AV Extension · London · Est. 2016
A dedicated solution softens the keratin and the bond slides off on its own. Nothing is cut, nothing is pulled, and your donor strands are kept for reuse.
Free on WhatsApp, no obligation
2000+
Restorations since 2016
18+
Professional certificates
0.1 - 0.5 g
Capsule weight
12
Month hair guarantee
How it works
Short answer. Solvent is applied to each bond to soften the keratin, then flat-jawed pliers crumble it and the strand comes away without tension.
The work runs by zones, from the bottom upwards, the same way a fitting does.
Step 1. Softening. Professional solution goes onto the bond. The keratin absorbs it and loses its rigidity within seconds.
Step 2. Breaking the bond. Flat-jawed pliers crumble the softened keratin into small pieces. The tool matters here. Pliers with serrated teeth cut through your own hair while breaking the bond, which is why we use flat professional ones only.
Step 3. Easing the strand off. The donor strand comes away by itself, without force. If it does not, the solvent has not finished working, so we wait rather than pull.
Step 4. Combing out. Keratin residue is combed away with a wide-toothed comb.
Step 5. Washing and inspection. The hair is washed, dried and examined strand by strand, checking the root area and the condition of the scalp.
Professional solution goes onto the bond. The keratin loses its rigidity within seconds.
Flat-jawed pliers crumble the softened keratin. Never serrated ones.
The donor strand comes away by itself. If it does not, we wait rather than pull.
Keratin residue is combed away with a wide-toothed comb.
The hair is washed and examined strand by strand, root area and scalp.
Timing
Short answer. About an hour for a whole head in normal circumstances. Longer where there are tangles or matting, because those get eased apart rather than cut out.
Timing depends on bond count and on how punctually you came in.
Do not rush your stylist. An hour spent working carefully costs less than months of recovery.
| Situation | Time |
|---|---|
| On time, 200 to 450 bonds | about an hour |
| Grown-out bonds, light tangling | 1.5 to 2 hours |
| Dense matting at the nape and behind the ears | 2 to 3 hours or more |
| Work by another stylist, method unknown | assessed on the day |
At home
Short answer. Technically possible, but not advisable. At home there is no professional solvent, no flat-jawed pliers and no experience, which is exactly why home removal ends in lost hair.
We will be direct, because this is asked more than anything else.
The problem is not stylists protecting a service. The problem is three things that a bathroom does not have.
No solvent. Without it the keratin stays rigid and the bond has to be broken by force. It is not only the bond that breaks.
No proper pliers. Household pliers and serrated tools cut through the hair while crushing the bond. You will not notice at the time. You will notice later.
No experience with matting. Almost any mat can be eased apart, it is a question of time, patience and the right tool. At home it usually gets cut out, and the length goes with it.
There is a fourth reason people think about less. Donor strands are expensive. Removed properly they are kept and refitted. Removed at home they are usually ruined for good.
Your own hair
Short answer. Not when done properly. Your hair returns to its own natural density and length, which often looks like loss without being loss.
This needs explaining, because salons rarely do.
Your hair naturally sheds around ten percent of its volume each month, which works the same way whether you have fine hair or thick hair. Every hair runs its own cycle and falls in its own time, with a new one growing in its place. Normally you never notice, because shed hairs leave when you wash and brush.
Under extensions they do not leave. The hair has shed, but it stays inside the bond, because the bond is holding it.
At removal, three months of accumulated shedding comes out at once. What lands on the brush is alarming, but every one of those hairs was already dead and simply waiting to be released. Not one was pulled out.
What genuinely can damage hair during removal. Tearing bonds apart without solvent. Serrated pliers. Cutting mats out instead of easing them apart. And leaving removal six months too long, by which time the tangling has set hard.
Straight after
Short answer. For the first few days it feels thinner and lighter than you remember. That is not damage, it is a return to your real density, which you have grown unused to.
The effect is psychological and worth expecting in advance.
You wore additional volume for three months. Your brain adjusted. After removal your own density feels unfamiliar, and the first reaction is almost always the same, a sense that there is less hair than there was before the extensions.
The feeling passes within a week. By the second you have stopped thinking about it.
