Why did my extensions turn orange / pink?
Your worst nightm(hair) just came true… After that pool/beach day you’ve been looking forward to for so long, your extensions seem a little off. Whether they’ve turned a shade of pink, peach, or orange, we’re here to explain the why, find a solution, and help you avoid this tragedy in the future.
To understand why hair extensions, especially the blonde shades, are so fragile, we first need to understand how extensions are made. Laced Hair Extensions are made from 100% Remy double drawn virgin human hair with the cuticle intact.
To break that down even further for you, our hair extensions are sourced from hair that has never been colored (virgin) with healthy, smooth shafts running in the same direction to maintain shine & prevent tangling (cuticle intact, Remy) and then hand crafted to remove short strands for uniform length and fullness (double drawn).
What this means is that the hair is the best of the best, and with its uniformity, all of our extensions start dark in color, meaning they must be gradually processed to achieve a blonde result.
We’ve painstakingly refined this process to maintain the luxurious softness and healthy extensions you’ve come to expect, with unique treatment that lasts months to maintain the hair’s integrity. Regardless, processing hair increases its porosity, meaning extra care needs to be taken to prevent the extensions from soaking up chemicals and contaminants resulting in discoloration.
If you’re wondering what to do when your extensions turn pink/orange, you’re in the right place. First, take a deep breath - our support team is here to help. Feel free to contact us prior to trying anything on your Laced Hair. We’ve seen it all, and may have unique insight on your situation.
Please, we beg of you, do not put lemon juice or any harsh chemicals on your extensions.
The safest bet is a careful rotation of clarifying shampoo (extension safe is a must!) followed by deep conditioning treatments to prevent over drying. Ensure your shampoo is both paraben and sulfate free to avoid further issues. This process may need to be repeated a few times depending on the severity of the discoloration.
The main culprit for discoloring of hair extensions is one of the main chemicals in sunscreen - avobenzone. To make a long story short, when it’s absorbed into the hair and exposed to the UV rays in sunlights, a chemical reaction occurs that allows the minerals in hard water, pool water, and ocean water to deposit on the hair, resulting in color change.
The good news? This phenomenon is completely preventable through better products and habits. First, you’ll need a high quality sunscreen, like LHC’s Invisible Mineral Sunscreen, which also happens to be hydrating with shea butter and squalene reef safe, and anti-oxidizing (the chemical reaction that causes extension discoloration). This option won’t clog pores, keeping it safe for application on your face and body.
The way you prepare your hair for a day by the pool also massively contributes to how long your hair extensions last. For best results, dampen your hair prior to submerging in water and apply a leave-in treatment or hydrating oil if desired. This combination saturates your hair to prevent absorption of the chemicals in the water! Immediately after exiting the water, wash hair twice and follow with a deep conditioning treatment.
We hope this season in the sun is your best yet and wish you endless good hair days!
Make sure to check out the full LHC line for ultimate hair health, and don’t be afraid to contact our support team about the best products for your Laced Hair Extensions!