Hair extensions are getting more popular with every passing year. This shouldn’t be surprising because their quality grows yet they also become more affordable with time. Today anyone can afford some type of hair extensions to wear for a special occasion or every day.
That said, extensions remain a controversial product. There are some celebrities and regular people who tell awful stories about how these products damaged their hair. There are also many articles both for and against the use of hair extensions. Therefore, one might get a bit lost while trying to decide whether they should try using this product.
If you are wondering whether hair extensions damage your hair and therefore should be avoided, the following information will give you the answers you seek.
Do hair extensions damage your hair?
The most straightforward answer is yes, hair extensions can damage your natural hair. However, you need to remember that it’s the same for all types of hair styling tools and treatments. Coloring or bleaching your hair damages it. Perms and keratin straightening damage your hair to some extent. Even using a regular hairdryer causes some damage that can lead to significant problems, including hair loss.
Taking this into account, it becomes obvious that any type of hair styling can harm your tresses. This is unavoidable. Therefore, the right question to ask is whether the damage from hair extensions is extensive enough for you to truly worry about?
The answer to that is no. hair extensions of good quality, when applied correctly, are perfectly safe to use. So long as you care for them properly and remove them when necessary, any damage they cause will be minimal. In fact, proper haircare will ensure that your natural tresses remain as healthy with extensions as they were before them.
Are all hair extensions equally safe?
There are different types of hair extensions and it’s true that they cause different levels of damage. There are pros and cons to each type, so you need to consider them carefully before choosing.
Tape-in hair extensions should be the safest. However, poor-quality glue or using too much heat when the stylist puts them in can be very damaging. However, when used right, tape-in extensions are a great way to get acquainted with this type of hair products. They last for 4-8 weeks and fit any type of hair, even very thin.
If you are looking for something more permanent that will look completely natural, you could try wearing 20’’ hand-tied weft extensions. They are attached to small clumps of your natural hair and will create great volume and be completely unnoticeable. You take care of them the same way you care for your hair and you can wear them for up to 16 weeks. They will need to be repositioned every few weeks as your natural hair grows. These extensions can cause great damage if they are applied or removed incorrectly. In this case, your hair follicles and scalp can be greatly hurt and you might develop hair loss. Therefore, you should only get these extensions from a highly qualified and experienced professional.
There are also weaves or sew-in hair extensions. They are the most dangerous if not applied with extreme care. In fact, they will be rather damaging even when used right. This is because to apply these extensions you’ll need to get very tight braids first. Then, the extensions are literally sewn into the braids. This method results in a lot of stress for the roots of your hair. Therefore, it can cause hair loss, excessive dryness and scaling of the scalp. If you choose weave extensions, you’ll need to moisturize your scalp and hair at least twice a week. You will also need to remove the weave every 6-8 weeks. This type of extensions must only be applied by a very experienced professional.
Should you wear hair extensions?
Only you can decide whether you should try wearing hair extensions. However, remember that when they are applied and maintained properly, they are completely safe. Also, note that you should only use extensions if your hair is healthy. Otherwise, even minimal damage can result in big problems down the road. But if you are careful, your stylist is experienced, and the extensions you are using are of high quality, you should be safe to enjoy changing your hairstyle with them.
