If you have tried to dye your hair in the past and have run into some issues, this is perfectly normal and no need to panic. We’ve laid out everything that you need to know to successfully dye or bleach your hair extensions at home. In this article we’ll cover;
- Why hair extensions won’t dye?
- Is it possible to bleach hair extensions?
- How to bleach your hair extensions without damaging them, a step-by-step guide.
- How to dye your hair extensions, a step-by-step guide.
- Why your hair extensions turned purple or pink, and what to do about it.
Let’s jump straight into it!
Why Hair Extensions Won’t Dye?
If you have run into some issues dyeing your hair extensions, it’s important that you understand exactly why this is so before you jump back into trying to color them again.
Here are some of the reasons:
- They’re synthetic. I decided to start with the most common and important factor, and this is whether your extensions are 100% human hair or synthetic. Synthetic hair cannot be dyed or bleached effectively, as they tend to get an odd shade and can even end up melting or changing shape (eek!) This is because synthetic hair is made from artificial strands made from plastic materials which tend to react badly to heat and strong chemicals found in dye and bleach. Not to mention, there’s not much point dyeing your synthetic hair as they don’t really last very long anyway. Give it a miss! Not sure if your hair extensions are real or synthetic? we wrote a full article on how you can spot fake hair extensions.
- Your hair extensions are dark. If you are attempting to bleach black hair to blonde, you are going to have some serious problems. While this is not impossible to do, it takes time and will not happen overnight. Attempting to do this bold move can cause a lot of damage to your extensions, as you are stripping them of their natural color and adding a much lighter color. Since black hair is extremely difficult to bleach, you’re placing a lot of strain on your hair, which could be why this isn’t working out too well for you. If you have dark extensions and want them blonde, you may be better off buying a separate set of blonde extensions.
- They may be coated in a sealant. Many hair extensions are coated in a sealant which is a kind of oil coating that is necessary for locking in the moisture and keeping it looking shiny and healthy. This can also come from using certain products on your hair before you dye it. However, this could be one of the reasons your hair is struggling to hold the color. I would recommend first washing your hair with a good clarifying shampoo to strip it of the sealant before going ahead and trying to dye it. Check out this awesome article on the 12 best clarifying shampoos and how to use them.
- You’re trying to fix mess-ups the wrong way. OK, so you’ve made a boo-boo, but now you’re trying to fix that boo-boo by making an even bigger one? The more layers of box colors you layer on without really knowing what you’re doing is going to create MASSIVE problems later. You can try using a product that completely strips your hair of color so that you can start again fresh, instead of hopelessly mixing color after color in the hope that things will come right (they won’t). Try using “Color Oops”. You can order it conveniently off Amazon.
Is It Possible To Bleach Hair Extensions?
Many of you may be wondering whether or not it is safe to bleach your hair extensions. Yes, you can bleach your hair extensions, (provided they are 100% real human hair,) but you are going to do some serious damage. Here’s why you wouldn’t want to bleach your hair extensions in the first place.
Hair bleaching is a chemical process whereby you strip the hair of its natural color. It uses an alkaline agent that opens up the hair cuticle and an oxidative agent that penetrates the hair cortex and removes the natural hair color. The longer you leave bleach in your hair, the more color it strips and the lighter it becomes.
While hair bleaching is great for those of you who yearn for beautiful, blonde hair, it’s important you know the damage you are doing.
Bleaching your hair can change the texture, porosity, and elasticity. When your hair is more porous, it is more prone to breakage and split ends. Bleach dries out your hair dramatically, especially hair extensions as they do not have the natural oil that your natural hair does.
If you are going to bleach your hair extensions, you’ll need to make sure you do it the right way and take extra care of your hair afterward. Don’t worry, I’ve got your back. This brings me to my next point.
How to Bleach Hair Extensions Without Damaging Them: A Step-by-Step Guide
Now that you know what you are getting into, it’s time to learn how to do this THE RIGHT WAY so that you don’t end up throwing away your expensive hair extensions.
Here’s how to bleach your hair extensions:
- Clean them thoroughly. Wash your hair 2-3 times to make sure you remove any product build-up that could interfere with the bleaching process. Once they are completely dry you can lay them out on individual sheets of tinfoil.
- Buy a bleach kit. Before you do this, check out the top 10 hair bleach kits of 2019. Once you have your bleach kit, you’re good to go! The darker the hair of the extension, the more lightening power you will want the bleach kit to have. If your hair is dark you will need at least 40 volume power.
- Mix the powder bleach with the liquid developer. Do this in a glass bowl, trust me. Carefully follow the instructions on the box, as you do not want to get the ratio wrong.
- Put on your gloves. This is really important, as you want to protect your skin from harsh chemical burns.
- Massage the mixture into the extensions starting from the top. Apply the bleach using circular motions and moving from the top, near the clip, to the ends. Do this until the extensions are fully saturated.
