After suddenly developing a hair dye allergy, Kat was devastated to learn she could no longer dye or bleach her hair and as a result, this destroyed her confidence. That was until Kat discovered that she can use hair extensions to lighten her natural hair colour!
Hair extensions can be used to add subtle highlights, using extensions that are one to two shades lighter than your natural hair colour. Or to add brighter, contrasting blonde tones and lighter highlights, use blonde or balayage shade extensions to mix in for a natural-looking blend. With the correct colour placement, hair extensions can easily be used to either lighten or darken the appearance of your hair without having to subject your natural hair to dyes and bleach which can cause damage.
You can use all Professional Extension methods to add colour, but individual methods such as Tape Extensions, Micro Ring Extensions or Pre-bonded Extensions are especially suitable as they are applied in smaller sections so it is easy to mix different tones. We worked with Kat to use Slimline Tape extensions to lighten her natural colour without the use of dye, and she's never looked back! Read Kat’s full story below:
What happened when you found out you were allergic to hair dye?
I’ve been allergic to hair dye for as long as I can remember. I’ve always been blonde but I thought I’d try dying my hair dark red for Christmas one time. I got my hair done and it was a really nice colour, but then a couple of days later I woke up and my face had swollen up. I could only see out of one eye, and I had fluid beneath the swelling which was moving around which was so painful! I went to the doctors and unfortunately I’d had an allergic reaction to the hair dye used, I was really upset.
I did try to book in consultations later on to have my usual highlights done but was having the same bad reactions whenever I had my patch test done before the appointment.
Did it impact your confidence?
When I found out I could no longer dye my hair, I was absolutely gutted and it really affected my confidence. I’ve been blonde for as long as I can remember and I hated my hair being brown! Everyone knows me as blonde, when I think of myself I'm blonde, so to no longer be able to colour my hair I just didn’t feel like me.
Did you know before that you could use hair extensions to add colour?
When my hairdresser suggested using hair extensions to add the blonde back into my hair I was so excited. I had no idea it was even an option! I’d always just thought of using hair extensions for adding length and volume. I had worn Clip-ins before which I loved, but I only wore them when I was going out so I didn't have a permanent solution. When I found out I could use hair extensions to add colour back into my hair, it was a gamechanger!
How did you use extensions to add colour and get your desired look? What look did you want to create?
I had a consultation with my hairdresser on what method of extensions would work best for my hair type and we agreed on tapes. We mixed a combination of shades Mocha Melt, Scandinavian Blonde and Sunset Boulevard to create this gorgeous balayage effect. I couldn’t believe how natural it looked and I’m really pleased with the look of my extensions. I’ve been wearing them for about 3 months now and still in love with the results!
What do you love most about wearing extensions?
I’m really pleased with the look of my extensions, it’s given me that same natural balayage effect that I used to get when I got my hair dyed. It just shows that with no hair dye at all, I’ve been able to get that same effect. My hair’s also in much better condition since I’ve not been bleaching it, it’s so much healthier under the extensions and I was really surprised at how much my natural hair had grown. My favourite thing is probably how well extensions hold a curl! My curls always dropped out so quickly before I started wearing extensions and now they last for days.
Do you find extensions easy to wear?
I’ve found tape extensions really easy to wear, I was amazed at how light they are! It feels really natural and not heavy at all. What I love about the tapes is they’re really easy to move and really flexible. It means I can tie my hair up, put in a bun or a half up/half down - there’s literally no hairstyle I can’t achieve.
What’s been the thing that’s surprised you most about wearing extensions?
The thing that I was most surprised about when wearing extensions was how light and versatile they are, and how easy they are to move within my natural hair. I’ve also had so many compliments from people on how good the blend is, they can’t get over how natural it looks. I really can’t see the distinction between my own hair and the extensions, people would never know I was wearing them!
How have extensions made you feel more confident?
My extensions have made me feel so much more confident. They’ve give me back my blonde hair and made me feel like myself again.
As part of our #MyHairIsMyConfidence campaign we are exploring different ways that hair extensions give confidence and how they work to combat common hair concerns. Over the course of the series we will meet extensions lovers who all wear them for different reasons, but all have one thing in common - feeling empowered by their hair.
If you’d like to share your story with us and be in our #MyHairIsMyConfidence campaign, sign up here.
Want to find out more about how professional extensions can add colour to your hair? Book a consultation with one of our 4000+ trusted salon partners. Find your nearest salon via our Salon Locator.
