Hair Extensions: To Dye or Not to Dye

To dye or not to dye…

As I may have mentioned before, and anyone who’s seen me knows, I have bright purple hair that I’ve been doing myself for years. In that time I’ve learned plenty about how to do it, and also how NOT to do it. Some things of note for selecting color and hair type:

*Check out our Bohyme Color Chart and our Pre-Tipped Hair extensions color ring for all your color options. If there is not an extensions blend that you find suitable for matching your own color, the best bet for matching your hair color, whether alternative or natural, is to color the extensions with the same formula used on your own hair.

*We do not recommend using a permanent color mixture on any of our pre-processed, textured or colored hair, like Bohyme Hair Extensions.

*Ammonia or peroxide-based color mixtures degrade the hair cuticle, occasionally leading to dryness, rough texture and breakage. If your permanent hair color comes in several different tubes that you mix together to apply, it’s likely that you are using ammonia or peroxide-based color.

*For permanent coloring, virgin Indian hair is most recommended. Note that the color samples that line the product shelves are often synthetic hair, or hair that has already been bleached to platinum and re-processed, so your results will vary greatly. If you are looking to have Indian Hair lifted to a blonde color, you may want to get high-lift bleach and lift all the color out of the hair first, or your desired honey blonde may end up brassy or orange.

*If you do not color your hair yourself or have never ventured into the arena of hair color in the past, we recommend getting input from a professional, especially for matching highlight patterns and other multiple-process colors.
*For multiple processes, such as lifting with bleach and reapplying color, shampoo and condition between processes, but after the final process, simply rinse well and condition to neutralize the active lifting and depositing chemicals.

*Coloring and highlighting of weft hair can be done before or after the hair has been applied. Infusion extensions should be colored individually, before application, with your color formula. While this is time-consuming, coloring in bunches or bundles does not allow you to get close to the tip of the hair, leaving a “root” of uncolored hair that will show once applied.

*For alternative colored extensions, simply buy the lightest blonde available, preferably a 613 or a 60 and apply your color or tone to the hair per manufacturers instructions. Do not shampoo as most of these colors are washable and will fade.

*To achieve the popular look of alternative-colored streaks with a platinum base color, it is recommended that you purchase a pack of 909Pre-Tipped Hair Extensions in your desired color. The color is permanent in the pre-colored extensions and will not fade or bleed onto the rest of your hair when washing. For dark base colors, you can go either way, as the color washing out will not affect your dark color.

*When touching up new growth or “roots”, it is most recommended to separate your loose hair from your extension hair and focus on those areas, so as to not damage your bonds or sew-in. If possible, have your extensions removed, color as usual, and reapply extensions to the hair. This is where my recommended scarf tricks come in handy!

These are my tips and recommendations for coloring extensions. If you have any specific questions, feel free to email me personally at Jennifer@sunnyshairandwigs.com. I can do custom color work for an additional fee to be discussed at a later time. That service is limited to Atlanta locals, so they can be involved in every step of the perfect hair color process.