Can You Dye Hair Extensions?

With so many cool and trendy hair colours all over social media, it’s no surprise that many of you want to know if and how you can dye your hair extensions. And the answer is yes, you can dye hair extensions - but the process might be quite different from what you would expect. Whether you are new to the world of hair dye and hair extensions or are a seasoned trendsetter who knows what's up when it comes to trends and hair choices for the sake of fashion, keep on reading and find out everything you need to know about altering the colour of your hair extensions. 

We understand that buying new real hair extensions each time you want to change your hair colour can be quite costly. So read on to find out how to dye your human hair extensions multiple times while minimising damage to your extensions.

Of course, when you have an impressive array of over 70 shades available, we would always encourage you to get a fresh set of hair extensions that matches your new hair colour, rather than getting them dyed. And if you're finding it difficult, you can always resort to our FREE Colour Matching Service so that one of our team's experts can help you with a colour match. Why should you not dye your hair extensions? Well, the thing is, you technically can - like I said earlier - however, just like it happens with natural hair, chemically altering the colour or pattern of your hair extensions can become damaging over time. This can result in loss of shine, softness, and manageability in your tresses. 

Remy extensions are already processed in order to achieve a certain colour and to align the cuticles for maximum silkiness and shine. Therefore, bleaching or lightening the hair in any way can negatively affect your extensions' quality and lifespan! On top of that, human hair extensions are not attached to your scalp, so they don't receive any nourishment or oils from it, meaning that you will need to pay extra attention to your tresses' care, focusing on hydrating products and regularly using hair oils or a good dose of Moisturising Silky Spray. 

The Hair Dyeing Process: Choosing Your Hair Dye The more I work with hair extensions and the hair industry in general, the more I have realised that a lot of people have no clue what the hair dyeing process involves. Some think that it’s like “painting” on your hair, and that you can go from a dark brunette shade to bright red in one go without bleach or lightener. Some others, instead, are convinced that hair dye is just as damaging as bleach. So, what does dyeing your hair entail? Let’s find out together. First things first, you need to know what type of hair dye you’re going for. There are three main categories: permanent, semi-permanent, and temporary. Permanent Hair Dye Permanent hair dyes are… well, permanent. This type of colouring penetrates the hair shaft and alter the natural pigmentation permanently. Ideal for those who are looking for a lasting change, and operate on oxidation. On top of that, permanent hair dye is perfect for covering stubborn greys! When working on human hair extensions permanent hair extensions are often used. Semi-Permanent Hair Dye Semi-permanent dyes offer a temporary change that will fade over time. These colours are usually ammonia-free and peroxide-free, and don’t really penetrate the hair shaft deeply. They can be used for a seasonal change that can be reverted quite easily afterward. Temporary Hair Dye Temporary hair dye is “fun for one day”. It can come in the form of sprays, colouring chalk, or even colouring conditioner. Usually washes away in one or a few more shampoos, depending on the product you’ve gone for. They are generally safe to use on hair extensions, although some shades may be staining on hair extensions that are particularly light in colour – such as in the case of platinum blonde hair extensions. When selecting hair dye for human hair extensions, evaluate the texture, conditions, and colour of your hair extensions. Then, they will likely perform a strand test to see how your permanent hair extensions or clip in hair extensions react to the colour/brand they are willing to use.  The Hair Dyeing Process: Application Now that you’ve chosen your hair dye, it’s time for application. Depending on the dye job that you’re going for, different techniques (or a combination of two or more) can be employed to give you the expected results. Depending on what you’re going for, your stylist may decide to go for the traditional brush-on application – often the best option for precision! – or more modern approaches, such as dip-dye or even balayage. Keep in mind that more often than not, you’ll see something on the internet that you’ll want to bring in as an image reference – however, before doing so, have a consultation and find out what techniques your local salon can and cannot offer. Do your research, and check salon social profiles and portfolios to see if they’ve ever created something similar to what you’d like to achieve! The Hair Dyeing Process: Waiting Time Once the hair dye is on, the processing time can vary depending on the type of dye used, the depth of colour, and sometimes it’s even specific to the brand. Generally speaking, most hair dyes now require around 30 to 45 minutes to process, whilst a toner can be left on for less – around 20 minutes. Sometimes, certain hair dyes require longer exposure time to set in – we’re talking hours!
Aftercare and Maintenance: Quench The Thirst Taking care of freshly dyed hair and hair extensions is quite easy: you just need to make sure you look after your tresses the right way! To preserve the colour vibrancy and health of your fresh hair extensions you should always use sulphate-free and paraben-free shampoos and conditioner. If you’re looking for the perfect set to wash and take care of your hair and hair extensions, look no further than the Quench The Thirst hair care collection! Enriched with Shea butter, infused with Baobab seed oil and silk amino acids, the Quench The Thirst: Deep Moisture trio is what you need to keep your tresses soft, moisturised, shiny, and manageable. Starting with a 100% sulphate-free shampoo and conditioner duo and ending with a rich, thick hair mask powered by avocado oil, coconut oil, fig extracts and honey, this hair care trio will replenish the moisture level in your tresses like nobody else. Make sure you reduce your use of heat-based styling tools – and every time you have to resort to your curling wand and flat iron, please spray your tresses with a generous dose of Heat Protection Spray first!

