Are hair extensions bad for your hair?

So you’ve been dreaming of waist length, luscious hair, but aren’t sure if extensions are the right move for you? 

With the horror stories floating around online, you’re right to be skeptical. While hair extensions are absolutely capable of giving you the mane of your dreams, under improper application or care, they are capable of damaging your natural hair. 

However, when the right steps are taken, hair extensions can deliver the hair of your dreams while protecting your natural locks, and in some cases even protect your natural hair on its growth journey. 

If you’re a hair extension skeptic, you’re in the right place. We’ve been doing this (and wearing hair extensions) for over twenty years now, and we’re here to show you the ins and outs of a healthy hair extension experience.

Why hair extensions get a bad reputation:

If you’ve looked into this topic, you’ve probably seen the usual culprits of unhealthy hair extension wear - bald spots, tangled messes, and breakage. 

While terrifying, the good news is that and every single one of these issues can easily be prevented. Typically the root cause of hair extension mishaps fall into one of two categories: misinformed application and improper maintenance.

How to keep your hair healthy with extensions:

First things first, it’s vital to your hair’s health that you book with a hair extension certified, professional stylist. This is vital for many reasons, as every step of the process requires in-depth knowledge, from selecting the best hair extension method for your hair type and lifestyle, determining the amount of hair extensions your natural hair can safely support, and applying the extensions properly.

When shopping around for certified hair extension specialists, feel free to reference our Laced certified stylist locator! Make sure to communicate with your stylist regarding your hair habits, including styling and your general daily habits, to ensure that you end up with the best hair extension method for you.

Don’t forget - every head of hair is different, and hair extensions aren’t a one size fits all experience!

Healthy hair extension wear starts with the stylist, but the rest is up to you. Once you’ve left the salon, your hair extension journey has just begun. The way you treat your hair will determine how long it lasts, from your daily routine to your wash day habits and maintenance appointments.

When you brush your extensions, it’s vital to start gently detangling at the bottom of your strands and work your way up, applying slight pressure to the roots of your hair to diffuse tension if needed.

The products you choose to maintain your extensions are vital to your experience as well! Hair extensions are only compatible with sulfate and paraben free products, as their more fragile nature requires more gentle formulas. We highly recommend stocking up on LHC’s Hair Oil and Conditioning Masque to properly hydrate your hair extensions, plus consulting your stylist on their recommended products for your hair type.

Take extra care not to apply conditioner, masques, or oils to the roots of your extensions, as this may cause them to slip, or even fall out completely.

As you style your extensions, it’s important to avoid styles that place excessive tension on your roots, i.e. high ponytails, tight buns, etc., as the extra weight from the added strands may be damaging if worn in tight styles too frequently.

Last but certainly not least, following your stylists’ maintenance recommendations makes or breaks your hair extension experience. Waiting longer than recommended between appointments may lead to extra tension, tangling, and even matting in extreme cases.

At the end of the day, hair extensions have never been the enemy, but a careless approach to them can be. A healthy hair extension experience starts with careful selection and application by a certified stylist, and continues with proper at-home care and maintenance! 

As you embark on your hair extension journey, you may even notice an abundance of new growth with meticulous care. We’re beyond excited to be involved in your hair extension journey, and wish you endless good hair days!