With our time in isolation nearing the two month mark here in Australia, many of us are trying to find a way to DIY our usual beauty habits, including hair extensions. If you’ve been tossing up between letting your hair extensions grow out a little bit more or removing them yourself, you’re not alone. The good news is removing them yourself may not be as hard as you thought.
Not all hair extensions are created equally. Some, such as tape-in hair extensions, are much easier to remove at home than others. If your hair extensions are of a high quality, you may wish to preserve them and have them refitted by a professional in the future. Therefore, following the correct and safe removal process is integral to maintaining quality hair extensions for as long as possible.
Before we begin this blog, we must firstly stress, where possible, consult a professional before removing your own extensions.
Photo by Jonathan Borba on Unsplash
How to Remove Your Hair Extensions at Home
Removing tape-in hair extensions.
Tape-in extensions ideally should be removed, or adjusted every 60 days. Keeping up with such maintenance not only preserves the health of your hair, but also extends their life. Ideally, this type of extension should be removed or adjusted by a professional hairdresser, however, in times like these this is not always a practical solution.
Extensions can be removed at home, relatively easily, using the correct tools and method, taking around one hour. Remember, removing tape-in extensions properly and not taking short-cuts, will save you money in the long run as the extensions will likely be able to be reused.
To remove tape-in hair extensions, you’ll require a pre-made adhesive remover (available at your local hair store or online) designed to break down the glue holding your extensions in place. Alternatively, you may opt to use coconut or baby oil as both will work, however the process will be slower.
6 steps to removing your tape-in hair extensions:
- Separate your hair into sections, ensuring easy access to the base of your extensions.
- Then apply your preferred remover to extension tape. If you opt to use a home-based oil, apply and leave for at least fifteen minutes, to allow the extensions to absorb the product.
- Rub the product into the binding tape, gently loosening the extensions. Remove extension sections individually, only when you’re able to do so easily.
- If you still have some pesky extensions stuck in your hair, rinse your hair thoroughly, ensuring all adhesive remover is washed out.
- Whilst your hair is wet, apply a generous amount of conditioner to the extension binding. Leave the conditioner in your hair for 20 minutes, to absorb into your hair breaking the remaining chemical bonds.
- Taking a wide tooth comb, working your way up to your roots, gently comb your hair until the extensions begin to loosen and you’re able to remove them.
Removing Keratin Bond hair extensions.
Keratin hair extensions are a popular choice for those who wish to create natural-looking thickness and length. Keratin Bond hair extensions should be removed or altered every two to three months to preserve the highest quality. If possible, they should be removed by a professional hairdresser, however in the current climate this is not always possible.
Unlike other types of hair extensions, keratin extensions are not easily removed at home. Put simply, the glue used to bind the extension to your natural hair is a very strong protein, which will require a high-grade chemical from a salon to safely remove. Pre-mixed keratin remover solutions can be purchased online or from your local salon.
In an attempt to prevent damage to your natural hair, in the week leading up to removal, use a high quality conditioner. Try to find one high in protein, making your hair softer and stronger.
5 steps to removing Keratin Bond hair extensions:
- Firstly, ensure your hair is clean and tangle-free. Divide your hair into sections using hair ties.
- Take one section of hair and apply the pre-mixed remover to the bound hair. If you’re unable to use pre-mixed remover acetone and oil will break down the bonding — this will likely damage your hair.
- Using small pliers, gently compress the binding glue six times. Doing so allows the solution to penetrate the glue binding the hair strands together. Repeat for all sections of the hair.
- Leave for 15 — 20 minutes, depending on your chosen solution. Gently pull the loosened strand away from your scalp in a downward direction. Use a wide-toothed comb to remove any tangles during the process.
- If you find yourself stuck with stubborn sections, reapply remover and repeat step four until all extensions are removed.
Removing Microbead hair extensions.
Mircobead extensions are one of the most popular types in 2020. They suit almost all hair types and allow the wearer to get creative and try all the latest hair trends without fear. This range of hair extensions are connected using small beads to clasp strands together.
As with all hair extensions, it is highly recommended wearers consult their hairdresser for removal or adjustments every few months. While they are unable to be put in at home, beaded extensions are able to be removed by the wearer, although be prepared for the processes to take up to one hour, depending on the amount of extensions you have.
4 steps to removing Mircobead extensions at home:
- Separate your hair into small and manageable pieces, ensuring the beads are easily accessible.
- Let one section of your hair down and single out one beaded strand. Holding the bead between your thumb and forefinger, press the sides together, do not press too tightly or the bead may further clamp to the hair. This should cause the bead to open.
- Slide the opened bead gently down the hair. When the process is completed correctly, the extension should also be removed with the bead in the same swift motion. However, sometimes this is not possible.
- Repeat the step for all the beads in the section, gently using a fine-toothed comb remove any remaining strands with care. Complete steps 2 to 4 until all the hair extensions have been removed.
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