Hair extensions can provide extra length, volume, and style options for your hair. Many hair extensions use special application tape to bond the extensions securely. While tape-in extensions are convenient to apply, removing them can be tricky without damaging your natural hair. GoviHair gives this complete guide to how to remove tape in hair extensions safely and successfully removing hair extension tape!

What is Remove Tape In Hair Extension?

Hair extension tape removal refers to the process of taking out tape-in hair extensions from your natural hair. Tape-in extensions adhere pieces of faux hair very close to the scalp using double-sided adhesive tape. The tape bonds the extension wefts to small sections of your natural hair. Removal involves breaking down this bond and gently separating the tape from both your real hair and the extension hair. Proper tape removal prevents damage to your natural hair follicles, roots, length, and texture. It also allows the tape wefts to be reused if they are still in good condition.

Why Remove Tape-In extensions?

There are a few main reasons you need to properly remove tape-in extensions instead of just cutting them out:

• Prevent damage to natural hair: Cutting tape-in wefts risks cutting and tangling your real hair in the process. Correct removal protects your natural hair.
• Allow for hair maintenance: Tape extensions can build up dirt, oils, and product residue over time. Removal lets you deeply cleanse and condition your real hair.
• Reuse extensions: With care, high-quality tape wefts can be reused 2-3 times before needing replacement.
• Avoid discomfort: Keeping extensions past their usable lifespan can feel tight, itchy, and uncomfortable as the tape loses stickiness.

Proper tape removal keeps your natural hair happy and healthy!

How Do I Remove Hair Extension Tape?

You’ll need to break down the bond between the tape adhesive, your hair, and the weft hair using the right products and techniques. It takes time, care, and patience! Rushing increases the risk of losing natural hair in the removal process.

 

Follow these important guidelines:

Do’s:

• Use the right removal solution: specialized solvents help dissolve the tape bond rather than ripping it apart.
• Work in small sections: Gently treat and remove one tape-weft at a time near the root using precision.
• Use pointed tip tools: Liikeloss picks, rat tail combs, and seam rippers to help lift and edge up the tape gently.
• Remove toward the roots: Slowly slide removal tools from the hair ends to the roots/scalp to protect the strands.

Don’ts:

It can be tempting to rip extensions out quickly. However, this risks pulling out your natural hair stuck in the tape!

Avoid these common tape removal errors:

• Attempting to Rip Hair Tape Out by Force: Don’t just grab and yank, hoping the hair tape will pop off. This excessive force damages natural hair.

• Sliding Precision Tools Down First Instead of Towards Roots: Pushing tools down away from the scalp puts strain on the follicles and strands underneath. Always work upward toward the roots.

• Not Using Enough Solvent Gel: Skipping or skimping on remover solution leads to fighting stiff tape bond strength instead of dissolving it. Apply generously on and around tape rings first before tool work.

• Trying to Remove Too Many Tape Wefts at Once: Working in large sections makes precision and gentleness extremely difficult. Take out one narrow tape ring at a time.

• Rushing the Removal Process: Quickly ripping at stuck tape catches and pulls natural hair. Slow down and take the needed time for safe, successful removal.

Tape extensions require diligence and care both during application and removal. Avoid these common mistakes for the healthiest natural hair!

Now let’s explore the best practices, methods, and products for safe, effective tape-in extension removal.

The Best Methods for Hair Extension Tape Removal

Removing tape extensions takes patience, precision tools, and the right hair extension solvent. Here are the top methods used by hair stylists:

Apply Removal Solution Gel

Start by precisely applying a small amount of solvent gel or remover solution directly along the tape line near the bond with your natural hair:

• What it does: softens and dissolves the adhesive to loosen the tape.
• How to use: Apply evenly and let set 2-5 minutes. Reapply as needed in the removal process. Avoid rubbing excessively.
• Best products: professionally formulated removers like UniSolv Remover, Super Solvent, or Novalash Eyelash Extension Glue Remover.

 

Lift One End of the tape gently with a precision tool.

Next, use a pointed tip tool to gently lift one side of the tape, breaking the sticky seal to your hair underneath:

• What it does: is separate one side of the tape slowly and carefully.
• How to use: Slide floss pick, seam ripper, or tail comb under tape end and gently lift away from hair towards the middle.
• Best tools: floss picks, rat tail combs, seam rippers, or an eyelash extension tape removal tool.

 

Work Across and Up Towards Roots

Then, continue using an edge tool across and up underneath the tape towards the roots:

• What it does: Gradually separates the entire piece of hair tape from your natural hair without pulling.
• How to use: Start from the ends and gently work up to avoid excessive tugging. Repeat across the full weft in sections.
• Helpful trick: Try holding the hair above the roots to stabilize, so tools only pull tape, not strands.

 

Peel Off and Remove Once Fully Loosened

Finally, slowly peel the tape away from the hair in the direction of the roots once fully loosened:

• What it does: is remove the weft once the adhesive seal is broken.
• How to use: Hold above the root again for stability. Use hands or tweezers to grip, peel, and discard tape pieces with care as they come free.

Repeat the solvent, precision lifting, working across and up, then peeling off for each individual tape-weft. Take your time and don’t force anything to avoid hair loss!

Now let’s review common mistakes and how to avoid them.

 

Tools You’ll Need for Hair Extension Tape Removal

Gather the right tools before starting the removal process. Here is a checklist of tape removal must-haves:

Solvents

• UniSolv Remover
• Super Solvent
• Eyelash extension glue remover

Precision Lifting Tools

• Floss picks
• Rat tail combs
• Seam rippers
• Lash extension tape tools

Gripping Tools

• Rubber-tipped tweezers
• Precision pliers

Sectioning Tools

• Clips
• Endpapers

Mirrors

• Handheld mirror
• Magnifying mirror

Take your time and use extreme precision with slim tools right along the tape line near your natural hair roots. Avoid pulling strands by accident.

