’s what you are planning to do. Regarding your hair extensions, we advise against using any form of bleaching, lightning, or highlighting because it is a sophisticated process that might potentially harm your extensions.
To get light colored hair extensions, we advise bleaching virgin hair (hair that hasn’t been dyed previously), but always check the coloring instructions provided by the brand you’re using and get advice from your hairstylist.
MAKE SURE YOU GET HUMAN HAIR EXTENSIONS
Confirming that your extensions are made of natural human hair before donning the rubber gloves is crucial. Synthetic hair has been chemically processed and is generally not dye-resistant. Thus experts advise against coloring it.
Suppose you’re wondering whether New Times Hair extensions are composed of synthetic or natural hair. In that case, they will be delighted to assure you that all their hair extensions are manufactured from premium, 100% Remy human hair.
We advise against using our seamless products if you plan to dye your hair extensions. If you try to color your seamless clip-in hair extensions, the silicone strip will retain its original color, which results in a huge contrast.
Once you’ve decided whether you can color extensions or not, there are a ton of enjoyable coloring options to take into account. You can experiment with an ombre effect and color your hair extensions to match your own. Ombre color typically starts off lighter at the ends and gradually turns darker at the roots through the midshaft.
The top half of the extensions should be dyed a few shades darker than your hair to mimic a natural dark-to-light transition. This indicates that you should choose a set of extensions that resembles the tips of your ombre.
Are you ready to start? For our comprehensive, step-by-step guide on coloring hair extensions, keep scrolling.
How Should I Be Coloring Hair Extensions?
Follow the simple and necessary steps for coloring hair extensions.
1. CHOOSE A COLOR
Choose your ideal dye first. As boxed color from the drugstore doesn’t allow you to choose a developer for your extensions, using color from a professional hair color and developer brand is recommended. Typically, a 10-volume developer or demi-permanent color is advised.
Suppose this is your first experience coloring your own extensions. In that case, professional stylists advise choosing a subtle hue change to prevent breakage or damage. If you consider platinum highlights or a white-blonde appearance, you should leave it to the professionals.
2. GATHER YOUR SUPPLIES
You’ll also need some hair color gloves, a color bowl and brush, tin foil, plastic wrap, a wide-tooth comb, and a towel in addition to the hair color and developer. Suppose you plan to dye using the watercolor technique. In that case, you will require a deep container, such as a sink, mixing bowl, or plastic bucket/storage container.
Once you have everything you need, it’s time to set up your workspace. Spreadsheets of tin foil over surfaces to shield them from unintended color stains after drying your hair, which can get messy.
3. PREPARATION FOR COLORED HAIR EXTENSIONS
Remember that New Times Hair extensions are pre-conditioned and that the silky coating must be removed for the color to absorb evenly. Plug your sink and add lukewarm water to it.
After that, add a couple of dollops of shampoo to the water and swish it around until it becomes nicely soapy. We advise cleaning one weft of your hair extensions simultaneously (1-clip wefts can be bundled together).
With one hand at the top of the weft, gently wash the hair while immersing it in the water. Be very careful not to twist the hair and avoid rubbing.
Once you’re finished, air-dry your extensions and make sure they are dry before applying color. Before placing extensions on the tin foil, gently comb through them to remove tangles and wash off styling products.
4. MIX THE COLORS
Pay attention to the manufacturer’s instructions when preparing your color. You’ll typically need between three and five ounces of color for your extensions because most hair dyes are made up equally of color and developer. Before you begin coloring hair extensions, ensure you have plenty of dye to prevent it from running out. Having too much is preferable to not having enough.
Precautions on Coloring Hair Extensions of the Blonde
Suppose you want to dye your blonde extensions a trendy or vivid color (pink, blue, grey, etc.). In that case, you can use the watercolor technique, which involves soaking the extensions in water and dye rather than applying the dye directly to each weft.
We advise purchasing two bottles to guarantee you have enough dye for the entire set. You’ll need a deep container or your sink for this. However, we only recommend using stainless steel sinks because bright colors can discolor white or porcelain sinks.
A quarter-size amount of dye should be added to your container, along with hot water (not scalding, boiling hot water). Mix the water thoroughly to ensure that all the dye is dissolved and that no little bits are floating around. Continue adding dye after that until the water is a vivid, bright color.
5. APPLY THE HAIR COLOR
It’s time to start coloring hair extensions now! But always conduct a strand test before applying the dye. Before applying all over, paint the final few inches of a tiny hair part or the one clip weft.
