Hair extensions are a great way to add volume and beauty to your hair. However, what should you do if your extensions don’t match your natural hair color? We’ve got the answers.
If your extensions don’t match your hair color, there are four things you can do:
- Explore Different Color Options
- Use Toner on Your Extensions
- Dye Your Hair Extensions
- Dye Your Own Hair with Temporary Dye
Let’s take a look at these options in more detail.
Tips to Choose the Best Extensions
Here are a couple of tips to help you choose the right color extensions to match your hair.
Tip 1: Match To Your Ends
It’s never a good idea to match your extensions to the roots of your hair.
Even in virgin, never before dyed air, variations of hair color can still happen.
This is especially true if you’ve dyed your hair, as your hair ends won’t be the same color as your roots.
If you buy extensions that match your roots, you’ll get extensions that don’t match your hair color and look out of place.
Not to worry, the solution is simple: choose an extension that matches your ends. Many beauty shops have tester pieces that you can easily use to blend your natural hair color with.
Tip 2: Choose a Lighter Shade For Your Extensions
If the beauty store you’re shopping in doesn’t have the exact color of extensions for your hair, don’t fret just yet.
You can choose a lighter color and then dye your extensions later on.
This will not only let you play around with the color of your extensions but also find a unique shade for your hair as well.
If you choose extensions that are darker, you can’t bleach them later, so it’s better to choose a lighter shade.
Also Read: Why Do My Hair Extensions Cause an Irritated Scalp?
My Extensions Don’t Match Hair Color: What to Do
Explore Different Color Options
If you have extensions that don’t match your hair color currently, you can always combine them with another color that closely matches your hair.
Layer them into your hair in different areas to give your hair a more natural look.
Everyone’s hair is different, and most people will have different color variations in their hair already.
Take advantage of this and mix and match different color hair extensions if you can’t seem to find the right one for your unique hair color.
Then, layer them throughout your hair by breaking up the hair extension into smaller sections.
Use Toner on Your Extensions
For you ladies (and gentlemen) with fierce, platinum blonde hair, it might be difficult to find the right shade of ultra platinum or white hair extensions.
This might make you feel like your extensions won’t match your hair color ever! Fortunately, there is a solution to this.
It involves using your favorite toner on your blonde extensions to take out any remaining orange hues to turn it into that ultra platinum or white color. To do this:
1. Buy your favorite purple shampoo that’s sulfate-free to protect your hair extensions from damage.
Try the L’Oreal Paris EverPure Brass Toning shampoo available at Amazon.
2. Test out your purple shampoo on only a small section of the hair extension to make sure you like the results. If you do, continue with the toning process.
3. Use conditioner to moisturize your hair extensions after using the toner.
4. Dry your extensions naturally by hanging them or putting them on a towel to air dry. If you want to, pat them dry but don’t just ring them out.
5. Straighten out your hair extensions to get rid of any pesky flyaway hairs.
Dye Your Hair Extensions
If you have the opposite problem and need to darken your hair extensions, this is also a great option and perfectly fine to get you the color you need to match your hair perfectly!
For starters, use a dye that is semi-permanent so that you can wash out the color if you’re not happy with it. Next, follow the steps below:
1. Dampen your hair extensions by washing them.
2. Put on a pair of gloves and apply the hair dye to the root of the extension (closest to the clip) and work the dye down. This gives a more natural look to your dyed hair extensions.
3. Condition your hair extensions, adding a little bit of the hair dye into the conditioner if you want to give an ombre-like effect to the roots.
4. Leave the hair dye on following the instructions on the dye, usually 30 to 45 minutes.
5. Lay your hair extensions out on a towel to air dry and brush once they’re completely dry (patience is a virtue here).
Dye Your Own Hair with Temporary Dye
If your extensions don’t match hair color but you don’t have time to dye or tone them, then a quick fix can be to dye the bottom layers of your hair with a temporary dye that closely matches your extensions.
This should only be used on a temporary basis and can be a good option for even people with fashion colors like pink and blue.
Lots of colors are available on the market today, and usually, wash out in only one day.
Make sure to only spray the bottom layer of your hair and match the temporary dye to your ends and not your roots.
If you’re not sure about whether you want to use temporary dyes, you should know that, like other hair dyes, they are safe to use if you’re not allergic to them and are FDA regulated with their ingredients.
Mistakes when Buying Hair Extensions
Having the wrong color is one thing, but there are many other mistakes that you can make (and avoid) before buying your hair extensions.
By avoiding these mistakes, you’ll not only have the best color but the best texture and volume to naturally complete your look.
Buying the Wrong Weight
Whether you have thin or thick hair, it’s important to get the proper weight of hair extension to avoid an unnatural look.
If you have thin hair extensions and thick hair, you can volumize your extensions by washing them and layering them.
Not Buying Different Lengths and Widths
It’s always best to buy different lengths and widths to create a more natural look. None of us have perfectly straight hair and you need different lengths and widths of extensions to be able to install them properly and add volume.
Don’t be afraid to cut your hair extensions either, as this can make all the difference when completing your look.
However, if you must, you can always take your extensions with you to your hairstylist who can cut them for you. It’s best for them to see you with the hair extensions already placed beforehand.
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