Do extensions damage your hair? Here's everything you need to know
Hair extensions have become one of the most popular ways that help people achieve longer, thicker, and more voluminous hair without waiting for actual natural growth. However, when considering having extensions done, the first question everybody asks is whether they will damage their natural looks. The good news with hair extensions is that if applied and cared for properly, they will not harm you but instead give you an excellent look. However, improper installation and excessive use or low-quality extensions can lead to the damaging of your natural hair. It is in your best interest, therefore, to learn how to properly care for your extensions to avoid having bad effects on your natural hair.
Damage Can Result From Hair Extensions:
Tension and pulling on natural hair: One of the primary manners in which extensions hurt your hair is through tension and pulling on the natural hair. As stated above, if it's too heavy or the application is tight at the root, then tension can be applied to the hair and scalp. It causes stress in the hair over time and may also lead to a condition called traction alopecia, where hair falls out due to excessive tension.
Poor Application Cause Breakage: Bad application of extensions, attachment with glue or tape, may cause breakage at the time of removal. The bad fitting of extensions will pull on your hair and cause it to weaken at the root.
Matting and Tangling: Extensions are basically prone to tangling and matting, especially when they are not properly taken care of and have remained in for long periods without good cleaning and detangling. If strong pulling is applied to the hair to comb or brush through tangles, it can become hair damaging.
Heat Damage: While one of the reasons that people tend to use heat tools, like curling irons or flat irons, on their extensions is that they can sometimes be gentle to use, these tools damage both your hair and extensions-in particular, the synthetic fibers if used too frequently or with a level of heat that's too high.
How to Prevent Damage from Extensions
Use the Right Variety of Extensions As much as one tries, damage is minimized if high-quality extensions made from real human hair are chosen rather than synthetic materials. Human hair extensions are less noticeable and can be styled just like one's own hair, affording greater flexibility and less chance of damage.
Proper Installation and Removal: You have clip-ins, tape-ins, or sew-ins, but ensure that they are installed by a professional who can fix them securely onto your head without pulling on the hair. Have the extensions removed by your stylist properly because improper removal will destroy your natural hair badly.
Regular Maintenance: Now, that's one thing most ladies would definitely appreciate about using hair extensions: regular maintenance will keep your extensions clean, detangled, and well-conditioned so that they do not get damaged. Use a gentle shampoo and conditioner; do not pile too much product near the roots because it may build up. Keep on combing the extensions so that they will not tangle and break.
Use as Little Heat Styling as Possible: You can style your hair extensions, but heat styling should be kept at an all-time low. Just in case you must use a heat styling tool, use it with the spray-on heat protector while protecting your hair and hair extensions from damage.
Give Your Hair a Break: Take time off from wearing extensions so as not to damage your hair in the long run. It's because, between being in those extensions, your natural hair gets to recover from all the tension exposure or other damaging factors.
Conclusion
Provided that hair extensions are used responsibly, this can be really very beautiful and not damaging at all to changing your look. The secrets about keeping your own hair healthy and healthy-looking in the long run lie in choosing quality extensions, proper application and care, and letting your hair rest between uses.