- Fold the foil over the extensions. Do this in such a way that no bleach spills out. Bleach works best when it is warm and moist, so the foil will retain heat and keep the bleach from drying out as it processes.
- Check on them every 10 minutes. Peel back the foil and observe the color of the extensions. When they are ready to be washed, they will be a shade of very light yellow. If they haven’t reached a yellow color after about 1 hour, remove them from the foil anyway to avoid over-processing your hair and causing serious damage.
- Wash them again. Use a PH balancing shampoo to neutralize the chemicals in the hair and stop the processing. You can even use olive or coconut oil on the strands overnight.
- Allow them to dry. If you are unhappy with the color, you can always bleach them again if you are brave enough. Be very careful when doing this. If all is good, you can move on to the final step.
- Eliminate brassy shades with a toner. A toner is a glaze or gloss that slightly changes the tone of the hair to make it warmer or cooler depending on the desired effect. If your extensions are a little bit brass-toned, a cool shade toner can remove the brass coloring. If you’re looking for a good toner, check out Blonde Platinum Toner.
Check out this video for more tips on how to tone your hair like a pro:
How to Dye Hair Extensions: A Step-by-Step Guide
If you’ve made the decision to dye your hair extensions, then you need to make sure that you know what you are doing so that you don’t damage a very expensive investment.
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do this like a pro:
- Please double check your hair is 100% human hair. Artificial hair will not color properly and you will be left with a huge mess. You can test if your hair is natural here.
- Select your color. This is the important part. Don’t go choose any old box dye from the drugstore, make sure you select a good-quality product that gives you the option to select a developer. A 10-volume developer is a good choice. You can use a 20-volume developer if you wish, but avoid 30- and 40-volume developers as they will damage your hair extensions if you’re not careful. If you’re looking for some good recommendations, check out Jioco Vero’s K-Pak Hair Colour. You can grab it conveniently off Amazon!
- Gather your supplies. You’ll need a color bowl and brush, hair color gloves, tin foil, plastic wrap, a wide-toothed comb, and a towel.
- Organize your work-space. Set up your supplies on a large counter or table so you have enough space. Make sure the room is well-lit so you can see what you are doing. Spread the sheets of tin foil on this surface to prevent staining.
- Mix the color. Following carefully the instructions on the box, prepare your color. You need to mix both the developer and the color. You need about 3-5 ounces of prepared color for your extensions depending on the length. Make sure the extensions are tangle-free and clean before laying them out on the tinfoil. Make sure they are completely dry before coloring them.
- Apply the color. Put on your gloves and grab your brush, it’s time to color! Begin by completely saturating the hair and be sure to coat both sides of your extensions. Rather use too much color than too little, as patchy color is never a good look. Start at the top of the extension, moving downward to the ends. DO NOT apply the color in an upwards fashion as applying the color this way could damage your extensions, and will absolutely leave them a frizzy, disheveled mess.
- Process the color. Now you need to cover up the extensions to hold in the color to prevent the color from drying out before it sets. Use the plastic wrap mentioned above to do this, and apply it loosely.
- Allow this to dry for 20-40 minutes. Check your hair every 10 minutes just to make sure by gently rubbing the color off with a paper towel. Reapply the color with your color brush after checking, and remember that hair color when wet appears darker than it does when dry.
- When the processing is complete and the color of your extensions is completely ready. It’s time to rinse out the hair. Fold your tin foil in half and safely head to the sink.
- Rinse. Rinse the extensions at a cool temperature on low pressure, gently sliding your fingers through the hair. You need to rinse your hair for at least 15 minutes to make sure everything is out. Finish by shampooing your extensions with a mild, sulfate-free, moisturizing or color-safe shampoo.
- Comb and dry. Lastly, lay your extensions down on a clean towel and allow them to dry. Apply a leave-in conditioner to each area of your extensions and comb through gently with your wide-toothed comb. Rather leave your extensions to air dry instead of using a blow-dryer (trust me).
- You’re ready to go!
My Hair Extensions Have Turned Purple or Pink, Now What?
This may sound like a horror story (unless of course, that was the color you planned) but this does in fact happen. The important thing is to keep calm and don’t panic.
The main cause of this is due to a chemical reaction that takes place when the hair is in the processing stage. This chemical reaction can cause a new, custom color to appear in the form of pink or purple color. This usually occurs in the last stage of dyeing when you tone the hair, and this is known as “over-toning.”
I found a really helpful video that explains how you can fix this issue, you can check it out below:
Final Thoughts
Dyeing your hair is both an exciting yet intimidating venture, but if you do your research beforehand and use the proper tools, timing and products you should have no problem achieving the color you want! Always remember to take your time, and never rush—beauty takes time and your hair is worth it.