If you are contemplating getting a complete hair makeover, you must be pondering over questions such as, "Are hair extensions bad for your hair?" Well, the truth is that if you are a newbie to cosmetic extensions, concerns like "Do hair extensions damage hair?" and, "Are extensions bad for your hair?" are likely to become the crux of your worries. Nobody, at the end of the day, fantasized about losing their gorgeous and precious tresses over something that is meant to be temporary, at best. But, do extensions ruin your hair? Well, let's delve straight into this highly contentious subject.
The myth of hair extension damage emanates from the misconceptions that adding additional appendages to one's mane is likely to overload the follicles and, as a result, cause the strands to weaken progressively. But, do hair extensions cause hair loss? Here's the thing; the myth of hair extension damage has mainly been perpetuated by people who feel that enhancing the volume, thickness and length of your hair can cause long-term damage to it if not done correctly or fitted professionally. Speaking of which, do hair extensions cause hair loss? To get to the bottom of this extremely divisive subject, let's first shed some light on the various methods of hair extensions and their possible impact on your tresses.
Do Tape-in Extensions Ruin Your Hair?
If you are thinking of extension, then tape-ins may have crossed your mind at some point. And considering the massive popularity of this method of adding volume and thickness to one's hair, most of us can't help but wonder, do tape in extensions ruin your hair? Let's see.
All other factors held constant, tape in extensions remain some least damaging hair-enhancing modes. Unlike other types of extensions, they are quite lightweight and, if fitted properly, will not tug on your real hair strands like most conventional extensions. Besides, they are designed to grow out gradually with your real hair instead of pulling it out. Which then begs the question, "Are tape in extensions damaging?"
As mentioned above, tape in hair extension damage will only occur if they were not fitted by a professional salonist. Also, considering that this type of hair extension is often reusable up to a year after purchase, they are sustainable enough for three or four applications before you are forced to replace them due to wear and tear. Another reason tape in hair extensions damage is not as pervasive as other types emanates from the fact that this hairdo is flexible and virtually invisible. In other words, compared to clip-in extensions, there are so many things that you can do with this type of extensions including styling them into braids, high ponytails or just washing and brushing them as easily as you would do with your own real hair.
The best thing, however, with tape-in extensions is that when you wash or blow dry the hair they are flexible and relatively easier to manage and take care of, especially when you tape up with long hair. The only thing that you have to be a tad cautious about, as far as this goes, is how to get extension tape out of hair without doing irreparable damage to your follicles.
Are Clip-in Extensions Bad for your Hair?
If you are considering getting this kind of hair extension, then it should go without saying that you may wonder whether or not do clip in extensions damage your hair. This is the low down that accompanies clip-ins, particularly if you are not to spend quite a bit of money to get the high-quality type. But, contrary to what you are likely to read online, there should be nothing much to worry about. Clip-in technology has really come a long way from the days of the big and monstrous ugly clips that weighed down your hair excessively. In fact, modern clip-ins are small and discrete enough to be worn under your tresses surreptitiously.
You see, unless you fancy wearing your clip-in extension with a very high ponytail, you shouldn't be plagued with concerns such as, "Are clip in extensions bad for your hair?" In reality, as much as this kind of hair extension is notorious for causing undue tension within one's hair strands. It should be nothing to fret about unless you are wearing the clip-in extension every day and for long hours.
Are Sew-in Extensions Bad for Your Hair?
One of the major concerns revolving around the subject of, are sew in extensions bad for your hair, tend to center on the myth that they disrupt one's natural hair growth. And it is easy to see why some people (even experienced hair specialists) tend to think this way. The notion stems from the misguided idea that since the sew-in extensions tend to weigh down excessively on the strands, then in one way or another, this stumps and slows down natural hair growth. Nothing, nevertheless, could be any further from the truth.
The only way you will suffer stunted hair growth is if you completely damage your follicles by neglecting to take care of them or via an ineffective hair care routine. Hair extensions by themselves rarely do enough damage to cause traction alopecia or any other kind of unexplained hair loss. That being said, they can ruin your tresses if proper precautions and care is not taken.
So, does sew in extensions damage hair? Just because you may be adding a few more ounces to your hair by sewing in an extension, it does not necessarily imply that you are ruining your hair. If anything, you will only do so if you are using low-quality sew-in extensions and neglect to follow the correct techniques of installing the weave.
Do NBR Extensions Cause Hair Loss?
According to experienced and seasoned salonists, NBR extensions (aka Natural Beaded Rows) are supposed to be one of the least damaging hair extensions that you can try out today. Part of the reason is because as much as you may have a bit of natural breakage with the extension, natural beaded rows have the lowest number of contact points on one's head. Essentially, since they are attached to a miniscule number of contact beads, practically speaking, there are fewer areas to cause damage in the long run. Which, of course, makes a lot of sense considering that other extensions tend to have a greater area of contact with one's hair which then translates to more cumulative damage.
So, do nbr extensions cause hair loss? When installed properly, hand tied hair extensions and NBRs ( natural beaded rows) can blend naturally and beautifully with your existing tresses without ruining your follicles. Besides, since they are usually crafted with real human hair, you can wash, set and treat them just as you would with your own hair. However, just like with natural hair, it is not advisable or even healthy to wash the tresses or locks on a daily basis.
Treatment for Hair Extensions - How to Make Your Investment Last
There's arguably a better way of transforming your tresses and locks than with the aid of hair extensions. Nonetheless, to avoid becoming a victim of the sad and now-common sob story of, "My hair is so thin after extensions", you need to exercise a bit of caution and care when working with this versatile beauty point. Also, bearing in mind that treatment for hair extensions is hardly cheap, practicing the following hair extension care tips can save you quite a bit of money in the long run.
