Hair Loss and Extensions: Friends or Foes?

Millions of men and women suffer from hair loss due to many factors, including genetics, stress, hormones and, most recently, post-COVID symptoms. I’m here to debunk the myth that hair extensions also contribute to hair loss. Quite the opposite: they can help hair actually grow! With over 18 years as a certified hair extension expert, here are the ins and outs of hair extensions when it comes to hair loss and hair health.

Let’s talk hair loss and hair extensions: are they friends or foes?

Friends! Hair extensions can transform an entire look, whether that’s a long hair makeover, a volumizing and densifying service, or a chemical-free color application (think balayage without the bleach). With so many benefits, it’s hard to believe extensions get a bad reputation.

Unfortunately, because of poor education and non-certified hairstylists offering these high-end services, that reputation can come true. Extensions can be a culprit in thinning hair, mostly because of improper application. It’s a shame when people assume the extensions themselves are wreaking havoc on the hair when, in fact, it has mostly to do with how they were applied.

Is it a myth that hair extensions can cause hair loss?

Not exactly! They can most definitely cause hair loss when they’re installed badly. I see it all the time, and so do many of us, when we look at those beautiful long locks on Instagram but fail to notice the extreme redness of the scalp. Take a close look when you’re scrolling: if the scalp shows any sign of redness, red flag! That is tension on the hair and improper application, which increases the risk of hair loss.

The scalp should never be red or sore after an application. If it is, it’s most likely a sign that the tension is too tight and the hair is being pulled.

Another issue I see is poor hair quality. Poor-quality hair tangles, tangling leads to matting, and matting puts unnecessary stress and tension on the scalp.

Photography: headshot by Roberto Ligresti; models by Richard Monsieurs.

First published in SalonEVO, August/September 2023.