Top 12 Questions Asked About Hair Extensions

Our specialist Advice team at Anvihair have shared the 12 questions they get asked the most by customers about hair extensions. The questions cover a variety of topics like dying, washing, application tips and includes both Clip-In Hair Extensions information and permanent types too.

1. Why do people have hair extensions?

Hair extensions are applied to enhance the appearance of your natural hair. They can be used to add any combination of length, thickness and body, and colour.

2. How Much Do Hair Extensions Cost ?

It completely depends on the length, color, amount, quality and type of hair extension you’re using. Longer lengths and lighter colors tend to be slightly pricier as they are more difficult to create. Human hair extensions are also more expensive than synthetic hair however they last much longer and can be styled, washed and dyed just like natural hair so it is well worth the investment.

3. How To Wash Bonded Hair Extensions?

Bonded hair extensions are attached for several weeks at a time before removal, this is known as a permanent hair extension. They are attached to the hair using a heated connector tool that fuses the Keratin bond onto the natural hair. When you have any permanent hair extension attached you should follow the rules below when washing your hair to avoid any damage to your hair or your extensions.

Use the correct shampoos and conditioners. You should avoid any shampoos with sulphate and alcohol in as these will dry your hair out and could also degrade the quality of the tips of the extensions causing them to slip out

Always have your head tilted backwards when washing with the water aimed downwards, NEVER wash your hair tipped over the bath or tangle. Having the hair tipped upside down could cause matting and severe tangle so it’s best to always wash with your head in the correct position.

We recommend 2 good, thorough washes with shampoo and then a condition on the mid-lengths and ends of the hair to keep it in great condition. Avoid using any conditioner at the roots.
For Bonded Hair Extensions you should aim to wash the hair 1-2 times per week maximum.

4. Can You Let Hair Extensions Dry Naturally?

For Clip-In Hair Extensions, if you have the time, allowing the hair to dry naturally after washing is better than using heat to dry them. The less heat you use on hair extensions the better, most human hair extensions will dry with a slight wave to them giving a natural finish.

For Keratin Hair Extensions( I-Tip Hair, U-Tip Hair, Flat tip Hair, V-tip Hair) you should dry straight after washing to avoid any dampness or bacteria forming in the attachments, especially with Hair Wefts or Weaves. You should never go to bed with wet hair when you have extensions as this could encourage matting and knots to form at the roots which can damage your own hair.

Knotted hair and tangled hair can be frustrating that’s why we have some advice to help you prevent tangles and knots in our how to take care of tangled hair blog.

Before using a hair dryer or any heated styling tool on hair extensions you should use a Heat Protection Spray, this will create a barrier between the hair and heat to prevent breakage and reduce damage.

5. How To Sleep With Hair Extensions?

During our sleep we tend to fidget and our hair can get a little knotty, hence the phrase “Bed-Head”. For this reason Clip-Ins and Ponytails should be removed before sleeping to prevent the clips rubbing against the natural hair and scalp causing knots and tension on the head.

For all Permanent Hair Extensions like Tapes, Nanos, Micro-Rings and Weaves you should loosely braid your hair before bed to minimize the matting caused by movement in your sleep. Another plus of wearing a loose braid to bed is that you wake up with gorgeous, natural waves when the braid is untied, reducing the need to style with heat. We also advise to sleep on a satin pillowcase as it is softer against the hair extensions which reduces frizz and damage.

Discover what you can do do to protect your hair and how to sleep comfortably with hair extenions in our 10 protective hairstyles for sleeping guide.

6. How To Get Tape Extension Glue Out Of Hair? 

Tape-In Extensions are not generally difficult to get out of the hair, with a few sprays of a good remover they should slide right out. However, like with everything, there are exceptions and you can find yourself stuck with a stubborn tape that does not want to budge.

First, make sure you are using a good quality Tape-In Hair Extensions Remover and enough of it. Our remover at Anvi hair is rated number 1 on market and is one of our top selling products! Made from citrus oils and natural ingredients it gently removes the tapes from the hair without leaving a harsh alcohol smell or dry texture on the hair.

If the Tape is still not moving you can use the end of a pintail comb to help. Simply apply another layer of remover on the weft and use the pin to gently prise open the Tapes, once you have managed to get them open spray more remover inside of the Tape sandwich. You should now be able to continue this pattern of using the pin, spraying and opening until eventually the 2 tapes come apart.

It’s super important after the removal of each weft that you comb the hair with a fine toothed comb, this will remove any leftover glue out of the hair. If you find the glue hard to remove simply spray more remover directly onto it and gently rub with your fingertips to pull it away. After the removal, wash the hair with a clarifying shampoo to get rid of any residue.

7 . Can You Lighten Hair Extensions?

Even though human hair extensions can be dyed they must never be bleached or lightened. You should only ever dye extensions darker or tone them, this should be done with a semi-permanent dye or a very low level peroxide. As the hair has been removed from its natural root it no longer gets all the nutrients it needs to survive so taking special care of extensions is super important to prolong the life span. Dying, heat styling and even washing will slowly strip away the natural oils on the extensions so the less you do to it the longer they will last.

8 . Can You Dye Hair Extensions While In Your Head?

We wouldn’t recommend dying your hair whilst you have extensions attached. Firstly, the dye will degrade the bonds or seams causing them to possibly slip out of the hair. You can also end up with residue stuck in the rings or attachments which can cause bacteria to form which leads to scalp irritation.

9. Can I swim with hair extensions?

Yes, but you should avoid getting the hair/bonds wet as prolonged exposure to water/dampness will cause your bonds to soften, often resulting in excessive shedding of the extension hair. For best results wash and dry your hair immediately after swimming.

10. Can I tie my hair back?

Yes, you can. Unlike weaves, clip in, tape extensions, etc., the free flowing, single strand method of applying hair extensions used by Anvihair gives you the versatility to wear your hair up or tied back with complete confidence. And, unlike unsightly loop/micro ring or nano ring hair extensions because our bonds are as small as a grain of rice they are undetectable and discreet.

11. Can I remove the hair extensions myself?

We strongly advise against removing your own extensions as this can lead to your own hair being damaged.

12. Can I colour the hair extensions?

We do not recommend colouring any hair extensions as the extension hair may not develop at the same rate as your natural hair, leaving you with uneven colour.

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