What to do in those first days. Deep conditioning, a trim on split ends, no hot styling. Scalp massage helps restore the feeling of density at the roots.
A break?
Short answer. If your hair is in good condition, no, extensions can go back on the same day. If it is weakened, we suggest a pause of two to four weeks.
The decision is made after inspection, not in advance.
When extensions can go straight back. The hair is springy, does not snap under light tension, the scalp is calm and the root area has not thinned. In that case we re-tip your own strands and refit them the same visit.
When a pause is needed. For weakened hair we use the invisible 0.2g bond, but even that needs a healthy root. The hair has thinned at the root, there is breakage, the scalp is irritated, or removal reveals that the previous work used bonds that were too heavy. Then we suggest two to four weeks of rest with deep conditioning, and we store your strands.
When a doctor is needed. Active heavy shedding, hair broken at the root, an inflamed scalp. Here we refer you to a trichologist and return to the conversation later.
Your strands
Short answer. Yes. Removed donor strands stay yours, we clean and store them, and re-tip them for refitting whenever you want.
This matters more than it first appears.
Premium Slavic hair is expensive, and throwing it away after one season makes no sense. The same logic applies to curly hair extensions, where matched strands are even harder to replace. Single donor hair with an intact cuticle withstands up to six refits, meaning a year or longer with proper care.
That is why careful removal saves you money. A stylist who works fast and rough ruins not only your hair but the material you paid for.
For grades and how to tell genuine Slavic hair from a fake, see our page on baby hair and Slavic hair extensions.
Removal or refit
Short answer. Removal is taking the strands out. A refit includes removal plus re-tipping plus refitting in the same appointment.
Removal is chosen when you want a break, a change of look, preparation for pregnancy or treatment, or simply a return to your own length.
For the full service see our hair extension maintenance page.
| Service | What happens | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Removal | softening, easing strands off, combing out, wash, inspection | about an hour |
| Refit | removal, re-tipping, refitting, adaptation cut | 3 to 6 hours |
| New fitting | new hair, colour matching, application | 3 to 5 hours |
Other salons
Short answer. Yes, and it is a frequent request. We work with any keratin bond extensions, regardless of who fitted them.
Come in for a free consultation. The methods themselves are explained on our keratin bond hair extensions page. We will look at which method was used, the state of the bonds and of your hair, and tell you honestly how long the work will take.
A separate word about cases where things went wrong. If the bonds are too heavy, set too close to the scalp or there are simply too many for your density, removal takes longer and needs more care. We will still take it on.
Donor strands from someone else's work get assessed too. If the hair is good it can be kept and refitted. If it is acid washed hair with a silicone coating, we will say plainly that putting it back makes no sense.
Matting
Short answer. It gets eased apart, never cut out. Almost any mat will yield, it is a question of time, patience and the right tool.
This rule we never break.
Matting appears where a refit was left too long. The grown-out bond gains freedom to rotate, winds the surrounding hair around itself, and within a few weeks a dense knot forms at the nape or behind the ears. This is usually the result of a missed refit.
Cutting it out is faster and cheaper. But the length goes with the knot, unevenly, and the shape then has to be rescued with a cut.
We ease it apart. From the top down, hair by hair, with conditioner and a dedicated product, holding the strand at the root. It sometimes takes longer than the rest of the removal put together. The hair stays on your head.
Comfort
Short answer. No. The solvent softens the keratin and the strand comes away without tension, so the root feels nothing.
Discomfort is possible in one situation only, when removal has been left far too long and dense matting has to be eased apart. Even then it is mild.
If removal hurts, the stylist is pulling instead of waiting for the solution to work. That is a reason to stop.
Aftercare
Short answer. Deep conditioning, a trim on the ends, two weeks without hot styling, and scalp massage.
The first fortnight matters most, because your hair is adjusting to the absence of extra weight.
Use a deeply hydrating mask on the day of removal and repeat weekly. If you are growing your own hair out, see our hair extensions for short hair page. Trim split ends, even if the length feels precious. Skip straighteners and tongs for two weeks, or use the lowest setting with heat protection.
