Extensions: Good for your Looks, Bad for your Hair

Let's face it, most women dream of having gorgeous, flowing locks like Cheryl Cole or Jessica Alba. We look to celebrities for inspiration when it comes to hairstyles, but what we often don't realise is that many of our favourite film and TV stars sport wigs or hair extensions in order to obtain their glamorous looks.

More to the point, however, these very same celebrities may not be aware of the potential risks they are taking with their hair.

Traction Alopecia

A half head or full head of hair extensions can be used to add volume to fine hair or length to shorter hair; which appeals to women who do not want to wait months to grow their own hair. There are lots of different types of hair extensions on the market, from expensive human hair extensions to cheaper, synthetic versions. Nowadays, hair extensions can be applied using micro-rings (which are supposedly less damaging to hair) although they are more commonly applied using heat or glue, which bonds the extensions permanently to your own hair.

Unfortunately, while this may look good at the time, it’s bad news for the longer-term health of your hair and scalp. The extra weight pulls at your natural hair and puts tension on the hair shaft, causing hair to  become brittle and snap off. Celebrities such as Victoria Beckham and Naomi Campbell have been photographed with bald patches thought to have been caused by wearing hair extensions. Hair extensions can cause Traction Alopecia, a condition which leads to thinning hair and patchy hair loss.

What can be done?

The first thing that wearers of hair extensions need to do is to stop wearing them. No course of treatment will be of any benefit if the wearer if they have not dealt with the problem causing their hair loss. Then it is advisable to contact a hair loss expert to discuss a treatment programme to clear up any areas of thinning.

Remember, whilst a full, glossy mane of hair may seem appealing, you're risking the health of your own, natural hair. Far better to wait for your own hair to grow longer or, if you can’t resist the lure of hair extensions, to wear them only for special occasions and not as part of your everyday ensemble.