How to Dye Hair Extensions Like a Pro (Without Ruining Them)?

If you're considering ways to revamp your hair extensions, dyeing them is a great option. It immediately changes its appearance and feel.

Most of our customers will ask ”Can Hair Extensions Be Dyed?” The short answer is “YES!”

However, not all hair extensions are dye-friendly. Only high-quality human hair bundles can be safely dyed, toned, and re-colored without compromising texture or longevity.

Synthetic hair may look similar at first, but it reacts poorly to hair dye, often resulting in uneven color or permanent damage.

100% human hair bundles, like Remy hair, can withstand chemical treatment without experiencing any damage. The chemical component contained in dyes can further damage Non-Remy or synthetic hair.

Yes, you can dye your human hair bundles/extensions, but there are safety measures you have to follow to avoid damaging your hair extensions. In this article, we will walk you through the process of dyeing your hair extensions:

Let’s get started!

Why Human Hair Bundles Are Best for Dyeing?

Human hair bundles are the best choice for dyeing because they absorb color evenly and react just like natural hair. Unlike synthetic extensions, they won’t turn patchy, stiff, or overly dry after coloring.

The result is a smoother texture, longer-lasting color, and a more natural finish. If you want reliable, salon-quality results, starting with real human hair bundles is essential.

How to Choose the Right Hair Dye Color That Matches Your Skin Tone

Before you start the process of dyeing your hair extension, you have to choose your preferred “new color”. This is an important decision to make (especially if it is your first time). You want to select a hair color that matches your skin.

It doesn’t have to be the same color as your skin, but it should complement or contrast with your skin color in a way that suits you.

If you want to try wearing a lighter hair color, you can go a shade or two shades higher than your natural hair (if it is your first time).

Alternatively, you can use a hair color chart for better guidance.

It is better to use hair color from a professional developer line.

What Products/Materials Do I Need to Dye My Hair Bundles at Home?

If you plan to dye your human hair bundles at home, you will need to get some products to ensure that you correctly apply the hair dye and to make the process less messy.

Here are some products/materials you will need:

● Hair Dye

● Latex Gloves

● Developer

● Mixing bowl

● Applicator bottle

● Plastic foil or wrap

● Comb

● Conditioner

● Brush

● Tin foil

● Plastic wrap

● Wide-tooth comb

Things are different if you are using the watercolor dye method.

Watercolor Dye Your Hair Extensions

The watercolor dye method is a simple, semi-permanent hair dye method.

• It involves mixing a small amount of semi-permanent hair dye into a bowl of hot or warm water until the water is completely colored.
• The hair extension is now dipped repeatedly into the mixture to absorb the dye.
• The hair is then deep conditioned to add softness/shine. Deep conditioning generally keeps the hair soft and replenishes the moisture that the chemical must have sapped from it.

The watercolor hair dye method creates a natural-looking hair color effect because of the dipping method. It is also an easy-to-follow method for a first-time dye user.

Step-by-Step Process of Dyeing Your Hair Extension at Home

Now that you have all your products and materials ready, it is time to start the process of dyeing your hair.

Step 1: Set up your workspace  

Before you start mixing the colors, it is important that you set up your workspace. You can use a plastic bag or foil to cover the surface area. Covering the surface area will prevent the dye from messing up your surface.

Plus, it also allows you to work freely (mixing the colors, rinsing, and conditioning the hair after dyeing).

Step 2: Prep your human hair bundles

Just like you prep your workspace, it is equally important to prep your hair bundles. You can prep your hair extension by:

● Detangling.

● Comb it with a wide-tooth comb.

● Wash if you have a pre-conditioned hair extension.

● Arrange all the weft on a plain surface.

It is important to wash your hair extensions to remove specks of dirt and hair product build-up. You will have to follow a process to wash your hair extensions properly. Here’s a simple process that you can follow:

• Fill up your sink or a clean bowl with lukewarm water.
• Add a few drops of shampoo into the water.
• Mix the water properly until it turns soapy.
• Dip a weft into the soapy mixture (shake & swirl) to wash.
• Rinse out in the same manner.
• Allow your hair extension to air dry.

