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How To Custom Colour Hair Extensions
If you have a client with unusual hair colour, you may be required from time to time to custom colour the hair extensions in order to ensure you achieve the perfect colour match. This is particularly relevant if your client is looking to achieve unique fun colours, as finding the perfect hair extensions to match bold peaches or deep blues will be near impossible.
Here we will go through the things you will need to consider when you have a client looking to achieve a perfect colour match that requires a custom colour.
The first thing you will need to take into account is whether or not your client already has their natural hair the colour they wish to have the hair extensions. For example, they will either come to you with hair that has already been coloured a bold peach hue, or they will still have their natural hair colour and need you to colour both their natural hair and the hair extensions to match. Ideally, your client will want you to do both, as this will ensure you have control over the products used, and can better match the client, however below we will detail how to handle both types of clients to achieve the best results.
When The Client Already Has Coloured Hair
If you have a client who comes to you with pre-coloured hair and is looking for hair extensions to match, the first thing you will need to do is have an in-depth consultation based on when and how their hair was coloured. Matching the original colouring process will be the best way to achieve the same or similar colour, however as this colour has been achieved without your assistance, it is advisable to warn your client that a 100% may not be possible, however, you will strive to match it as close as possible for them.
You will first need to identify the colour of the base the bold colour was applied to. You could ask your client to show you images of their hair before it was coloured, and then use your colour ring so they can show you the closest match to the original colour. Then you will need to ask your client what colouring products they used, and details of the process. For example, they may tell you they have used Crazy Colour, and applied the colour once for half an hour but the colour wasn't deep enough, so they reapplied it for another half an hour to get the colour they have right now. This will give you some insight into the depth of colour they are looking to achieve, what products they used, and how they found the process.
With this information, we would advise that you source similar products to use on the hair extensions that match the original colour of the client's hair and that you also buy at least 1 extra bundle in order to perform test colours first.
Using the same or similar products your client used, you will need to colour small pieces of your test bundle, taking note of the amount of product used, and time left on to develop until you achieve a colour close to your clients colour. Once you are happy with the results, you can then move on to colouring the entire set of hair extensions. We would recommend doing this bundle by bundle, using a tint brush in order to ensure full coverage. Lay your pieces on a towel whilst developing, and always use a high-quality shampoo and conditioner when rinsing the colour through. We would also recommend applying a treatment to the hair extensions, in order to ensure they are in the best possible condition before going into your client's hair, as they are pre-coloured.
When Your Client Is Looking For You To Colour Their Hair And The Hair Extensions
Ideally, to achieve the most balanced colour, your client will come to you to have both their hair and the hair extensions coloured at the same time. If you have a client who comes to you with natural hair colour and wants you to colour both their hair and the hair extensions to bold, fun colour, you will first need to colour match their natural hair. This is so you can find hair extensions close to this colour, so the hair has a nice even base. This will also mean that as the bold colour fades, it should fade at a similar rate, and the hair colour left will still match the client's natural hair.
We would recommend using a semi-permanent colour, or something very temporary like Shrine Drop It, as this will help your client maintain their colour easily between appointments.
First, you will need to perform a test strand on the client's hair and the hair extensions. Taking a small section of the client's hair, apply your colour, and monitor the development time. Then apply the same colour to the hair extensions for the same amount of time, before checking to see if both colours have come out the same and match. If they haven't, continue tweaking your process, leaving the product on for a shorter or longer amount of time, until you achieve a match.
As hair extensions are naturally more porous, you may find that the colour needs to be applied for a shorter amount of time on the hair extensions, to achieve the same match on the natural hair, however, every custom colour is different, which is why it is important to take your time with this process. Once you have established how long you will need to leave the product on the hair and the hair extensions to achieve a perfect match, you can begin the colouring process. You will need to apply the colour to the hair extensions using a tint brush, to ensure absolute saturation and coverage. Lay the hair extensions on a towel whilst they develop, and as a nice added touch, treat the extensions to a treatment to ensure they feel as healthy as possible before they are fitted.
Once you have coloured both the client's hair and the hair extensions, you will be ready to fit your perfectly matched, custom colour hair extensions.
