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How To Remove Hair Extensions

Hair extensions can be a wonderful way to bring body, length and volume to your hair.

But once it’s time to replace those temporary hair extensions, you may want to know how to remove them effectively.

If you’re wondering how to remove hair extension adhesive or how to remove bonded hair extensions at home, we’ve covered everything you need to know.

How to Remove Different Types of Hair Extensions

If you need to know how to remove hair extensions, you’ve come to the right place. When professionally installed by an expert, hair extensions can maintain their beautiful appearance until they are removed.

Expertly installed hair extensions are the ideal confidence booster, giving you beautiful fullness to your hair, no matter your style.

Want to know how to remove hair extensions easily? First, you need to make sure you remove hair extensions within a prescribed time frame to prevent shedding, damage or the appearance of growth.

Here’s how to remove all major types of hair extensions in the salon or at home.

How to Remove Tape In Hair Extensions

As one of the most popular types of hair extensions, tape is easier to remove than you might think.

You will need to purchase a keratin adhesive remover that is specifically designed for hair extensions.

Once your remover arrives, you can apply a few drops to the hair extension tape and massage it in.

Your hair extensions should then come undone painlessly without any residue or damage.

How to Remove Beads Hair Extensions

Bead extensions are also known as micro-ring extensions and need to be removed carefully if you choose to have this procedure done at home.

We recommend having a second person there to perform the removal of the back of the head. For removal, you will need

  • A pintail comb
  • Hair extension pliers/narrow head pliers
  • Hair clips or clamps


Once you have separated the extensions from the regular hair, you can use the pliers to squeeze the ring and widen the opening to allow the extensions to slide out.

How to Remove Glue Hair Extension

Glued hair extensions are another popular choice.

If you need to remove hair extension glues quickly to get them out of your hair, the best home remedy is oil.

Almond oil, olive oil, and even baby oil will degrade the glue and keep those glued hair extensions in place.

Let it work for about 15 minutes and then gently start removing each hair extension from your hair for best results.

How to Remove Sewn In Hair Extensions

Also known as weft or weave extensions, these premium cost stitched extensions are known to be difficult to remove. If you want to try this at home, you will need the help of a friend and the following tools.

  • Narrow and pointed scissors
  • Hair extension pliers/narrow pointed pliers
  • A pin tail comb

The weft can be removed row by row from the bottom of the head to the top. You will need to use scissors to carefully cut the threads.

Once cut, you will need to use the tip of the comb to move the threads out of the way and untie the knot.

To remove the micro loop, you will need to pinch it with pliers.

How to Remove Hair Extensions With Pliers

Both beads and sew-in hair extensions need to be removed at home with pliers.

The pliers are used when reshaping the micro rings attached to the hair.

This allows the extensions to be released and gently pulled away from the hair without any damage.

How to Remove Bonded Hair Extensions

Taking down hair extensions at home can be a challenge.

To successfully perform the removal, you generally need someone to work with you at the back of your head.

You also need to make sure you have the products listed above for your specific hair type.

If you want to remove hair extensions at home, making sure you are patient and move slowly is the most important way to minimize damage to your hair.

Hair Extensions Remove FAQS

How do you remove hair extensions at home?

Above we’ve covered everything you need to know about removing different types of hair extensions.

If you are still unsure about how to remove hair extensions with minimal damage, consulting with a professional is the next best step.

A trained expert will be able to perform a quick and easy removal for you.

How do you remove glued in hair extensions at home?

Oil is the home solution for gluing hair extensions.

You can use any oil you have at home to gently break down this adhesive.

The oil is also good for your natural hair, which is a benefit of this safe method.

If you are having difficulty removing hair extensions for any reason, a trained professional can advise you or remove them for you.

How can I remove hair extensions without damaging my hair?

You can remove hair extensions from your home with minimal damage as long as you don’t rush the process and follow the right methods.

It helps if you don’t put pressure on your scalp during the removal process. You should also not use any harsh chemicals that can damage your hair, especially if you are working close to the scalp.

How do you get extensions off?

This depends entirely on the type of extensions you have. In some cases, you may need hardware like pliers to remove the extensions, while in other cases, you can purchase specialized adhesive removers to remove the extensions.

We’ve covered some of the major types of hair extensions above to help you decide what to do. If you are still unsure of the best method of removal, consulting with a professional is a good option.

Can you use normal pliers to remove hair extensions?

If you have beaded hair extensions, also known as micro-loop extensions, you can use any narrow-tipped pliers to remove your extensions.

The narrower the better, as these beads are small enough that you need to be able to clearly see what you are doing. If possible, it is best to purchase specific hair extension pliers that can be easily removed.

Hello, Customers

My name is Kevin Gao, I’m the business manager of INCHHAIR. I have been in the hair extensions industry for more than 10 years. Feel free to contact us. I’m happy to provide you with the best service and products.

Email: info@inchhair.com | WhatsApp: +8617515762227