How To Remove Hair Extensions?

For some reason you do not want to go back to your hairdresser to have your hair extensions removed.

I must highly recommend against removing extensions yourself because damage can be very likely. I must caution against it. But, if you follow my direction to a T, and be patient, you can get them removed safely with no or minimal damage.

Why you are presented with the problem where you must remove your extensions on your own? Does the hair extension artist charge you more money to have them taken out? One solution, before you have to deal with removing them yourself is to see who else might remove them for you. I know that I will not charge to remove your old extensions if you plan on having me install a new set for you. Plus, I do not normally charge to remove them after either. Also, when I remove them, I know how to untie each hair when I untangle and I do not rip through snarls. I have heard others say "Your time is valuable" so removing fast is important to the client. I'm more of a "Your hair is more valuable" kind of person, so the extra work is worth it.Kimlakehair.com

What kind of Hair Extensions do you need removed?

It's important to know what kind of hair extensions that you have before you try to remove them. There are many different methods. Just as well, with a fusion method of hair extensions, there are different kinds of bonding material for different brands. This means that the chemical in the removers will vary as well. I'm going to talk about fusion hair extensions. There are two main different kinds of bonding. It will be hard to know which one is in your hair unless you already know or you test it, by trying the two main kinds of remover. One will work. One won't.

How to remove the higher end extensions like Great Lengths, Hair Dreams, Cinderella, Balmain, Socap, Super Keratip, and Custom Blends Hair Extensions:

First, I must explain what the bonding material is made of.

There are probably others because there are an endless numbers of companies who sell hair extensions with this high grade bonding material, which is a high quality thermoplastic polymer. It can be known as Thermoplast, or many companies call it keratin. It is called keratin because keratin contains the long chain molecules that bind together to form a solid material, which is used to produce polymers or plastics. It's loosely called "glue" sometimes. I've been corrected though. It's "keratin" not glue. No, horse hoofs are keratin. Glue is just a term that can mean the material used to connect other things. That's all. And it's not really keratin either. It's just made with keratin. It's really a polymer resin. Thermoplastic means it fuses together with heat, or cold fusion ultrasonic welding, which still produces heat. It melts when hot and solidifies when it cols back to room temperature, as opposed to a thermoset polymer, which will burn when heated.

Let me explain my source. I've done extra studies on the material science of polymers for engineers so that I could understand the molecular differences in the different hair extension brands that I was experiencing.

What is the remover I should use to get these hair extensions out?

Each company has their own unique remover. While it might be nice to find the actual remover for the exact brand of hair extensions, the main ingredient in all of them in isopropyl alcohol. Yes, the kind you find in your drug store. You may find that acetone is sometimes used. This works on some types of lower grade extensions.

What kind of remover tool should I use to remove my hair extensions?

It's important you have all the right tools, as well as having your hair prepared properly. You will need a pair of flat pliers, ones without teeth. You can buy them at hair extension supply stores, or Sears. However, I use a medical grade surgical tool that was made in Germany. It prevents you from applying too much pressure because it clicks when too much tension is applied. Too much pressure can cause damage. I imported this tool from Italy. I do not know where you can buy them but I can order one for you. It will take a few weeks. In the meantime, just be gentle with the ones you buy at Sears. Most of the hair extension companies I mentioned just have plain flat pliers and not a fancy tool like mine. I was the one who discovered it's use so you won't find it being sold by extension companies. I will, but I haven't quite yet.

How to prepare your hair before you remove your hair extensions.

Hair extensions can be hard to get out and that is why you will see and hear of damage from the removal process. You will hear stories that glue is bad and so on, but it doesn't have to be if you use the product correctly. Preparing your hair extensions for the removal is important and by doing so, the time needed to remove the extensions will also be shortening.

For as long as a week before you are due to have your extensions removed, it is a very good idea to pretreat your hair to make it more porous. Nothing is going to instantly dissolve your hair extension bonding. That's what they pliers are for, to crack the bond so that the remover can spread deeper into the bond as it breaks it apart.

