Do Your Own Color!
Since we live in a DIY era, everyone is their hair stylist. There is nothing wrong with that, but when it comes to
dying your hair extensions, you have to know what you are doing. The first step is finding the right brand to get that bomb color you want. Want to know what to look for and what to avoid? Keep reading.
What is the Best Hair Color Brand?
With so many
hair coloring products out there to choose from, how do you decide which is the best? So many of us ask this questions and do not know where to start. Yes, you can go to a hair stylist and have them dye your extensions, but we live in the DIY era. You look on Youtube, online forums and even social media to see which coloring brand and type is the best. Along with researching which hair dye to use, you always have to pay attention to the ingredients of the product to ensure that it will not damage your hair extensions. Knowledge of the ingredients used in the dye will help you to make a decision and save you the hassle of dealing with
destroyed hair extensions. What works for some may not work for all. We all love adding color as much as we love our hair extensions, but you have to be careful when deciding which hair coloring type and brand to use. Although you cannot escape the use of chemicals, you can avoid using unnecessary ones.
Professional Grade vs. Boxed Hair Color
Hair extensions aren’t alive like your natural hair so that the extensions will react differently to hair dye. It is not recommended to use boxed hair coloring on your hair extensions because most times it doesn't give you the option to choose the developer. The developer determines how bright the color comes out on the hair extensions. So dying your hair extensions with box dye can be a waste of time and money depending on the brand. Investing in professional grade hair dye is worth the money and your best bet. Boxed hair dye is a “one size fits all” when it comes to coloring. That doesn't mean that you will get the desired look you want the first go around which leads to you using more. The more you use the dye, the more your extensions can become dry. No one wants dry and brittle hair; let's be honest. On the other hand, with professional hair color dye, it’s a single process to achieve the color you desire. When choosing the right professional hair color, you need to take into consideration the volume of the developer. Using a 20 volume hair developer is the most commonly used and gets the job done. You can, however, use a 30-40 volume developer but do so with caution because it can damage the extensions because of the extreme bleaching. Too much bleaching can lead to split ends, yes your hair extensions can have split ends, and it's not pretty.
Liquid or Creme: which is best? Is there a difference?
Liquid and creme hair dyes are more similar than they are different. These two types have ingredients and chemicals in common, but the main difference is the consistency of the product and function. Of course, the liquid dye will not be as thick as the creme-based hair dye, and the liquid color is just that while creme based has more texture. A liquid dye is best for longer hair because of application; creme dye won't stretch as far with long hair. If you are spending the extra money to dye the hair yourself, you want to make sure that you are getting your money’s worth. Liquid dye does penetrate the hair follicle better than the creme base. All that means is that liquid is better at getting the dye to take to the hair and stay after rinsing. Creme-based hair dye is thicker and is best for short hair because not much is needed. This type of hair coloring is used more in professional shops when it comes to highlights or lowlights. Creme-based is used more professional hair shops because it can be applied with precision, more so than liquid. Because these both contain similar chemicals, one type isn't any more harmful than the other. The two can even be combined when someone is getting all over coloring with
high or low lights. Before you ask, yes, you can use either when doing the DIY dying of your extensions. What are some ingredients in hair dye and are they damaging? It is hard to stay away from chemicals as they are in just about everything but there are some that are more harmful than others. The chemicals in hair dye added to already chemically processed hair can be cause for using something more gentle and more professional grade.
Here are the top 3 ingredients in hair dye that can be harmful:
A commonly used chemical in hair dye, especially if you are taking dark hair and trying to lighten it. Peroxide is one of the most widely used ingredients in the bleaching process of coloring hair. If you are going from light to dark, you won't have to worry about hydrogen peroxide. In other words, hydrogen peroxide acts as the developer of the hair dye.
Another common chemical found in hair dye. This chemical is used to open the hair follicles. What this does is allow the color to be taken in by the hair strands. Never
dye your hair extensions while they are in your hair because ammonia can irritate the scalp, itching and even burn. Since this chemical opens up the hair follicles, too much of this can split the hair causing split ends. Yes, hair extensions can get split ends; this means the ends have become fried.
Also known as Para-Phonylendiamine, used in dark shades of hair dye. This chemical is harmful because it contains coal tar and just from the sound of that seems like something dangerous. This chemical is also considered to be carcinogenic, cancer causing. Understand that hair dye essentially is a chemical all in itself. It is a chemical that processes the hair it's applied to for a new desired color. The good thing about dying your hair extensions vs. your real hair is that the damage doesn't affect your hair. Nothing is wrong with coloring your hair extensions but try not to over-dye/process them if you can help it.
Good Hair Dyes to Try
The list of what dyes to use goes on and on, you can use professional grade or boxed. It all depends on what you want your desired color to be in the end. Below I have gathered up a few brands that you can choose from when you decide to dye your hair extensions.
1. Madison Reed
They carry an
at-home hair dye that is free of ammonia that gives you that one step process all in one container. This brand is also free of parabens, resorcinol, PPD, phthalates, and gluten. This brand is one of the best and doesn't have any of the harsh chemicals to leave your hair the right color.
2. Oxidative Dye
Hair coloring that uses direct
oxidative dye is a winner.
3. Bigen
Semi-permanent hair dye comes as creme and is nourishing to the hair. Because of its oil base, it doesn't contain ammonia or peroxide. This brand is a more gentle option but also know that the color may not be as bright as you want. If so, it is okay to mix with a developer to get the desired color you want.
3. E-Salon
Deemed as the best
at home hair color by Allure Magazine. This product is made just for you; you have to answer a fun questionnaire and upload a picture of your desired color. Once that's received, they will ship out your custom hair dye. How cool right? Enjoy!
4. John Frieda Precision Foam Dye
Because it’s
a foam, you get full coverage without needing to use too much, and it doesn't dry out your hair.
The Choice is Yours But Do Your Research
I hope this article helped you in your search for what to look out for, which type is best and even some brands of hair dye that you can use when
dying your hair. Always seek a professional if you have exhausted all options or if you are unsure of the dying process. You owe to yourself and your hair extensions to treat them with care, even when upgrading them with color. Check out some of the brands mentioned and comment below with any other brands that you find to be helpful. Finding the best hair dye brand might take a couple tests to see what works best for you. What are some of your favorite hair color products? Let us know in the comments below!
