Color Matching Extensions With a Color Ring: London, Berlin and Manhattan

Video by Megan Anton, hair extension stylist.

At Bond Bootcamp in Charlotte, hair extension stylist Megan Anton put a row in Ashley’s hair. Before the install, she color matched Ashley with the Destination Hair Extensions color ring, holding the swatches against her hair to show the plan. She chose three shades that blended well together: London, Berlin and Manhattan.

The Three Shades and Their Levels

Here is how Megan describes each shade, base to ends:

• London: a 7NA base to a solid level 10 blonde.
• Berlin: a 7NA base to a dimensional 7 warm neutral and 10 blonde. In the video she notes it has a very minimal lowlight.
• Manhattan: a 5NA base to a subtle dimension of level 10 ash with 10 neutral ash. It is close to London but with a darker root.

Her Row Plan: London on the Bottom, Berlin and Manhattan Sandwiched In

Her plan was to put London on the bottom, then sandwich in Berlin and Manhattan to give Ashley a little more depth. She also considered finishing with Manhattan on top to make sure the row matched Ashley’s color.

The finished row used 5 wefts, 100g in total: 3 London, 1 Berlin and 1 Manhattan. See the finished Hidden Bead row and the exact placement.

How to Color Match a Row With the Color Ring

1. Read the base first. Megan describes every shade by its base (7NA, 7NA, 5NA) before its ends. The base is what has to disappear into the client’s root.
2. Pick a brightness shade. London, a solid level 10, carries the light through the row.
3. Add dimension with a neighbor shade. Berlin adds a subtle lowlight; Manhattan adds a deeper root and ash tones.
4. Hold the swatches where the row will sit. Compare them against the client’s hair before you order.
5. Decide what goes on top. The top weft is what blends into the client’s own hair, so match it most closely.

Browse the shades in the Euro collection. For more of Megan’s shade work, see her gray to blonde blending shades.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the base color of London?

Megan describes London as a 7NA base to a solid level 10 blonde.

What is the difference between London and Manhattan?

Manhattan has a darker 5NA base with subtle level 10 ash and 10 neutral ash. London has a 7NA base to a solid level 10.

What does Berlin add to a blend?

Berlin is a 7NA base to a dimensional 7 warm neutral and 10 blonde, which adds a subtle lowlight.

How many wefts did the finished row use?

5 wefts, 100g in total: 3 London, 1 Berlin and 1 Manhattan.