6 Reasons Why Your Hair Extensions Might Be Going Pink/Orange!
I have heard so many ladies ask this question before "Why are my hair extensions going orange/pink?" You are not alone! I experienced the exact same thing a few years ago. I had light blonde hair extensions and followed all the right regimens to look after them. But over time I noticed they started to look a little orange and pink and I just couldn't figure it out. I wondered has the supplier cheated me and given me low-quality hair? Is it even real human hair? I found myself asking questions that were far from the problem. So I decided to do my own research just like you and here is what I found.
What Happens to Hair To Cause Its Colour To Change?
Let me explain this to you.
Our hair strands have pigments that make up the tone in our hair. This means, if someone has a warm blonde hair colour but wants to make it a more ashy colour, you might go to the hairdresser and they will add violet pigments to neutralize the warm tones in the hair to achieve a more cooler blonde. But if you wanted to achieve a darker colour they will add darker pigments into your hair strands via "hair dye or hair toner" to achieve a darker hair colour.
Unfortunately these pigments are not always permanent and after a few hair washes the pigment will start to wash away naturally, and our natural pigment will start to show. This can sometimes result in your hair washing out to an orange, pink, peachy, or brassy base again.
Hair Extensions can react in the same way. The Hair is normally imported from Russia, Mongolia, India and Middle Eastern countries and are mostly likely darker in colour before its colour is changed to a blonde, brown or platinum blonde tone. Once the hair is cut from its originally owner the hair will go through many processes to reach its desired shade. What this means is the hair pigments are stripped and taken out of the hair strands via a slow bleaching process and then new pigments (toner/hair dye) is used to add a new hair colour to the hair. But since the hair had no more natural pigment after bleaching it, over time the hair extension might fade back to that pigment before it was toned or dyed an this will result in an orange, pink, peachy, or brassy pigment.
Since extensions are not attached to our scalp, they lack the natural oils that naturally keep our own hair from discolouring. So, washing them and wearing them without correct care will accelerate this discoloration process.
But this is not the only reason.
Here are some other very common reasons why you might be experiencing discolouration in your hair extensions and ways to avoid it from happening to you! Know them and save your investment ladies.
SUNLIGHT:
Sunlight works as a natural hair lightener, and our hair extensions are more prone to it than our hair because no natural oil is present in hair extensions. That makes our hair extensions appear different in colour than natural hair.
If you are having a day on the beach or out in the sun. Wearing a hat or scarf to cover your hair and hair extensions will help to prevent your hair from being naturally lightened by the sun.
SUNSCREEN:
Avoid letting your hair extensions come into contact with sunscreen! even if it is on your face, skin or even residue from a chair, towel or another person who has used sunscreen. Sunscreen is notorious for causing hair extensions to go pink or orange and it will pretty much change this colour in a matter of an hour after exposure. Sunscreen contains ingredients called Avobenzone (Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane) and Octocrylene that causes this discolouration so I would advise to always opt for a natural zinc-based sunscreen.
HARD WATER:
Water from your showerhead can be the problem. You must have heard the word Hard Water; it means it contains alkaline, a high amount of minerals, and a chunky substance, Limescale. Even this can cause discoloration of hair extensions. As there is no source that provides natural oil to our hair extensions there is nothing to counterbalances the minerals and limescale.
Installing a filtered shower head can prevent your extensions from being effected.
CHLORINE WATER:
There is a chemical, chlorine, used in pools to keep the water clean and remove build-up. However, when the chlorine water interacts with your hair, a chemical reaction starts. Aside from drying out hair extensions, it strips away its violet colour and makes it turn orange.
To keep your extensions safe, wet your hair with fresh water, apply a load of conditioner and braid your hair extensions to create a barrier to the chlorine.
SALT WATER:
Salty water from the sea or pools is a natural dehydrator; it can strip the pigments from hair extensions and can leave them discoloured, dry and tangled.
That's why it is important to wash your hair immediately after swimming in salty or chlorine water.
To keep your extensions safe, wet your hair with fresh water, apply a load of conditioner and braid your hair extensions to create a barrier before swimming in salty water.
SPRAY TANS:
If you frequently use a spray tan or fake tan lotion then make sure to avoid getting your fake tan solution in your hair, you might not notice it get into your hair right away but once it develops it is extremely hard to wash out.
Always wear a hair net and try not to apply the tan on your hair line.
PURPLE SHAMPOO:
Purple shampoos are used to keep blonde hair ashier (which means less yellow) Hair extensions are very pores and can soak up the purple pigment more than our hair. Be sure to test it on your hair extension strand first before using it all over your hair extensions and never leave it on your hair extensions for longer than 5 minutes. Otherwise, it can easily overtone your hair extensions to a grey, purple or blue colour.
I would suggest using a professional quality sulphate-free gentle purple shampoo such as
MAKE - Blonde Shampoo: $25.96
Bottom Line:
In order to avoid this from happening in future ladies, follow these simple rules. Use a natural zinc-based sunscreen. Opt for a filtered showerhead to prevent discoloration from hard water. We your hair and apply conditioner to create a protective barrier from salty and chlorine water when swimming and wash your hair immediately after. When spray tanning or using a tanning solution, wear a disposable hair net and avoid applying it near your hair line. If using a purple shampoo, make sure it's a professional quality sulphate-free shampoo.
So there it is guys, I hope you have found your answer.
Join the movement of motivated salon owners and subscribe to Sophia Hair. You'll receive weekly updates on our FREE content as it is released. Just type your email address into the box at the top or bottom of this page.
If you have more/better information that could help out our community, or questions that need answers, drop a comment below or email us at support@sophiahair.com.au.
Looking forward to hearing from you,
Lucas Miller
Sophia Hair Australia