If you’re using the watercolor technique, fully submerge the weft in the water and let it sit there for a few seconds to a minute. After that, remove it and gently squeeze any remaining water into a deep bowl or sink by beginning at the weft’s base and working your way down.
You may observe how much of the color the weft has absorbed after doing this once. We advise putting the weft in water and squeezing the excess water out multiple times if you still feel the weft may be brighter.
The hair will absorb more color the more often you do this. Depending on how that goes, add extra dye or soak the weft for a while in the water before using it. Additionally, keep in mind that the color may appear lighter after drying.
Then, proceed as you would with natural hair by letting it sit for the specified time, rinsing, shampooing, and drying. Avoid shampoo while using the watercolor technique because it can cause the semi-permanent color to fade. Even though it may seem like a lot of work, this test will allow you to determine whether the hair will turn out the proper color before dyeing the entire head of the hair.
If you’re pleased with the results, don your gloves and paint each weft individually with the dye using a color brush. Slide the color brush downward from the top of the extensions to the very end.
The upward color application could cause damage and make hair look frizzy. The color should completely cover the hair from top to bottom on both sides. Repeat the process for the remaining wefts in the watercolor technique, then set them aside when finished.
As you add the remaining wefts, you’ll see that the water gradually gets lighter in color, or you may run out of water altogether because each weft will absorb the dye. If you see this, add more dye or water to the mixture to dilute it before moving on. You can move directly to step 7 after finishing all the wefts.
6. PROCESS THE COLOR
After all your fully colored hair extensions, loosely wrap them in plastic wrap. By doing this, the color is kept from drying out before penetrating the hair. How long the color should process for should be specified in the manufacturer’s instructions; this time frame is often between 20 and 40 minutes.
You can check the color by gently running a paper towel over a bit of hair while the extensions are processing. After these inspections, reapply the color with the color brush.
7. RINSE YOUR HAIR EXTENSIONS
Once the process is finished and you are happy with the color of your extensions, rinse the hair thoroughly. While rinsing extensions with cool water under low pressure, massage any remaining color out of the hair with your fingertips.
Let the water flow freely through your hair, from the top of any colored hair extensions to the bottom. To ensure that all of the dye is removed, continue rinsing for at least 15 to 20 minutes. After that, shampoo your extensions with a sulfate-free moisturizing or color-friendly solution.
If using the watercolor technique, skip the shampooing step because it can fade the semi-permanent dye. The next step is a sulfate-free deep conditioning treatment to replenish any moisture the hair may have lost throughout the coloring procedure.
8. COMB AND LET HAIR DRY
After giving them some TLC, it’s time to comb and dry your extensions. Apply a leave-in conditioner to your extensions and spread a towel over your work area. Once your hair is dried, gently comb it with a wide-tooth comb to reduce shedding.
Let the colored hair extensions air-dry before you use or style them (do not use a blow dryer). It is also crucial to ensure that the hair extensions are completely dry and use a heat protectant spray for heat tools, such as a curling iron.
9. STYLE YOUR EXTENSIONS
Your extensions are ready to be styled once they have dried. From the traditional long waves to the extremely high ponytails, there are many various methods to use extensions. Whatever style you choose, it’s better, to begin with your natural hair. It would be easier to mix the hair extensions if you give your hair waves and curls.
We advise using a curling iron on one-inch portions of hair, wrapping your hair around the barrel away from your head for gorgeous, natural-looking waves. After curling your hair, smooth it out with a brush.
The wefts may be dragged out of position, so curl the extensions before you clip them in. Then, for a seamless mix, clip them into your hair that is already styled. Clip in a three-inch weft at the nape of your neck, then section hair one or two inches above that to clip in a four-inch weft.
Use bigger wefts on the broadest part of your head as you go. Use the one- and two-inch weft towards the end to add length and fullness to your face. Finally, put a light coat of hair spray on your mane and add hair oil to the limitations and any frizzy areas to give it a glossy appearance.
Conclusion
When you feel like doing DIY your hair extensions, why not try coloring hair extensions at home? Before you start, make sure they are made of natural human hair and that you are coloring them a darker shade. Suppose any of these instructions seem daunting to you, or you want to avoid damaging your extensions. In that case, we do, however, recommend consulting a professional hair colorist.
Click here to view a complete collection of human hair extensions for women.