Has anyone removed their hair extensions during lockdown?

[TightPants]

I’ve bought some pliers to break the micro rings and am going to do it tomorrow.
I’m not looking forward to it, I’ve half a head load to do!
Any tips appreciated.

[NowYouListenToMeFella]

Good luck op. Mine due to come out, but I'm not brave enough to give it a go. My hair lives in a bun on the top of my head these days.

You could whack a load of conditioner into your hair and leave it for a while. Some may slide out after it. I was always told not to get conditioner on the bonds first that reason.

[worldweary45]

It's pretty easy to do but and extra pair of hands helps

Depending on how long they've been in you might have some mats to deal with quite close to your scalp

Lots of conditioner and patience is the only way to deal with them

[MsMeNz]

Be gentle on the squeeze so you minamise damage to your own hair. I removed my own and ended up cutting a fair bit of my own hair as well, many years ago. I'm sure you'll be fine though if you take your time and do it slowly and gently.

[TightPants]

They’ve been in since February with no maintenance! They mat really easily now and I’ve 2” of root growth so they definitely need to come out.
Thankfully they’re not really long, but I’ll definitely use lots of conditioner, thanks for the tip!

[TightPants]

@MsMeNz that’s what I’m afraid of!
I had them for volume so I’m going to feel half bald when they come out anyway. I sent off for some pliers specifically to break extension bonds so hopefully my own hair won’t get damaged 😬

[NowYouListenToMeFella]

Let us know how you get on.

[NowYouListenToMeFella]

@TightPants did you give it a go??

[Gingefringe]

I took out my DD's at the start of lockdown. Try to get someone to do it for you - much better than doing it yourself. It's pretty straightforward once you get the hang of it and plenty of utube videos to show you the technique.
The strands have been kept in small plastic bags according to length so that she can use them again once the hairdresser is open.

[TightPants]

They’re out!
I was up until 2am brushing out the matted roots
The removal was easy enough actually, I don’t have anyone to help me so I just sectioned my hair and got on with it.
There was a scary amount of my own hair that came out, but my hairdresser warned me not to worry as it’s natural shedding.

Back to the clip-ins for now!

[Feelthefear01]

I used to always take mine out myself. It's a lot easier if you can get someone else to do it for you. If you have matting condition the routes of your hair and leave this in whilst removing them (might be a bit slippy on the fingers but will be easier in the hair). Try to comb some of the matting out first with a comb. It's actually really easy to do. If your bonds are okay they just put them in a sandwich bag ready to be redone when possible.

[Feelthefear01]

Just seen the post. I used to cry whem I had mine out as my hair is so thin. I did get used to it though after I while, kind of, maybe not

[NowYouListenToMeFella]

Well done on getting them out. God love you trying to brush through the matting. I'm thinking I might give it a go. Mine are keratin bonded ones. Can I ask where you ordered the pliers from?

[florriepeck]

Oh, you've done well to remove the extensions yourself!
I had help with mine.
I had a lot of shedding, too, for a few days, and there seemed to be a lot of hair on my brush each time I used it.
But, as you say, it's just natural shedding: hair that would have been lost normally over the course of a few weeks, but gets caught in the micro rings.
I don't feel that my hair looks half as nice without the extensions, but I think it's probably a good thing for hair to have a rest from them.
And I'm enjoying being able to wash and style it so quickly.
I'm using intensive conditioning treatments, also wearing hairbands etc, for a change,and to improve the"volume" look.

[TightPants]

@NowYouListenToMeFella I got them from Amazon.
There are loads, mine were about £12.
I’m not sure about keratin bonds, mine were micro rings, but You Tube is your friend!

Going to start intensive conditioning too @florriepeck.
Can’t wait to have them put back in tbh, my hair is so thin, but agree that drying it in 5 mins is a bonus!

[NowYouListenToMeFella]

Will check out amazon. Hopefully I'll find ones that will be delivered quickly enough. Could give it a go over the weekend.

[NowYouListenToMeFella]

Pliers ordered. Not arriving til 15th June. How's your hair looking now @TightPants?

[TightPants]

@NowYouListenToMeFella - very thin!

The condition is good though, despite needing a good cut.
My hair is so fine that I struggle to hide clip ins so as soon as I can have my extensions done again I’m in there!
I’m enjoying having very clean hair though, washing hair with extensions is such a faff and I never felt my roots were properly clean.

Keep us updated when you do yours!

[NowYouListenToMeFella]

Will do. It's funny now when I brush my hair I Hope one comes out. I'd be annoyed before. When are hairdressers due to open in UK? I'm in Ireland and we're July 20th. I'd say it will be impossible to get appointments for a while.

[florriepeck]

Hair salons are to be allowed to open from 4th July in UK.

[NowYouListenToMeFella]

Still a bit away over there too. I'm getting fatter and uglier by the day! Thankfully working from home so no need to look presentable.

[NowYouListenToMeFella]

The pliers arrived today. The extensions are out. I feel like I have three wisps of hair. Lots of conditioner and brushing sorted out the matted bits. So nice to give the head a good scrub.

[TightPants]

@NowYouListenToMeFella well done!
How long did it take you?

[Mnthrowaway20202]

@TightPants when you say that lots of your own hair shed, do you think your hair is thinner than it was before you had them put in? Or does it seem like an overall normal thickness for you?

[TightPants]

@Mnthrowaway20202 it’s really hard to say. My hair is really fine anyway. I’m peri menopausal so I had them put in for volume.
Without extensions, if I put my hair in a pony tail it’s about as thick as a pencil so extensions made a huge difference!
I’d say that it’s possibly a bit thinner than before unfortunately.

[NowYouListenToMeFella]

Took a few hours but I was dipping in and out doing other things. It wasn't actually too bad.

It is really hard to tell if I gave less hair than before. It feels like you have nothing left but hard to remember if this is my normal volume of hair.

Definitely needs a trim and the colour done.