Wash in cool water with a mild sulphate free shampoo. Detangle gently, from the ends upwards.
Massage your scalp for five minutes a day. It improves circulation at the roots and helps restore the feeling of density.
If you are planning a new fitting, tell us. Aftercare during a rest period differs from ordinary aftercare.
Pricing
Short answer. Price depends on bond count, the condition of the hair and whether there is matting. We quote in writing after inspection and then fix it.
What moves the figure. The number of bonds. How far they have grown out, since a delayed removal takes two to three times longer. The presence of tangling. The method originally used. And the mobile service, if you want it.
If you are having a refit, removal is included in that price and is not charged separately.
We do not publish a price list, deliberately. Two clients with the same bond count can need very different amounts of time. Your quote is fixed before booking and does not move afterwards.
Mobile service
Short answer. Yes. Removal is carried out on mobile appointments exactly as in the studio, with the same solvent and the same tools.
We travel across central London. Mayfair, Chelsea, Kensington, Knightsbridge, Belgravia, Notting Hill, Holland Park, Hampstead, Greenwich and Canary Wharf.
At home you need a chair with a straight back, a plug socket and roughly a metre of clear space. Everything else arrives with the stylist.
Full details on our mobile hair extensions page.
Our standards
Short answer. Six rules followed on every removal without exception, because bad removal is what actually costs clients their hair.
There is no certifying body anywhere in the hair extensions industry. Not in Britain, not anywhere. So every studio sets its own standard, and here is ours.
Solvent only, never pulling. This rule is not up for discussion.
Flat-jawed professional pliers only. Serrated tools cut through your own hair while crushing the bond.
Matting is eased apart, never cut out. Always, however long it takes.
If a strand will not come, we wait rather than pull. It means the solvent has not finished working.
Hair is washed and examined strand by strand afterwards. The assessment is part of the service.
We say honestly whether your hair is ready for a new fitting. If a pause is needed we will tell you, even if you came in expecting to have extensions refitted the same day.
Booking
Short answer. Two steps. Message us on WhatsApp with photographs of your roots and we confirm the timing and scope.
Step 1. Send photographs of the root area and your parting to WhatsApp on 07465656570. They show how far the bonds have grown out and whether there is tangling. We reply within 30 to 60 minutes at any hour.
Step 2. Removal takes about an hour at the studio on Adenmore Rd, Catford, or at your home across central London. If you decide to have extensions refitted, we do it the same visit.
FAQ
We do not recommend it. At home there is no professional solvent, no flat-jawed pliers and no experience with matting. Without solvent the keratin stays rigid and the bond has to be broken by force, while serrated tools cut through your own hair. This is exactly how people lose their natural hair and ruin expensive donor strands that could have been reused.
About an hour for a whole head in normal circumstances, with 200 to 450 bonds. Grown-out bonds with light tangling take one and a half to two hours. Dense matting at the nape and behind the ears takes two to three hours or more, because mats get eased apart rather than cut out.
Not when done properly. What looks like loss is hair that had already shed naturally over three months and was held inside the bond, coming out all at once. Not one hair was pulled. What can damage hair is tearing bonds without solvent, serrated pliers and cutting mats out.
Price depends on bond count, how far the bonds have grown out and whether there is matting. Delayed removal takes two to three times longer and is priced accordingly. AV Extension quotes in writing after inspection and fixes the price before booking. With a refit, removal is included and not charged separately.
If your hair is in good condition, yes, the same visit. We re-tip your own strands and refit them. If removal reveals thinning at the root, breakage or an irritated scalp, we suggest a pause of two to four weeks with deep conditioning, and we store your strands for you.
No. The solvent softens the keratin and the strand comes away without tension, so the root feels nothing. Mild pulling is possible only when dense matting has to be eased apart after a removal was left far too long. If removal hurts, the stylist is pulling rather than waiting for the solution to work.
Yes. Premium single donor Slavic hair withstands up to six refits, a year or longer. We clean the removed strands, store them for you and re-tip them for refitting whenever you want. Cheap processed hair that has been acid washed and silicone coated rarely survives a second fitting.
