The year 2020 certainly taught us a lot, but one big thing we learned is that you won’t always have access to your hairstylist. So when you want or need to take your hair extensions out – during a pandemic or not – what can you do?
Did you know that you can remove hair extensions on your own from the comfort of your bathroom? Yup, you sure can! Now, granted, some hair extensions are easier to remove than others. For example, clip-ins can simply be unclipped and removed in seconds.
But what about other, more permanent options? How can you remove sew-ins, microbeads, bonded, and tape-in extensions? While it might seem like a hurdle, you can successfully remove these extensions at home.
Keep reading to find out the different methods of removing hair extensions.
Contents
How to Remove Hair Extensions
The first thing to understand is that each type of hair extension will need to be removed differently. For example, the way you remove tape-ins differs from how you remove sew-ins. That said, I have made separate sections for different hair extension type removal.
How to Remove Tape-In Hair Extensions
Tape-in hair extensions are a number one solution. Why? Not only are they really easy to install, but they are super easy to remove, too. A major plus is that application, wear, and removal is also not damaging to your natural mane, which can’t be said for other types of extensions.
So how do you remove tape-in hair extensions? Well, it’s pretty simple, but you have a few options that are all applied the same way. Let’s take a closer look.
- Oil – Oils like coconut, olive, and almond oil can work wonders at loosening up the tape to remove the hair extensions. Simply massage the oil into the area the adhesive is located. You may have to leave it on for a while before trying to remove it.
- Alcohol – Rubbing alcohol and even hand sanitizer can be great at removing tape-in hair extensions. And don’t pretend like you don’t have hand sanitizer lying around during these uncertain times!
- Conditioner – Conditioner might take a few tries before being successful, but hey, you have to work with what you got, right?
- Store-bought removal – There are plenty of store-bought tape-in hair extension removal products, such as the Big Kizzy Remover. This product (and similar products) is notorious for making the removal a quick and easy process that won’t damage your locks.
Whichever product you end up using, the removal process is fairly the same. You will want to apply a decent amount of the product around the adhesive. Wait for the product to seep in before wiggling the tape loose and removing it from your hair strands.
Here is a great video that shows you how:
How to Remove Sew-In Hair Extensions and Micro Bead Extensions
For this next section, I will be discussing how to remove sew-in hair extensions and microbead extensions because sometimes, they go hand-in-hand. Now, if you do not have a weave but only have micro bead extensions, you can skip the part about removing the weave.
Remove the Weave
Removing the weave is a time-consuming and finicky process. That said, if you can recruit the help of a friend during this process, it will be a lot easier. This is because it can be challenging to know where the thread and knots are, and you can end up snipping in the wrong areas.
But don’t panic! If you’re all alone, you can still remove your sew-in hair extensions. You just have to be extra extra careful. Here’s how:
- Separate your natural hair from the weave – The goal here is to separate your natural mane from the weave completely. Otherwise, you might end up cutting your natural locks. Oh, no! Clip up your natural hair and ensure there are no loose strands. Start at the lowest extension (the one closest to the nape of the neck).
- Cut the thread – Now, it’s time to bust out the super-sharp scissors. Using your scissors, snip the thread. Do not cut the hair.
- Loosen and snip the knots – Sometimes, your scissors will be able to wiggle into the knots and cut. Other times, you will need to loosen them up with the end of a comb. From there, start snipping away the knots.
- Remove the weft and continue – After snipping the thread and knots, the wefts should be easily removed. Then, you can continue to the rest of your head.
This is a wonderful video showing the steps to remove a weave from home:
Removing the Beads
Some people might fear that removing microbeads is incredibly difficult, considering the installation process isn’t exactly swift and simple. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. As long as you have a pair of pliers (preferably hair pliers like these), you’re golden and ready to go.
- Separate your natural mane from the microrings – Just as mentioned in the section previously, take your time separating your natural hair from the beads for the best results and no mishaps.
- Use the pliers to clamp the microrings gently – You want to clamp in the opposite direction that the beads were flattened. Remember not to clamp too hard, or the beads will become tighter to the hair shaft.
- Loosen up the product and comb – After sliding the beads off of your mane, you may notice some buildup of product that clumps hair together. This is normal. Use the end of a comb to loosen it up before combing through.
Check out this video on how to remove micro rings with ease:
How to Remove Keratin Hair Extensions
Keratin extensions, or bonded hair extensions, are great for providing seamless, long-lasting wear. However, these popular extensions are the trickiest to remove from the home. Well, not necessarily tricky, but they do require special products, unlike the other types of extensions.
To remove keratin hair extensions, you will need specialty keratin remover. This isn’t just a simple glue that’s used on your locks, after all. A remover such as the X10 Pro-Tools D Bond Gel Remover is recommended.
You will also need a bond crusher, like the Neitsi Fusion Bond Crusher Tool for Keratin Hair Extensions. Yes, you read that correctly – a crusher. Don’t worry – there’s no pain involved, and you won’t end up crushing any part of your body.
With tools in tow, follow these easy steps:
- Separate your natural mane from the bonded hair extensions – This should be a given at this point!
- Massage the bond remover around the adhesive – Don’t hesitate with the application. The more remover that’s used, the easier it will be.
- Use the professional bond crusher to crush the keratin extensions – Essentially, you will just keep clamping around the adhesive until it literally crushes and can be slid off of your strands.
- Comb and enjoy! Product can sometimes get leftover on this type of hair extensions, too. So loosen up the clumps and comb through.
This video shows you how it’s done:
Final Thoughts
Sometimes, you just need to remove your hair extensions from home. Sound familiar? Then don’t hesitate to try and do it from home. Just remember to go slowly and be gentle for the best results.
