One of the first questions newly booked clients ask us is: “Can I still colour my hair once I have extensions?”
The short answer is yes. But there’s something even more interesting worth knowing first.
You Might Not Need To Colour At All
One of the most underrated benefits of Bio Bond extensions is what they can do for your colour — without any dye at all.
Because we keep all colours in stock and fit bonds individually, we can blend different shades throughout your hair to create highlights, lowlights, dimension and depth that would normally require a full colour appointment. Clients regularly leave looking like they’ve had a professional colour treatment — when actually we’ve just mixed shades cleverly during the fitting.
If you’ve been thinking about going lighter, adding dimension, or trying highlights for the first time — talk to us before booking a colourist. You might be surprised what’s possible without touching your natural hair with dye at all.
Before Your Fitting — The 2 Week Rule
If you do want to colour your natural hair before getting extensions, the rule is simple: colour at least 2 weeks before your fitting.
Fresh colour needs time to settle and fade slightly before extensions are fitted. This also gives us a more accurate base to colour match against — freshly dyed hair often looks slightly different once it’s had a few washes.
Colouring Your Hair Once Extensions Are Fitted
Good news — Bio Bonds are safe to colour. You don’t need to remove your extensions to colour your hair.
Most of our clients find that once extensions are fitted, they only need to colour their root area and T-section — the rest of the hair is covered by the extensions anyway. This means less dye, less processing time, and less cost at the salon.
A few things to keep in mind:
- Always use a professional colourist — just as you would for your natural hair
- Avoid applying colour directly to the bonds — work around them carefully
- Use professional products rather than box dye at home
- Deep condition after colouring to restore moisture to both your natural hair and the extensions
Can You Bleach or Lighten Extensions?
Russian virgin hair takes colour beautifully — including lightening — because it has never been chemically processed. However we always recommend speaking to us before attempting to lighten your extensions significantly.
The reason is simple: we want your extensions to last the full 12 months and be reusable at your refit. Aggressive bleaching can compromise the hair over time. A professional colourist who understands extensions will get you the result you want while keeping the hair in the best possible condition.
Keeping Colour Vibrant — Tips For Extension Wearers
Wait 48 hours after colouring before washing — the same rule as after your fitting. Give the colour time to settle.
Use cool water when washing — hot water opens the hair cuticle and causes colour to fade faster. Cool water keeps the cuticle flat and the colour locked in.
Use a deep nourishing mask weekly — colour processing and extension wearing both benefit from regular moisture. A weekly mask keeps both your natural hair and extensions looking healthy and vibrant.
Apply serum on wet and dry hair — two drops of serum like L’Oréal Extraordinary Oil on wet hair locks in moisture, and two drops on dry hair keeps cuticles flat for maximum shine and colour vibrancy.
Avoid chlorine and salt water where possible — both strip colour and moisture from hair. If you swim regularly use a clarifying shampoo afterwards and follow with a deep conditioning treatment.
Thinking About Changing Your Colour?
Before you book a colour appointment, give us a call. We can often help you achieve the colour result you’re after through clever shade mixing at your fitting or refit — saving you time, money and chemical processing on your natural hair.
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