If you consider having hair extensions, you probably want to know if you can color or dye them. Hairlaya extensions can be used and reused for a long time – in some cases for up to 2 years – so it is only natural to want to find out if you need to keep your natural hair color for all that time.

The short answer is: yes, you can dye your hair extensions ( Here, we only mean HUMAN HAIR). 

But the critical question is: do you really want to?

The thing is, dyeing your extensions might damage them and reduce their life span.

Even though Hairlaya hair extensions are among the best quality hair in the market, during and after the coloring process, they behave just like natural hair. The chemicals in hair dyes may damage the hair's cuticle, resulting in ashy strands with a dull texture and difficulty to manage. 

Hair Cuticle of Hairlaya Extensions

Hairlaya's hair remains full cuticle as your natural hair. 

And while your own hair will eventually grow out, your extensions have no way of healing themselves, so you will also have to deal with the contrast in texture between your hair and the extensions, resulting in a much less natural and glamorous look.

However, if you absolutely must – or just really, really want to – dye your hair extensions, here are some tips on making it work while minimizing the damage.

Tips for Dyeing Your Hair Extensions

1. Go darker, NOT lighter

Almost all hair extensions are already colored, and to lift that color, and you will need to use bleach which, as we all know, is a harsh chemical that can significantly damage your extensions. In addition, the cuticles of most hair extensions are not as intact as those of your own hair, so bleach is likely to cause severe damage to them. If you are still willing to take the risk of ruining your extensions by bleaching them, never go more than a shade or two lighter.

2. Take less time

When dyeing your extensions a darker shade, you may not need to leave the tint on as long as you are dying natural hair. Instead, check the color several times during the dyeing process and rinse it off once the wet hair looks slightly darker than what you want the result to look like. This also means that it is best to dye your hair extensions before they are installed to make sure both the extensions and your own hair can be dyed for the correct amount of time and end up matching.

3. When you dye tape-in hair extensions

You will need to avoid the area around the tape, though - dye could damage the attachment. Because of this, you'll also need to consider how many shades darker you want. It will be less discreet if the branch is more than a shade or two lighter than your hair, especially if you have fine hair.

4. Here are some other tips: 

  • Make sure your hair is as tidy as possible.
  • Brush your extensions thoroughly before applying any color.
  • Work from the top down when applying color. Hold the top of the hair extensions while rinsing. If you work up from the ends, you'll end up with a matted mess!
  • Squeeze and pat dry wet hair - do not rub it. Place your hair extensions on a towel in an airing cupboard or a radiator. Using a comb, comb through the hair from the ends to the roots when it is damp/nearly dry. You can finish off with a hairdryer but blow downwards, in the direction of roots to tips.
  • Cover any surfaces that may stain with dye with cling film.

Our Advice: Match Color Perfectly Before the application. 

For a natural-looking result, you need to make sure that the color of your extensions matches the color of your natural hair as closely as possible. Use a Hairlaya color ring to do a perfect color match before the application.

Hairlaya Color Ring

Hairlaya offers a range of rooted and balayage hair extensions for beautiful hair effects without coloring or dyeing the hair. If you install hand-tied extensions, you can even use 2 or 3 different colored extensions to create highlight or balayage effects. The possibilities are truly limitless! 

This is why we offer different pack sizes – 2 wefts, 4 wefts, or 8 wefts – to suit your customization needs. 

Here's an example of what you can achieve:

If you are a hair professional who wants to offer your clients a top-notch hair extension service, get certified with Hairlaya

How to Take Care of Hairlaya Hair Extensions to Make Them Last Longer

Hand-tied and tape-in hair extensions are the most popular types we offer, and they can both be reused repeatedly, providing that you take proper care of them. Let's see what you can do to make them last as long as possible!

1. Brush them frequently

Just like natural hair, extensions can tangle, so you'll need to brush them out a couple of times a day to keep them in good shape.

2. Use sulfate-free hair care products

Sulfates are chemicals that can weaken your extensions, so it's best to avoid them!

3. Wear a silicone swimming cap when swimming in chlorinated water

Chlorine may make your hair extensions dull and brittle.

4. Use a heat protectant spray when using heat styling tools

Even though our hand-tied and tape-in extensions are not installed or removed using heat, heat styling tools can damage the cuticles of both your natural hair and your extensions.

5. Put your hair in a protective style before beds

This will prevent tangling and matting and make your extensions easier to manage.

Follow our advice, and you will be able to enjoy your extensions for many months!

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