Will Hair Extensions Damage My Hair?

Lots of people want long, beautiful hair and hair extensions offer instant gratification to the dreamer. However, they also have the potential to damage your hair.

Hair extensions that are installed, removed and cared for properly will do minimal damage to your hair. If you're wondering "Are hair extensions safe? Will they make my hair fall out?", read on. I will cover ways hair extensions damage your hair, how to prevent damage from hair extensions, how to take care of hair extensions, how to remove them safely and a lot more. I'll even show you a surprising place where you can get cheap hair without sacrificing quality.

photo credit: Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Germany (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Boogoo Photography

Here are some ways you can prevent damage to your hair when wearing installing and wearing hair extensions.

1. Always wrap your hair up when you go to bed. A silk scarf is best, but if you don't like wraps, tie your hair into a high bun and sleep on satin pillowcases. It will reduce friction, pulling and help protect your hair.
2. If you're glueing in a weft, never place the weft directly on the part or more than 1/8th inch away from it. Try to keep the adhesive away from your scalp and the roots of your hair.
3. Use only a light application of glue. You may need more frequent touch-ups, but using too much adhesive will pull out lots of your hair when it's time to remove. This is the biggest risk with glue-in extensions. Use only a medium bead of adhesive, about the the size of the weft.
4. If you're sewing in, don't cornrow or braid your hair extremely tight and don't sew the weft on extremely tight either. It should be snug, but not extra tight. Braiding too tight can cause bald spots from the hair being pulled out. Sewing too tight causes friction which can lead to breakage.
5. Never, ever pull out your extensions when they begin to get loose. It's tempting, especially when they begin to slip out in the shower, but you will pull out your own hair along with the extensions. Always wait until you can use an adhesive remover or olive oil and the help of a gentle friend if possible.
6. Avoid placing extensions at the perimeter of your hair. The hair at the edges of your scalp is often finer and more susceptible to damage. Leave at least 1 inch of hair around the edge of your scalp to prevent damage. It will also help prevent the extensions from showing though your natural hair.
7. Double up on your weft by placing one strip of hair on top of another rather than making another parting. You will get the same fullness and have less adhesive on your hair.
8. When you think you are ready to take your glue-in extensions out, do not wash your hair for 2-4 days prior to the removal. Your scalp's natural oil will help soften the adhesive and make the removal a bit easier. Saturate the weft and the adhesive with olive oil or remover and let it sit for 10-15 minutes to further soften. Remove slowly, carefully and never pull.

I love this serum from Paul Mitchell. I was never a fan of hair serums until I tried this one - other ones I tried felt greasy, oily or didn't work at all. This one is the best I have used. It's extremely concentrated, so you only need a small amount. It also has a pleasant, light scent.

This serum is great on all hair types but it works especially well on hair extensions, which are often colored and chemically straightened. Using a good smoothing serum on your extensions will prolong their life.

Here's a video demonstration of the process.

Proper installation and removal of glue-in hair extensions can prevent or eliminiate damage. This tutorial is very similar to the methods I generally use and shows both the correct amount of glue to use and how to remove them safely.

Hair extensions aren't forever and unfortunately for many people, the removal process is when the most damage occurs. Patience is the most important part. Never rush the removal process and seek assistance if you aren't confident or it's your first time. Here are my tips for after your extensions are out.

1. Always give your hair and scalp a break after you take a set of hair extensions out. A week is good, and a month is even better. Wearing hair extensions for months or years at a time without rest periods can be very hard on your hair and may cause thinning and/or breakage.
2. After you remove hair extensions, pay close attention to the health of your hair and scalp. Inspect your scalp where the extensions were, looking for broken hairs, bald patches and signs of irritation. Examine your hair, checking for split ends, breakage, thinning and assess the overall condition.
3. If you experience breakage, thinning or bald patches from your hair extensions, I recommend that you do not wear them again for at least a year. If your hair is longer than shoulder length, 2 years would be better. It's important to give the hairs that were pulled out or broken off a chance to grow out again. Wearing hair extensions again may cause even more severe thinning and damage.

I was a little wary at first, but with some careful reading of the listings, I realized you can get great, soft, beautiful, high quality extension hair for a good price. Depending on where you live, it may be much cheaper than your local wig/hair store. eBay also has lengths and colors that are very hard to find in some places. I once ordered 30" keratin fusion hair for a client - it was the longest hair I'd ever seen.

Leave a comment sharing your hair extension story for others to learn from.