Now let’s walk through the entire tape removal process step-by-step.

Step by Step Guide for How to Remove Tape In Hair Extensions

Follow these key steps for safe, seamless tape extension removal:

Step 1: Brush Hair Beforehand

Use a wet brush or detangling comb to smooth out any knots and tangles first. Work in small sections. This prevents losing extra hair by accident during removal.

Step 2: Section Hair Around the Tape-Weft

Clip back the top and bottom layers of your hair around the tape installation. This isolates the weft you are removing first.

Step 3: Apply Remover Solution Generously

Use an eye dropper or cotton swab for precision. Soak the tape line and wait 2-5 minutes for full penetration of the solvent.

Step 4: Insert a precision tool under one edge.

Gently slide a tool like a floss pick or seam ripper along the upper or lower tape line next to your roots to loosen them.

Step 5: Slowly Lift and Loosen Towards Roots

Keep lifting more of the edge, sliding the tool in the direction of the scalp, to separate the tape from the hair without pulling strands.

Step 6: Work Across Entire Tape-Weft

Once one side is freed, repeat those small lifting motions across to loosen all connecting points along the full weft piece.

Step 7: Peel Offgrip thee fully Towards Roots

Use tweezers to grip the loosened tape end and slowly peel it off towards the scalp so hair doesn’t get caught.

Step 8: Rinse Away residual

Shampoo and rinse to remove any leftover residue or stickiness before moving on to the next weft.

Patience and precision are vital! Avoid rushing or forcing the tape on. Repeating these steps one weft at a time leads to damage-free removal.

 

Tips for Successful Hair Extension Tape Removal

Follow these handy pro tips for getting hair tape out smoothly:

• Wait 48 hours after a fresh install – Let new tape bonds fully set before trying to remove them.
• Work in a clean, calm environment – Clear clutter and get comfortable so you can take your time.
• Use good lighting and mirrors – Install a magnified mirror and have a hand mirror for seeing the back.
• Section hair precisely around the weft – Use endpapers or clips to expose only the tape you’re removing.
• Apply removal solution generously – Don’t skimp on solvent to loosen the entire sticky circumference.
• Go slow with tools; no ripping – Harsh pulling risks natural hair being yanked out. Delicacy is a must!
• Slide tools parallel to the scalp – Moving upwards towards your roots avoids downhill tugging or friction.
• Invest in high-quality hair tape – Better adhesives cling to themselves without grabbing onto natural hair, making removal easier.
• Consider professional help if needed – If any parts of the stuck tape don’t budge after 30 minutes of diligent effort, ask your stylist for assistance.

Remain calm, take your time, and prep your tools and space. With care, you’ll get those tape extensions out without damage!

How Often Should You Remove and Replace Hair Extension Tape?

On average, tape-in extensions should be fully removed and replaced every 4-8 weeks. However, everyone’s hair grows at different rates.

 

More frequent removal may be needed if you experience any irritation, excessive shedding, buildup, or loosening of the extensions. Be gentle during removal to avoid pulling out natural hair in the process.

Plan removal timing around your hair maintenance schedule. For example, coordinate it with when you would normally touch up color or use clarifying treatments.

As your natural hair grows out from the roots, the removal and replacement of tape hair extensions helps with:

• Fresh application against the scalp
• Thorough cleansing to prevent buildup
• Readjusting fallen or loose pieces
• Overall maintenance for a flawless look

On average, full removal and reapplication occur every 4-8 weeks.

However, 2-4 weeks is better for women with fast-growing hair. The new growth stretches out the bonded tape strips faster.

Meanwhile, those with slow growth may go 8-12 weeks between full removals.

No matter your rate, always remove pieces immediately if any bonded strips become loose, damaged, or uncomfortable. Leaving irritated sections in causes harm.

During removals, inspect if existing tape strips remain sticky enough for reuse. Replace any that no longer adhere well. Pros may reuse quality tape 2-3 times before throwing it away.

Regular removal also allows for deep cleansing treatments to improve the look and longevity of your natural hair.

Alternative Options for Hair Extension Tape Removal

While solvent dissolution and precision tool removal are standard, here are a couple of supplementary options:

Oil Method

If standard removal isn’t working, try generously applying oils like coconut, olive, or argan oil along the tape strips. Let it penetrate for 5+ minutes before gently working the tools under to lift the edges again.

The oils help weaken the adhesive grip. Just make sure to shampoo them out fully later.

 

Heat Method

You can also try warming up an adhesive strip with a blow dryer on a low/cool setting, held 6 inches away. Apply heat for 1-2 minutes to gently soften the glue before sliding precision tools under that area.

Just avoid direct, high heat on the bonds. This risks melting the tape or burning yourself. The heat should only mildly assist solvents and tools in doing the main work.

Both supplementary options take patience too! Rushing while using liquids or heat could still pull out natural hair strands if you aren’t extremely careful.

 

Where to Buy Tape Hair Extensions

Govihair: Wholesale Price Tape Vietnamese Hair Extensions – Best extensions for very short hair

One excellent place to buy salon-worthy tape extensions at reasonable prices is Govihair. 

They specialize in high-quality Vietnamese straight, wavy, curly, and kinky textured hair sourced directly from female donors. It comes in natural shades, from pure black to dark blonde.

Hair extension tape must be removed properly every 4-8 weeks to promote natural hair health and allow for maintenance. While delicate precision removal has a learning curve, take your time using the right solvents and tools to prevent breakage and hair loss. With care and patience, you can successfully remove tape extensions yourself or seek professional assistance. Invest in quality, comfortable tapes that you can apply and remove with minimal damage. Your beautiful, natural hair will thank you!