Women (but not only) more and more often decide on extending hair consisting in attaching thin bands of natural hair to their own hair. What do trichologists think about this method and in what cases do they recommend extending hair to their patients? What are the contraindications of using extensions and how to take care of them properly? You will learn this and other useful things by reading our article. Let’s begin!

The most common causes of falling hair

In order to provide a handful of reliable information about extended hair, we decided to interview a scalp specialist – a trichologist with more than 10 years of experience, a coach from the scope of studies on trichology treatments – Magdalena Parzyszek.

Falling hair is a reactive process – an excessive hair loss (transition of hair into a phase of dead hair follicles) is caused by a specific reason. On average, we shed about a dozen of hair on a daily basis. New hair grows back in its place. However, if we notice that there is much more hair falling out – we should go to a consultation with a trichologist, who will with a naked eye or under the microscope determine the reason and choose the best method to fight with this problem.

During the pandemic, trichologists receive many questions about falling hair as a result of having been infected with SARS-COV-2. 

So far, the most common causes for hair loss have been:

  • lack of vitamin D3,
  • hormonal disorders (male and female hormones, thyroid),
  • poor diet,
  • stress (chronic).

Hair loss and hair extension 

Hair extension, if performed in a proper and professional manner, should not result in pulling out and weakening fibres of natural hair.

Lengthy exploitation of hair, unproperly care and washing as well as exceeding the adjustment time may result in tangles, which may result in pulling out hair and irritating hair fibres. That is why it is so important to follow the recommendations of an expert.

Hair extensions are very often used in case of androgenetic alopecia or alopecia areata. It consists in an excessive hair loss at the top of the head or a local hair loss in many places on the head. In this case, using a microcapsule hair extension method (hh keratin mini bondes) is definitely the best possible solution, which will allow to quickly deal with unaesthetic alopecia. Each customer with a hair loss problem should undergo trichological control visits when having extended hair.

Contraindications for extending hair

Persons struggling with an excessive hair loss should consult a trichologist before undertaking to extend hair. If hair is in bad condition – it’s brittle, very thin and sparse – it may turn out that extending hair will not be indicated in this case.

A hair extension treatment should neither be performed on persons struggling with any inflammation of the scalp or seborrhoeic dermatitis. Also irritations of the skin, especially the ones seen with a naked eye, will be a contraindication to perform a hair extension treatment. Excessive hair loss is another contraindication.

Does it mean that these persons will never be able to extend hair? Not at all! A trichologist may solve the problem by selecting an appropriate treatment, teach proper care for hair, also the extended one. In this case daily care is essential, this is why it is necessary to always follow the advice of an expert and remember about regular visits (adjustments) to pull up hair bands.

What is interesting, persons after chemotherapy, when hair is regrows on its own, may decide on hair extensions.

Possible trichological treatments during hair extension process

Proper care for hair and scalp guarantees better possible results we expect from hair extensions. It is therefore important to regularly perform scalp peelings and hydrate our hair – especially extended hair. 

Persons struggling with dandruff should also get rid of the problem – in this case we put hydrating masks and conditioners in the first place, and then use a shampoo.

What kind of trichological treatments may be performed on extended hair? Most of all:

  • peeling,
  • oxygen therapy,
  • laser therapy,
  • hydrogen purification of the scalp,
  • mesotherapy,
  • hair lotion (at the top of the head – carefully).

Removing bands and the condition of natural hair

Sometimes customers think that they lose a lot of natural hair when removing bands. Attaching with the capsule method clings natural hair, so that after its physiological death, it is “trapped” in capsules. 

Let’s remember that on average a person sheds 100-150 hairs a day, and that attaching bands takes place on average every 3 months, that’s why when removing bands we have an impression that we have lost a lot of natural hair. However, this is not the case.

Mechanical pulling out of hair

Natural and attached hair may be mechanically pulled out by customers in an unconscious manner. This takes places mainly when the placement of attachments seems uncomfortable to the customers or when we’re dealing with itching of the skin.

Itching is most often caused by poor hair care and styling, as much as not washing hair often enough.

In each case it is necessary to contact an expert, who will help overcome the problem.