When coloring your hair extensions, you may notice that instructions always call for demi or semi-permanent hair color (sometimes called “direct dyes”). Here’s why: permanent hair color literally dehydrates the hair cuticle, lifting its natural color so it can accept new pigment. These color jobs must always be used in conjunction with a strict hydration regimen and treatment schedule as anyone who’s ever bleached their hair can tell you: it can make your hair feel like straw! Using any color that lifts—be it a peroxide or bleach—on hair extensions will actually damage them and render them unusable. Because permanent color puts such a strain on the hair, demi or semi-permanent hair color is preferred for coloring extensions because they will pull off the same coloring effect without putting your hair, extensions, or scalp through the harsh treatment of permanent color.
What is Demi or Semi-Permanent Color?
Demi and semi-permanent hair color contain no ammonia and only deposits color onto the hair. Essentially, since these products do not lift the hair cuticle when adding color, the hair’s existing color stays underneath the new color. Semi and demi-permanent colors are mixed with low-volume developers, which help open up the cuticle so it can absorb the new color, and last for multiple shampoos: demi-permanent hair color washes out in up to 24 shampoos, with semi-permanent hair color lasting anywhere from 4 to 12 shampoos, depending on the amount used. These products are often used to blend gray, enhance natural color, refresh existing color, tone highlights, or for corrective work.
One distinct benefit of using demi and semi-permanent colors is that they can be applied to the extensions (after the strand test and other preliminary coloring tasks) straight from the bottle without having to be mixed with hydrogen peroxide and other chemicals. Since they perform without these strong chemicals and additives, they make the overall coloring experience much more pleasant for everyone involved as odors, the risk of chemical burns, and the sensory harshness of ammonia and peroxide are completely avoided!
It’s important to remember that Donna Bella Hair Extensions are real Human Remy hair and, as such, should be treated like your own natural hair. Proper maintenance, upkeep, and overall preparation are essential for keeping hair extensions looking their best. In that regard, using color products that will help maintain the hair without stripping it of natural oils and colors will go a long way in creating an ideal color effect that lasts. You can color your hair extensions! Just follow our advice, stay within 2 shades, and always deposit color instead of lifting. Whether adding fashionable colors or working to bring out existing highlights, demi and semi-permanent color applied to Donna Bella Hair Extensions will help you get the long, colorful hair you long for!
Visit the Color Takeover Portal for more coloring tips and tricks!