How to Color Synthetic Extensions With Rit Dye

Synthetic hair extensions are perfect for use as a temporary accent or filler for your hairstyle, and are available in loose "bulk" strands for braiding, or weft pieces that can easily be pinned into place. While there are a variety of colored synthetic extensions on the market, nothing beats a custom hair color designed to suite your needs. Rit has many colors to choose from along with custom color recipes, so your coloring options are virtually endless.

Things You'll Need

• Synthetic hair extensions
• Rubber gloves
• Plastic mixing bowl
• Hot tap water
• Rit dye (liquid form)
• Protective sheet (tin foil or plastic wrap)
• Clean cloth
• Applicator sponge or brush

Instructions

1. Prepare your work area. Lay your protective sheet on a flat surface. Trim the amount of hair extensions you plan to use and lay them on the sheet. If you plan to color several sections, start with one and keep the others nearby.

2. Put on your gloves and prepare the dye in a plastic bowl. You can use the dye in its concentrated form or mix 2 tablespoons color for each 1/2 cup water. If you are mixing a custom color, follow the recipe directions for your color.

3. Dip your sponge or brush into your dye mixture and squeeze out any excess liquid. Apply the dye to your hair extensions, working in one direction to avoid tangles. Let each piece sit for 20 minutes.

4. Rinse each piece in cold water until the water runs clear. Alternately, you can dip the extensions in a bowl of cold water and squeeze out any excess moisture. Allow each piece to air dry on a clean cloth.

5. Repeat the coloring process as needed until the synthetic hair extensions are your desired color. Once dry, comb through any tangles, and style as desired.

Tips & Warnings

• When purchasing synthetic hair to dye, choose color 60 or 613, which are "platinum blonde" hair extension colors. A plain "white" may also be used. Be sure that the synthetic hair you choose is a fiber type that will accept color. Ritdyes.com has a list of fibers that will work best. If you are unsure of the fiber type, test a small section of the hair.

• Synthetic hair should not be exposed to high temperatures from styling appliances, as this can damage the hair. Synthetic hair extensions should only be used for short-term applications, and removed and stored carefully after each use.

References

• Synthetic Fiber Selection
• Spot-Dyeing Technique

Resources

• Rit Color Chart
• Custom Color Recipes