Ensure that your human hair bundles are completely air-dried before you start the coloring process.

Note: Avoid scrubbing your hair bundles when washing. Scrubbing it will make it tangled when it is dry. Unravelling tangled hair can cause hair damage, like hair breakage.

Step 3: Mix the color

This is one of the most important steps in this process. To properly mix your hair dye color, you need to follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

Before you start to mix, ensure you have the right amount of dye. This will prevent the mixture from running out of color when applied to your hair extension. We advise that you get a pack more than what you need rather than less.

If you are using the watercolor dye, you can just follow the steps we shared earlier. However, we advise that you have two bottles of dye (just to be safe).

Step 4: Apply the hair color

It is time for the interesting part … coloring!

Before you start applying the dye to your hair extension, we advise you to do a strand test first. To do a strand test, you need to color the tip of a strand of your extension. Doing this helps you double-check before doing the main thing.

If you are using the watercolor method, you can dip the tip of a little hair strand into the lukewarm color water mixture. This gives you an idea of the final look before you get started with your full human hair bundles. You will have an idea of whether or not to add more hair color or water.

Once you are happy with the result of the strand test, you can now go ahead to color your entire hair extension.

If you are using the mixed paste hair dye, you can go ahead and apply the color to your hair extension using the brush. You can follow these simple steps:

● Place the hair extension/weft on a foil/plastic bag-covered surface.

● Use the brush to take some color.

● Apply the color to your hair bundle in a downward manner (from top to bottom).

● Turn the hair extension to the other side and do the same thing.

Ensure that your hair extension is saturated with the hair color. Apply the same strategy for the watercolor. Dip all the wefts until they have the same color consistency. You can add more water and color mixture if you notice the mixture is beginning to fade.

Step 5: Process your hair extension

After applying the color to your hair extensions, you need to cover them in a plastic bag. Covering it in a plastic bag allows the hair to absorb the color and prevents the color from drying up just on top of the hair extension.

The manufacturer will determine the color processing time. However, it takes about 20 - 40 minutes for the hair to fully absorb the color.

Step 6: Rinse your hair bundles

When you are done processing your hair extension, go ahead and rinse out the excess color from the hair. Use room-temperature water with low pressure while running your fingers through the hair extension to remove excess dye/hair color.

Continue rinsing your hair bundles for about 15 - 20 minutes until the water running down turns clear. You can go ahead and shampoo your hair bundle after rinsing it. Use a sulphate-free shampoo and moisturizing conditioner to keep your hair soft and shiny.

Step 7: Comb your hair and let it dry

After washing your hair extension, go ahead and comb it. To comb it, first, apply leave-in conditioner to make the manipulation process easy. Then, put the hair on a towel while using a wide-tooth comb to brush it from top to bottom.

Once you are done with detangling, you can air-dry your hair.

Step 8: Style your hair

Once your hair is completely dry, you can go ahead to style your hair as desired. If you want to style your hair with heat protection tools, make sure the hair is completely dry, plus use a heat protectant to prevent heat damage.

You can put your hair extensions in different styles. If it is your first time, you can follow your natural hair pattern as inspiration. This is a quick way to blend your natural hair with the hair extension.

What to Avoid When Dyeing Your Human Hair Bundles?

1. Never mix colors in a metal bowl, as it oxidizes the formula faster and weakens the lifting process. Always mix high-lift color in a plastic, glass, or ceramic bowl.

2. Avoid using a high-volume developer.

3. Don’t put crappy products on your human hair bundles.

Wrapping it Up!

Dyeing your hair at home is a quick way to achieve a hair revamp. Always remember that you can only use 100% human hair extensions. If you are not sure of doing this yourself, you can visit a salon to get it done by a professional or get a 100% Remy hair extension in your desired color.

Planning to dye your extensions? Start with high-quality human hair bundles designed for coloring and long-term wear.