Dyeing Hair Extensions Darker 

If you are wearing blonde hair extensions or any other light hair colours in your tresses, know thst you can happily go darker with the right type of hair dye. In terms of "how many times can you dye hair extensions", you can go up to three dye jobs on your Remy hair extensions and they should still be good to go. Going darker gives you quite a lot of freedom, and often pigmentation deposit from darker hair dye will help you replenish the hair fibres, preventing dryness and brittleness. Make sure that you wash, rinse, and properly condition your freshly dyed hair extensions after you have dyed them. When in doubt, ask a professional to do this for you! You can also take your clip in hair extensions to the salon for a dye job that matches your new colour. 

 

 

Choosing a new hair colour can be quite a challenge, and that's why besides requesting some professional advice you should always try to understand your hair type, skin undertone, and face shape - so that you can achieve flawless and incredible transformations every time you feel like experimenting with your hair and hair colour. The same goes for human hair extensions after all, since they are meant to match your style. If you'd like to know more about this, check out our dedicated blog: How To Choose A New Hair Colour.

Can You Dye Hair Extensions Lighter?

 

Making your hair lighter involves the use of peroxides that are not suitable for hair extensions. During manufacturing, the virgin hair used to create hair extensions in different shades already goes through chemical processing that includes lightening/bleaching, and toning. Not only this: Remy hair extensions are also covered in a protective coat that keeps them shiny, soft, and manageable - a coat that already wears off with the expected wear and tear throughout the lifespan of a set of hair extensions. Bleach and lighteners would irreparably damage this coat, and react unpredictably on your hair extensions, possibly leading to patchy and uneven lifting of the pigmentation. In other words: do NOT bleach your hair extensions!

Achieving Bright Hair Colours

If you're after funky shades to express your style and personality, don't worry: you're not alone, I get it. And I also understand how hard it can be to match your funky-coloured hair to your hair extensions! For this reason, a lot of people choose to custom-dye their tresses. Make sure that you work your funky shades with semi-permanent hair dye on light-coloured hair extensions, looking after your tresses with the right products so that the colour can be kept bright and vibrant just like the first day. Are bright colours safe to use on hair and hair extensions? Usually, yes: most funky hair dyes, in fact, do not include peroxide or lighteners. You can also try colour-pigmented conditioners and shampoos to give a vibrant hue to light blonde hair!

Feel like wearing the colours of the rainbow? You can do that too! Make sure you protect each section by using tin foil so that the colours don't mix up.

Tips For Dyeing Hair Extensions

If you're feeling adventurous and decided to embark on a homemade hair dye job journey, there are a few things that you should keep in mind. Number one, always carry out a strand test before applying any hair dye on your tresses, so that you know how your hair extensions will react to the hair dye. If you're dyeing your natural hair on top of your hair extensions, make sure you follow the instructions correctly and perform the indicated patch test to avoid any allergies and skin reactions. 

Be mindful of the amount of time you leave the dye in. Exceeding the processing time could result in an intense, stronger hue that you might not like. At the same time, leaving the hair dye on for less time will result in a lighter, toner-like shade. If you leave the hair dye for less than 15 minutes, chances are the developer won't be able to correctly lift the cuticle, meaning that the hair dye won't be able to fully penetrate the hair fibres, leaving the colour dull, uneven and easy to wash off. And no, even if you could, you don't want to dye your hair again! When using box dye, make sure you always follow the manufacturer's instructions on the box/leaflet, and test the product on a single strand before committing to the full-head dye job.  

Once you're done with the colouring and you've waited the right amount of time, make sure you thoroughly rinse the dye off. Last but not least, let your hair extensions air-dry to help the colour set in and last longer! 

When washing the dye from your hair extensions, avoid hot water and stick to lukewarm water instead. Finally, giving your hair extensions a cold-water rinse at the end will help seal the cuticles and enhance their shine!   

If you need help, contact our team of hair experts for your hair questions. And don’t forget to hashtag #WearCliphair on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter to show off your looks.

Conclusion

By using the right hair dye, performing a strand test, and taking good care of your hair and hair extensions, dyeing your extensions can be an easy and harmless process that will lead you to save money and achieve the look of your dreams. If you’re still unsure about dyeing your hair extensions, speak to a trained salon professional, or come and chat to our team for some hair extensions advice! 

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