Clients forgive a lot, but they notice colour. An extension that's half a shade off stands out every time the light hits it. The good news is that colour matching is a repeatable process, not guesswork.
1. Match in the right light
Salon lighting can be warm or cool and flatter some tones more than others. Where possible, check the match in natural daylight — near a window is ideal. Check again under salon light to see how it reads in both.
2. Match the mid-lengths and ends, not the root
Extensions sit underneath and blend into the lengths, so that's where the match matters. Take a section from the area where the extensions will sit — usually the lower back section — and match to the mid-lengths and ends.
3. Look at the whole section, not one strand
Natural hair is rarely one colour. Hold the colour ring or swatch against a full section so you can see the mix of tones, including any natural highlights and lowlights.
4. Decide whether you need a rooted shade
If the client has grown-out colour, a balayage or a darker natural root, a rooted shade can make the blend far softer as their hair grows. Mane Baby offers shades with pre-coloured roots for exactly this.
5. Blend two shades when one isn't right
For multi-tonal hair, combining two shades usually looks more natural than forcing a single shade. A common approach is a slightly deeper shade on the lower row and a lighter shade on the upper row, where the hair catches the light.
Smaller packs make this much easier and less wasteful — see why 55g packs help.
6. When to adjust the colour
If none of the pre-coloured shades are right, adjusting the extension colour is possible — but only in the right direction. With Mane Baby hair, colour services should go darker or toned only. Bleach should never be used on the extensions, as it causes irreversible damage.
A wide pre-coloured range means you'll rarely need to colour at all. Mane Baby offers 26 pre-coloured shades. See them all.
7. Record the match
Note the shade or shade combination on the client's card. It saves time at every future appointment and makes re-orders simple. Stockists can use our client consultation form template for this.
8. Set expectations about lighter shades
Light blonde extensions have a shorter lifespan than darker shades because of the lightening involved, and they're more sensitive to heat, sun and some products. Some sunscreens can even turn blonde hair a pink tone. Let blonde clients know upfront so they look after their colour.
Tools that make it easier
- A colour ring (Mane Baby stockists receive one free with their first qualifying order, T&Cs apply)
- Good natural light
- Sectioning clips to isolate the matching section
- A consultation card to record shades
Colour matching is covered in depth in our hands-on training. Ready to stock Mane Baby? Apply here.