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Are you worried about your thinning hair and considering hair extensions as a way to add more coverage and conceal those sparser areas? I’ve used hair extensions to hide my own hair thinning for years and in this post I discuss 7 things you may want to consider.
Hair extensions are pieces of synthetic or human hair that are added to your bio hair to achieve your desired look. I have only used human hair extensions and so this post will focus on human hair.
1. There are different types of hair extensions...
There are different methods used to install the hair. There's also differences in hair quality and differences between brands. I have listed out some hair extension types you may be familiar with.
But first...a little background. I wore microbeaded weft extensions for about 4 years straight. I go into more detail about this semi-permanent method below but I have since had those taken out. Now I only use clip-ins if I’m going to wear hair extensions.
Clip-in extensions: These are temporary hair extensions that you simply clip-in or clip-out. If you’re thinning in a specific area you could place a clip-in extension to mask any bald spots you may have.
I made the change to clip-ins because I wanted to give my hair a break and focus on removing anything that could potentially strain or damage my hair. I’m not saying clip-in extensions don’t come with their own set of risks. But the reason I like clip-in hair extensions is because I can decide how long they are clipped-in for.
My logic is: Less Time In My Hair = Less Damage
I have tried countless brands of hair extensions and for me the Leyla Milani extensions are my favorite and the only ones I use. You can find them HERE. Each set comes with 7 individual wefts that are color and heat safe. Average life: 1 year. Weight 160g. They’re just thick enough without being too thick in my opinion and the hair quality is amazing. I always have my hair stylist blend mine to match my bio hair once I have them clipped-in.
Halo extension: This is another temporary hair extension. Halo extensions do not attach to your hair. Instead a weft of hair is attached to an invisible wire and is placed over your head and can be camouflaged by pulling your bio hair over the wire.
Tape in-extensions: These extensions tape to your hair and align at the root. They lie very flat without any bumps from clips or beads poking out which results in a very natural look overall.
Micro-link extensions: Micro-link extensions use a tiny bead that’s crimped down with a tool to hold your bio hair and the extension in place near the scalp. This method is similar to the tape-in method in regards to the fact that these are pieces of extension hair as opposed to a weft.
Beaded weft extensions: These extensions are composed of hair that is in a weft. Small portions of the weft extensions strands are paired with small batches of your own bio hair and secured with a bead at the root. (I had this method for years and I selected it because the salon at the time was close to my apartment lol. Not becuase this method was the best for thinning hair. In my opinion all hair extensions may be damaging and I encourage you to discuss these methods further with your stylist. This way your level of thinning and the strength of your hair can be evaluated.)
Braid and Sew Hair Extensions: These extensions are applied using a needle and thread to install extensions or wefts into your own braided hair.
2. You'll need to do your research...
Hair extensions may be damaging. For example: See the section on traction alopecia below. Ask yourself is the juice worth the squeeze? Is the look you achieve with the extensions worth the potential damage it may cause to your own bio hair? You may want to speak with your physician and hair stylist to gain a better understanding of the potential risks to your bio hair that come with hair extension application and wear. You should also research your stylist, the hair brands being used, and the different hair extension methods because they are not all created equal.
3. Hair Density matters...
If you do decide on hair extensions you should keep in mind that whether your hair is thinning or not, the weight of the extensions can put additional stress on your roots. If your hair is already really thin then I’d caution you about getting extensions that are thick. Instead I’d suggest going with a lighter density extension to match the density of your own hair. This will then help alleviate some of the tension on your bio hair.
4. Consider the placement...
If your hair is thinning in a certain area, or if you have diffuse thinning, you may want to be careful about placing extensions where the hair is fragile.
5. Are you ready for the commitment?
Hair extensions may require lots of maintenance and upkeep. They can also be very pricey. Is this something you're ready for? Instead of a semi-permanent method of hair extension you could go for something more temporary like the halo extensions or clip-in extensions. I've linked my favorite clip-ins HERE. You can always meet with your stylist and discuss ways to cut and color your hair that may better camouflage areas of hair loss.
For example, you could try a shorter layered cut to give the hair a bit more volume. Darker hair can contrast with a pale scalp (yes I’m talking about my own ghost-white scalp) and make areas of thinning more noticeable. So you may want to consider adding something like highlights or lowlights. You could try changing your part and see if that makes your hair look fuller. For more ideas I've linked my blog post HERE, where I discuss methods I use to conceal my own hair thinning.
6. The Hair Extension Trap...
With the added hair I had with my beaded weft extensions I found that I became a little relaxed about my own hair care treatment routine. I'd look in the mirror and see all this hair and it's almost like it fooled me.
I think it's important to remember that if you have androgenic alopecia... this is a progressive hair loss condition.
But with all this hair attached to my head I noticed I got lazy. I was missing a few days here and there with my topical treatments, scalp massaging, wearing the laser helmet etc.
What I’ve found is that with these hair loss treatments you see improvements over the long term. You have to commit to doing them and putting in that time and effort everyday to get the pay off, which is HAIR REGROWTH! So don’t neglect your scalp health! You can find my posts on evidence-based hair loss treatments HERE.
7. Possible Damage...
Traction alopecia is a type of alopecia that results from constant tension being placed on the roots (1). When I took out my beaded weft extensions I noticed broken hairs and some patchy areas of hair loss. For me, those patchy areas did regrow hair over time. But in the later stages of traction alopecia there may be irreversible scarring if there isn’t an intervention... like the removal of the tension on the root.
What may be some risk factors for traction alopecia (1)?
The risk is increased by: the extent of pulling, duration of traction, and also the use of chemical relaxation which weakens the hair shaft
Hairstyles where Buns or ponytails are worn frequently and pulled back tightly
The attachment of hair extensions and weaves
Tight braids (Ex: cornrows and dreadlocks)
References: 1. Billero V, Miteva M. Traction alopecia: the root of the problem. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2018 Apr 6;11:149-159. doi: 10.2147/CCID.S137296. PMID: 29670386; PMCID: PMC5896661.