Yes, it is a frequent request. We work with any keratin bond extensions regardless of who fitted them. At a free consultation we look at the method, the state of the bonds and of your hair, and tell you honestly how long the work will take. Donor strands from other work get assessed too.
They get eased apart, never cut. Almost any mat will yield, it is a question of time, patience and the right tool. We work from the top down, hair by hair, with conditioner, holding the strand at the root. It sometimes takes longer than the rest of the removal, but the length stays.
Yes, and it happens to almost everyone. You wore extra volume for three months and your brain adjusted, so your own density feels unfamiliar afterwards. The feeling passes within a week. Deep conditioning, a trim on the ends and five minutes of scalp massage a day all help.
Not essential, but arriving with clean dry hair free of styling product helps. Hairspray and strong hold products interfere with the solvent and lengthen the appointment. We wash your hair after removal anyway, so there is no need to style it beforehand.
Yes. Removal is carried out on mobile appointments exactly as in the studio, with the same solvent and the same professional pliers. We travel across central London. At home you need a chair with a straight back, a plug socket and roughly a metre of clear space.
Client voices
Below are a few client reviews about our hair extension removal. Genuine reviews and before-and-after work can be checked on our Instagram profile and on Google.
I have been looking for a professional of high standard for years (and in different cities)and couldn't be happier I have found Arianna's salon. The quality of her work is beyond any praise, she is super-knowledgeable in anything to do with hair extensions and she is just a talented, beautiful person. I no longer have to go to Europe to get extensions which are so tiny, they won't damage my hair and are just invisible. Thank you Ariadna for the amazing experience, you are a gem!
Ekaterina Rowell
I am absolutely blown away by my hair extensions! They’ve completely transformed my look, and I feel like a superstar! The length and thickness are just perfect, and they blend so seamlessly with my natural hair. I’ve never felt this confident or excited about my hair before! Plus, they’re so easy to style and maintain. I’m officially addicted—I’ll never go without them again! Seriously, these extensions are a must-have for anyone wanting to elevate their hair game!
Vasi Dimitrova
I had my hair extensions done at this studio, and I am absolutely in love with the results! My hair has never looked this full and natural. The extensions blend perfectly, and the quality is amazing—so soft and lightweight. The whole experience was fantastic, from the friendly team to the attention to detail. I feel more confident and glamorous than ever! If you're thinking about getting extensions, this is the place to go. Highly recommend! ✨
Ana Robu
I am OBSESSED with my new hair extensions! They instantly transformed my look, adding so much length and volume—it feels like a total makeover! The quality is incredible; they blend perfectly with my natural hair, and I’ve already received so many compliments. I can style them just like my own hair, whether it’s curling or straightening. These extensions have completely boosted my confidence, and I can’t believe I waited this long to try them. If you’re thinking about it, DO IT! Life-changing!
Ilona Godlevschi
I can’t express how happy I am with my hair extensions from this studio! The results are absolutely stunning—my hair looks so natural and full. The quality is incredible; it feels silky and lightweight. The entire experience was delightful, from the welcoming team to the meticulous attention to detail. I’ve never felt more confident and glamorous! If you're considering extensions, this is definitely the place to go. Highly recommend! 🌟
Domnita Sili
I am completely obsessed with my new hair extensions! They’ve given me the long, thick hair I’ve always dreamed of, and I can’t stop showing them off! They feel so natural and soft, and the color match is spot on. I feel like I’m walking around with red carpet hair every day! It’s such a confidence boost, and I’m having so much fun styling them. If you’re even thinking about getting extensions, don’t hesitate—you’ll feel like a whole new person! Best decision ever!
Corina Bodisteanu
Message the AV Extension team on WhatsApp on 07465656570 with photographs of your roots. Free consultation by text, voice or video, no obligation.
Genuine reviews and photographs of real work are on Google and on Instagram.
Studio. Adenmore Rd, Catford, London SE6 4BT, fifteen minutes from London Bridge, private parking.
No obligation. Full transparency. No pressure.
Studio: Adenmore Rd, Catford, London SE6 4BT (15 minutes from London Bridge, free parking)
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Genuine reviews on Google and Instagram. An invisible, natural result.
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