Soak your hair over night, every night with a heavy protein enriched conditioner. Do this on your dry bonds with the conditioner straight from the container and not diluted with water. Remember, do not sleep with wet hair. Lanza products are good for this as they have a very small molecular weight protein in their products. This is the very type of conditioner that I DO NOT want you to use during the wear of your hair extensions. The protein in the conditioner will bind with the keratin in the bonding material and cause it to softer and become porous, so over night, for a few nights, up to a week. Longer is okay too.

You may also use coconut oil to soak your bonds with. Oil is part of the thermoplastic compound so it will also work. It will work by targeting different compounds the bonding material. So use both, but on different nights, not together.

There is a huge different in weather you presoak overnight or not. Do not presoak with alcohol because it will just evaporate, disappear, and not work at all.

Removing the hair extensions.

Wash all of the oil or conditioner from your hair. Comb through the hair to make sure there are no tangle that prevent the hair extension from sliding out. If you use oil or conditioner during the removal with the alcohol, thinking it will help slide the product out better, you may be in for a surprise. The conditioner or oil, when used with the alcohol may cause the hair not to dissolve proper, but instead reinforce the bonding material into a clay like sticky substance, so don't be temped to use multiple removers at once. You can use spray conditioner under the bond to help it slide out.

The hair can be wet or dry. You are finally ready to start removing the hair extensions.

Work in clusters of about 5 or more. Put a drop of alcohol on each bond. While it is still wet, use your plier tool and give it about 6 squeezes. Do not try to break it all the way apart yet. Then add another drop of the remover and then leave it and move on and do the whole head or half of the head. Just drop, sqeeze, drop, and move on. Do not attempt to pull any out yet.

It is time that is needed to work into the bond, layer by layer the solvent goes deeper, softens a bit on each pass. Forcing it with the pliers can cause damage. It only needs to open a little and the remover will work by itself with time.

Go back to make sure all the previous bonds do not dry up. Keep them all moist as you work. You may go forward and back and forward and back. Going back to the beginning ones, do the same thing. Add a drop, squeeze gently just a bit and leave it, working in clusters, doing a few at a time, going around the head and then back again.

After two to three passes and it has soaked for a bit. Add a drop of remover, press a few times, gently, then try to slide the extension off. If it does not slide off super easy, do not tug harder. Just give it another shot of the remover and leave it and move on and come back. It is very important not to use brute strength to force them out.

You will notice the bond expanding and turning white as the solvent begins to work.

Combing Out the Tangles

Now, for the tangles that are left. Do not comb out any bonding chunks that are left behind with force. Give them another dash of remover and squish them until they come out with ease.

It is best to use a carbon small tooth comb. Certain combs will be of the wrong plastic and will not work right or they get destroyed by the solvent. Also, you may want to get an eyelash comb to work with the tangling that may happen above the bond. Do not force the snarls out by ripping them.

It should not cause pain to remove the hair extension bonds. If it does, that is a signal of something bad, like hair breaking. You can use a spray in conditioner at this point. Remember, damage come from humans pulling and ripping it, not the "glue" itself. This process may take several hours, which is another reason why presoaking it over night is very important.

It should not cause pain to remove the hair extension bonds. If it does, that is a signal of something bad, like hair breaking. You can use a spray in conditioner at this point. Remember, damage come from humans pulling and ripping it, not the "glue" itself. This process may take several hours, which is another reason why presoaking it over night is very important.

If it is so hard to remove, why do people get this kind instead of micro-rings or some other kind of hair extension

When properly installed with even tension, fusion hair extensions, which includes all the brands I mentioned, have a nice round or flat soft bond that should be comfortable without distinguished corners than can pull or snag other hairs. Yes, micro rings are easier to remove, but fusion is a better wear for the client. They should be tiny bonds that are less detectable and easier to wears and sleep on. They also shed less than micro ring, IF they are installed properly with only high grade products.

Look at all the amazing pictures of hair extensions that I have on my web site.kimlakehair.com.