How To: Remove Tape from Extensions

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Did you know that extension tape needs to be removed before extensions are installed again? In order to keep your client’s extensions in the best shape, you’ll need to get rid of any old tape, buildup, dirt, and oil from your client’s hair and extensions so the new tape will grab and adhere like it’s supposed to for the longest wear time. So learning how to remove tape from extensions is crucial.

Why Does this Matter?

1. Longer Wear Time – Cleaning the tape off the hair wefts helps the wear time and can help the adhesive hold longer. Since 20-50 wefts are placed in every install, it’s crucial to make sure that the wefts are prepped and clean for a solid application.

2. Preserves Extensions – Removing the tape makes extensions hold up longer and through more applications. When applied correctly, most hair extensions can be reused for up to a year, which is awesome because it creates less waste.

3. Prevents Damage – Removing extension tape needs to be done whenever your clients are in for a reinstall, which should be about every 4 to 6 weeks. If the tape is left in any longer than that, it can be extremely difficult and damaging to remove.

4. Lays Closer to the Scalp – By the 4 to 6 week mark, the hair has grown out enough that the weft is laying away from the scalp. This is a signal that the extensions need to be removed and reinstalled. Doing this will place the wefts closer to the scalp and will redistribute the weight of the extensions on the hair. If the extension tape is stacked instead of removed, the extensions won’t lay as close to the scalp and can be much more noticeable.

5. Keeps Costs Down – By keeping up with your client’s extension maintenance appointments, their extensions and hair are kept in better condition. This allows you to reuse your client’s extensions and spend less time applying conditioning treatments to help repair damage caused by old tape. This helps keep the cost of application down for both you and your clients.

Out with the Old

To remove the extensions from your client’s hair, we recommend following this streamlined and simple process.

Move the client’s hair out of the way to expose the extension, and then apply the remover liberally over the tape until the top of the weft is saturated with remover. We recommend No Trace. It’s alcohol-based and makes the first step of removal a dream. This product works by dissolving the adhesives and glues that hold extensions in your client’s hair for so long and won’t leave oil residue behind.

After a few minutes, you should be able to easily peel the tape and extensions gently away from your client’s hair. We’ve heard from several stylists that using your fingernails to peel the tape away is a great way to go about it. The weft should easily come off of the client’s hair with the tape still attached to the extension weft. The tape shouldn’t stick to your client’s natural hair. If you’re struggling with a weft that’s still a bit stuck, apply more Extension Release and let it sit for another minute.

To finish taking the wefts out of your client’s hair, give their hair a quick wash with Extension Prep Shampoo. This shampoo will help to remove any residue that was left from the tape, as well as breaking down the sometimes oily remover. It’s also a great way to get your client’s hair extremely clean and ready for reinstalling the extensions.

Clean the Extensions

Once the extensions are out of your client’s hair, the next step is to get the tape tabs off of the wefts. First, lay the extensions on a flat surface with the sticky side up. Apply Weft Release to the used tabs and rub it into the adhesive. Leave the Weft Release to sit and start working on breaking the tape down for a few minutes. Once it’s been sitting for a while, gently pull any sticky pieces off of the tape tabs. If you need to, apply more remover and keep working on peeling the adhesive away. The reason why we think Weft Release is amazing is because it’s been specifically designed to remove the tape from wefts.

To finish up the cleaning process, apply a drop of dish soap to the tab. Work the soap into the Weft Release, then rinse the soap away from the tab. This step will help cut the oily residue that Weft Release leaves and make it easier to wash out. Finally, shampoo and condition the extensions and dry them completely.

Keep in mind, Weft Release is for taking tape off of extensions only. It’s not for removing extensions from your client’s hair.

Squeaky Clean & Ready to Wear

Once these steps are done, the extensions are ready to be reinstalled. Just measure the bonding tape out to be slightly wider than the tabs and cut. Pull off the tape backing and apply the tabs to the wefts. Press them together firmly and trim away any excess tape. Now you’re ready to reinstall them to your client’s hair.

That’s all we’ve got for you today! We hope these tips and tricks have been helpful. If you have any questions about the products we mentioned, reach out to us at [email protected].

TL;DR

• Extension tape needs to be removed before extensions are installed again.
• Cleaning the tape off the hair wefts helps the wear time and can help the adhesive hold longer.
• When applied correctly, most hair extension wefts can be reused for up to a year.
• Products we recommend to remove tape-in extensions from your client’s hair: Extension Prep Shampoo & No Trace

Products we love to clean tape-in extension wefts: Weft Release & Extension Prep Shampoo

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