Comprehensive guide to dyeing hair extensions

One of the most frequent questions we receive from our customers is "Can I dye clip-in hair extensions?" or "Can I color tape-in extensions?", etc. To determine if you can dye the hair extensions or not, it depends on whether your hair extensions are made of 100% cuticle-aligned human hair. If your hair extensions are Remy hair or virgin hair, of course, you can change the color of the hair extensions as you desire. 

It's an easy and budget-friendly solution to dye hair extensions when the extensions you buy aren't quite the right color for you. However, there are some tips that you'd better keep in mind before you color your hair extensions. Just keep scrolling.

Can you dye hair extensions?

The short answer to this question is definitely "yes" if the hair extensions you buy are 100% human hair. Human hair extensions allow you to do anything you can with your natural hair, including dyeing, bleaching, curling or straightening, etc. Synthetic hair is made of nylon or polyester that cannot be dyed. Dyeing or bleaching synthetic hair can destroy it. Thus, before you dive into the dyeing process, make sure the extensions you buy are made of 100% Remy hair or virgin hair. 

If you don't know where to buy affordable human hair extensions of high quality, click and explore the latest selection of hair extension deals at ElfinHair. ElfinHair's hair extensions are designed for black hair. All our hair extensions can seamlessly blend with black hair and are made of 100% cuticle-aligned human hair.

Can you dye hair extensions while they are on your head?

Yes. Even if your hair extensions are fitted to your head, you can dye them. But we suggest that you seek a certified stylist to handle the process instead of DIY at home if you plan to dye your hair with hair extensions installed. 

How to dye extensions?

Items you need to get ready before dyeing hair extensions:

Hair dye;

Developer;

A plastic bowl;

A brush;

A pair of rubber gloves;

Foil;

Plastic wrap;

A wide-tooth comb;

A piece of soft towel;

Color-safe shampoo and conditioner;

Here are some steps for coloring hair extensions at home:

Step 1: Make a strand test

Grab a small strand of hair extensions separately, and lay them on the foil. Mix the hair dye according to the instructions on the package. Spread the hair dye mixture evenly on the hair strands. Follow the instructions on the dye package and let the color sit for about 20-40 minutes. Check every 8-10 minutes to see if it is the hair shade you desire. 

Step 2: Prepare your job

Place the foil on a flat table. Put on a pair of rubber gloves. And you can wear an old t-shirt to protect your clothes. Lay your hair extensions out flat on the foil. Detangle your hair extensions from roots to tips with a comb. 

Step 3: Mix the hair dye

Make sure you have put on your gloves. If you bought box dye, mix the hair dye according to the instructions on the package. With professional hair dye, you may need to mix the dye and developer in a 1:1 ratio. To protect your natural hair, developers of 10 to 20 volumes work best. Squeeze out the hair dye and developer into a plastic bowl, and blend it well with a brush. 

Step 4: Apply hair color

Lay your hair extensions out flat on the foil. Distribute the color evenly on the hair extensions with a brush. Slowly comb through the hair extensions from roots to tips to make the dye as even as possible. Once you have dyed one side, flip the extension over and apply hair dye to the other side evenly. Repeat the process strand by strand.

Step 5: Process the color

After you finish dyeing all the hair extensions, let them sit for a while (about 20-40 minutes) for the time indicated by the strand test. Let your coated hair extensions lie flat on the foil and be covered with plastic wrap to avoid the color drying out. Check every 8-10 minutes to see if the hair extensions are turning the color you desire. 

Step 6: Rinse hair extensions

Once the hair extensions reach the shade you desire, rinse the hair extensions under a tap. Let cool water run through your hair extensions from roots to tips. Gently rub the hair extensions to help get off the hair dye on the surface. Rinse your hair extensions until there is no more color running off. Pat dry your hair extensions with a soft towel.