Learn How to Wash your Extensions the Right Way
Your hair washing and care routine determines a lot of things, including how long your extensions are likely to last before becoming a matted, tangled and mangled mess. In fact, the idea of how to improve hair elasticity revolves around the type of conditioner and shampoo that you use to wash your tresses. Speaking of shampoos, we would strongly recommend investing in the nutrient-delivering kind such as Bloommy's Biotin Collagen Keratin Shampoo. This way, you stand an excellent chance of steering clear of products that are laden with harmful ingredients such as alcohol and sulphates which could damage your hair roots by stripping off its natural oils.
What's more, remember that your tresses require the right sub-set of ingredients not only to keep the extensions in proper condition but also ensure that your hair continues to keep growing healthily even in the midst of the additional appendages. Once you have stocked up the right hair care products, you will be free to craft a hair care routine without having to fret about how the conditioner and shampoo would react against the extensions.
Don't go to Bed with Wet Extensions
Now that you are conversant with the right type of conditioners and shampoos for your tresses, it's time to avoid the common pitfall that many make - not drying your hair properly. You see, as much as it may be quite tempting to hit the hay with your mane slightly damp, the importance of drying your locks thoroughly cannot really be overstated. The rule of thumb is to avoid sleeping with wet strands of hair as far as taking care of your extensions go. And this should apply with your real hair after extensions removed.
Here is the backstory; your hair is usually at its weakest when wet. This implies that the characteristic turning and tossing can really take a toll on the mechanical integrity of both your extensions and natural tresses. It also means that you will have to deal with a serious case of bedhead the next morning that may take an eternity to detangle and get in order. To add salt into injury, brushing out these knots means that you are putting undue pressure on the strands which could further aggravate breakages or scalp damage.
Brush and Style Your Hair Extensions with Caution and Care
Just like with your own real hair, brushing your extension strands a little too harshly can accelerate hair breakage and follicular damage. For this reason, you need to observe proper brushing and combing etiquette which should include but not limited to;
- Invest in a quality and well-made brush that is designed specifically for working on hair extensions
- When detangling the extensions, start by combing the ends of the hair while working your way gently and methodically. This has been observed to cause the least tension and strain on your scalp.
- As long as you are gentle with your brushing technique, the more times you comb the extensions a day, the longer they will last.
- Comb your extensions at least four critical moments; first thing after getting out of bed, just before bed, before washing and after drying and setting it.
Schedule a Weekly Conditioning Hair Treatment
Since your extensions are just bonded to the root, this means that (unlike your real hair) they don't receive any meaningful nourishment or moisturizing natural oils from your body. This often results in dry and scraggly-looking hair. The extensions can also become brittle, and before long, split ends tend to follow which means you will soon have to replace them earlier than expected.
So, to keep the tresses laden with moisture, slick, super smooth and with that gorgeous shine they had when just installed, schedule a weekly or bi-weekly conditioning regimen. For this treatment, use a deep conditioner to nourish your extension and hydrate the strands to keep them looking plump and full of life. Bloommy's Biotin Collagen Keratin Hair Treatment mask is a perfect example of a highly sought-after option that can come in handy in keeping your extensions shiny and smooth.
Minimize Heat Damage
Just your natural strands, hair extensions for thinning hair are likely to become damaged if you get into a habit of overusing heat on them. And this applies to almost all types of extensions that are made from 100% human hair, whether they are tape-in, sew-in or micro rings. Regardless of how rigorous you are with your conditioning regimen, heat can permanently damage your extensions necessitating nothing but a complete replacement of the whole hair.
Fortunately, there are quite a few things that you can do to minimize possible heat damage.
- Use a heat protectant when working with heated styling tools
- Turn down the appliance temperature and work with the minimum heat setting possible
- Take regular breaks from curling or straightening your hair with heated tools
Things to Do After Hair After Extensions Removed and Must-have Treatments
It is uber-important to take care of your hair after extensions removed and you have gone back to your natural tresses. Expect a little hair shedding than normal the first few days or weeks after taking out your extensions, depending on the type of weave you had on. However, as much as this should not be mistaken for hair loss, it's the opportune time to start building up a bullet-proof hair repairing regimen that should take into account the following.
- Proper nourishment: The foundation of how to repair hair after extensions ought to be built on the idea of ensuring the health of the tresses from inside out. Here's where daily tablets like Bloommy's Biotin, Collagen & Keratin Capsules play an incredible role. If anything, if you are looking for how to regrow damaged hair follicles after a lengthy stint of using hair extensions, then this should be one of the places to start when rehabilitating your scalp. Your hair, just like any other part of your body, requires the right set of nutrients to grow and thrive and such tablets can help fill in the nutritional gaps that may be present in your diet.
- Keep your scalp clear: There is likely to be a build of dirt or debris under your hair after tape extensions removed even if you routinely treated or washed your hair. Hence, it goes without saying that your first port of call after getting rid of the extensions is embarking on a deep cleansing and hair conditioning endeavor that should make use of a proper hydrating and nourishing shampoo like Bloommy's Biotin Collagen Keratin Shampoo.
In Closing
Extensions are a fantastic way of increasing the length of your locks, boosting the volume or even experimenting safely with a new hue or color. Still, whether you are working with a sewn-in hair installment, a wove-in box-braid singles or just clipping in real-looking hairpieces, you have to observe proper caution and care to minimize hair loss and breakage. Also, remember that as much as wearing extensions can be very addictive when you land a style that works for you, be sure to take timely breaks between sessions to allow your scalp to breath and repair any sustained follicular damage.
