Extensions vs Natural Hair: Understanding Pigment, Porosity, and Purple Shampoo Mishaps

Extensions are not your natural hair. And the quickest way to ruin them is to pretend they are.

Unlike the hair growing from your scalp, extensions don't receive natural oils or nutrients. They're processed differently, and their porosity isn't the same. Which means when colour or toning products hit, they respond with far more intensity.

Here's what that looks like in real life:
A client goes home with fresh extensions and decides to maintain her blonde with purple shampoo. She applies it root to tip, leaves it in, and rinses. The extensions, being more porous, grab the violet pigments instantly and suddenly, those buttery tones are overpowered with lavender streaks.

This isn't a one off. It's science. Extensions act like thirsty sponges, soaking up more pigment than natural hair. That's why careful product use is non-negotiable.

The solution isn't to avoid toning altogether, but to treat extensions with strategy: dilute shampoos, apply only to natural roots when possible, and always brush through gently with an extension-safe brush or wide-tooth comb to avoid tangling during washes.

Clients who respect the difference between extensions and their natural hair enjoy longer wear, silkier texture, and a colour result that stays true. Clients who don't often end up in my chair asking for rescue remedies.

At the end of the day, your extensions are an investment; they need products and tools designed to protect them. Learn more in our Aftercare Hair Extension Guide.

By Nicole McDonell - Master Hair Extensionist

Shop our Visie Brush + Wide Tooth Comb, your first line of defense for safe aftercare.