Step 7: Shampoo and condition your hair extensions

Gently wash your hair extensions with color-safe shampoo. Rinse the hair extensions under cold water and let the water flow from the roots to the tips. Squeeze out the excess water and apply a color-safe conditioner to add extra moisture to the hair extensions. Let the hair conditioner sit for about 10-20 minutes. You can gently rub the hair extensions with your fingers to make the conditioner work deeply. Or you can gently brush through your hair extensions from roots to tips with a wide-tooth comb to help the conditioner work deeply. There is no need to worry about the wet extensions getting tangled since the hair conditioner has already smoothed them out. Rinse off the conditioner under cold water again until there is no more color running out. 

Step 8: Dry your hair extensions

Squeeze out the excess water, lay your hair extensions flat on a towel and pat them dry. Spread out the towel and let your hair extensions air dry.

Step 9: Style your hair extensions

Before you wear or style your hair extensions, make sure they are completely dry. 

Avoid styling your hair extensions or applying any heat to your hair extensions within 48 hours after the dyeing process.

After installation, you can choose to straighten or curl your hair extensions with heat styling tools to achieve a more seamless blend. Don't forget to spray your hair with a heat protector before you apply heat to your extensions. Finally, it's also a smart idea to massage a small amount of hair oil or leave-in conditioner from the mid-length toward the ends of your hair extensions. 

Tips and tricks for coloring hair extensions

Before dyeing:

Tip 1: If you desire to wear a lighter shade for your hair extensions, you will need to bleach your hair extensions in advance. As with bleaching your real hair, the hair may be damaged and more prone to tangling as a result. Thus, a darker hair shade is recommended for those who desire to DIY at home. If you dream of a lighter highlight or a blonde look, you'd better buy colored hair extensions directly from hair vendors. Or let a professional dye your hair.

Tip 2: If you opt for curly hair, bleaching or coloring may alter the original curl pattern. Therefore, we recommend you opt for a tighter curl if you desire a curl or wave texture.

Tip 3: Often the color is slightly darker in the first few days after dyeing, but after a few washes the shade starts to fade. So it is a wise choice to opt for a darker shade than your original expectations.

Tip 4: If the hair extensions you plan to dye are old, you'd better wash and dry your hair extensions before the dyeing process. If your hair extensions are brand new, you don't need to wash them before the dyeing process. 

Tip 5: Comb through your hair extensions gently from roots to tips to minimize tangles and loosen dirt before the dyeing process.

Tip 6: Do a strand test before dyeing all your hair extensions. Mix the color and apply the hair dye mixture to a strand of hair extensions in advance to check whether it is the shade you desire. This is a smart idea to avoid ruining your hair extensions, especially if you plan to DIY at home.

After dyeing:

Tip 1: Avoid washing your colored hair extensions within 48 hours after the dyeing process. This can help slow down the fading process.

Tip 2: Avoid washing your hair extensions too frequently. Typically once a week is enough unless your hair extensions are so dirty. Opt for dry shampoo to soak up the roots of hair extensions and your scalp between two washing days.

Tip 3: Wash your natural hair and your hair extensions separately. If you wash your hair with colored extensions on, your hair extensions may get tangled with your natural hair and lead to unnecessary hair shed. 

Tip 4: Choose a color-safe shampoo and hair conditioner for your hair care routine. 

Tip 5: Avoid applying high temperatures to your colored hair extensions. Just like your standard natural hair, dyeing hair extensions will inevitably make your extensions become fragile and prone to getting tangled. Wash your colored hair extensions with cold water. Allow your hair extensions to air dry. 

Tip 6: Avoid applying too much heat while styling your hair extensions. If it is necessary, spray a heat protector before heat styling. 

Tip 7: Apply a small amount of natural oil or leave-in hair conditioner to your hair extensions regularly to add moisture and shine. 

Conclusion:

In conclusion, dyeing hair extensions at home is yet achievable. We hope this post is helpful to you. Of course, if you feel the dyeing process is a bit complicated, bringing yourself to the salon and asking for help from a certified stylist is also a wise choice.

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