HAIR LOSS & EXTENSIONS
ARE THEY FRIENDS OR FOES?
BY DANIELLE KEASLING
MILLIONS OF MEN AND WOMAN SUFFER FROM HAIR LOSS DUE TO MANY FACTORS INCLUDING GENETICS, STRESS, HORMONES, AND MOST RECENTLY POST-COVID SYMPTOMS. I AM HERE TO DEBUNK THE MYTH THAT HAIR EXTENSIONS ALSO CONTRIBUTE TO HAIR LOSS AND QUITE OPPOSITELY, CAN AID IN MAKING HAIR ACTUALLY GROW! WITH OVER 18 YEARS AS A CERTIFIED HAIR EXTENSION EXPERT, I AM HERE TO LET YOU KNOW THE IN’S-AND-OUT’S OF HAIR EXTENSIONS WHEN IT COMES TO HAIR LOSS AND HAIR HEALTH.
Photography // Headshot: Roberto Ligresti, Models: Richard Monsieurs
Let’s talk hair loss and hair extensions — are they friends or foes?
Friends! Hair extensions have the ability to transform your entire look, whether that’s with a long hair makeover, a volumizing and densifying service, or a chemical-free color application (think balayage without the bleach!) With so many benefits that hair extensions have, it’s hard to believe they can get a bad rapport. Unfortunately, due to improper education and non-certified hairstylists offering these high-end services, the reality can be true. Hair extensions can be a culprit to thinning hair mostly due to improper application. It’s really a shame when I hear people just assume it’s the extensions themselves wreaking havoc on hair when in fact, it has mostly to do with the application itself.
Is it a myth that hair extensions can cause hair loss?
Not exactly! They most definitely can cause hair loss when improperly installed! I see it all the time and so do many of us when we are looking at those beautiful long locks on Instagram but fail to notice the extremes redness of the scalp! Take a close look when swiping through social, if the scalp shows any signs of redness; RED FLAG! That is tension on the hair and improper application that can increase the risk of hair loss. The scalp should never be red or sore after an application. If it is, its most likely a sign that the tension is too tight and the hair is being pulled. Another issue that I see is poor hair quality. Poor hair quality can lead to tangling which can then lead to matting, therefore putting unnecessary stress and tension on the scalp.