There are a number of very good reasons to not get hair extensions. Achieving instant long hair (well, after a few hours) sounds great - it has to beat growing your own, right? Hmm, not if you experience one of the typical problems that can happen when you have extensions. Here are some sound reasons to not get hair extensions …
Quiz Complete!
Get notified about new quizzes like this.
1. Damage
One of the major reasons to not get hair extensions is the damage they can cause. Extensions can cause serious damage to your hair. It may break off, and even worse, leave you with bald patches. This is due to the weight of the extensions pulling at your own hair. Is it worth the risk?
***
Extensions often require tight braiding or bonding that puts tension on the hair follicles. Over time, this tension can lead to a condition known as traction alopecia, which is a form of gradual hair loss caused by a persistent pulling force. Additionally, the glue or heat used to apply some types of extensions can lead to breakage or weakened strands, especially if they're not installed or removed properly. Your natural hair might suffer, undermining the very beauty and fullness hair extensions are supposed to enhance. Is taking such a toll on your hair's health and vitality truly justifiable?
2. Same Look
When every other woman has hair extensions, they all start to look the same. Take a look at some of the many celebrities who wear extensions. There's very little to tell between them. The problem with extensions is that they give you lovely long hair, but that's very limiting. You just have a long-hair look.
***
Additionally, hair extensions often come in a handful of popular styles and colors that are trending at the moment. With many opting for these limited options, the result is a uniformity that deprives women of their unique individuality. Sure, you might turn a few heads with your impeccably long locks, but without the natural quirks and distinct characteristics of your own hair, you risk being just another face in the crowd. The charm of personal style diversity is lost when we're all mimicking the same aesthetic.
3. Maintenance
There's a lot of maintenance involved once you get extensions. You've got to look after them properly, and could be back at the salon once a month. If you decide to stick with your new look, you'll be getting the extensions replaced perhaps every few months. That's a lot of time in the salon …
***
Caring for extensions is no walk in the park. You'll need to use specific shampoos and conditioners that don't cause the bonds to weaken, and brushing your hair must be done with the utmost care to avoid tugging the extensions out. Activities as simple as sleeping and swimming require caution—you might end up needing a special silk pillowcase or a swim cap just to protect those pricey strands. And let's not even get started on the horror of matting if you neglect them. Each maintenance session also racks up more costs, so your wallet won't be getting a break either.
4. Cost
You'll also spend a lot of money to maintain your extensions. If you want good quality ones that last, you'll pay an appropriately high price. Cheap extensions may be more affordable, but they won't last as long or be as good quality. With extensions, you definitely get what you pay for.
5. Wrong Look
Long hair doesn't suit everyone, and so extensions may be an expensive mistake. The best thing is to try on a wig to see how long hair looks on you. You may find that as much as you'd like long hair, it doesn't like you. If that's the case, it's better to pass on having extensions.
6. Obvious
It's usually pretty obvious that someone is wearing extensions. Often you can see the ends of the real hair over the extensions. They also have an unnaturally straight look. Okay, people are going to know you've had extensions when your hair apparently grows overnight, but do you want it to be obvious to everyone?
7. They May Drop out
Extensions may drop out. Finding your lovely extensions all over the house would be bad enough, but if it happened when you were out that would be really embarrassing! And if you had them done for a special occasion, it would be truly mortifying if they dropped out.
8. Exploitation
Using human hair may look more natural, but it may have a dark side. Your expensive extensions could be made from hair that a woman in India or Russia was paid a pittance for. Women who sell their hair do so because they are desperately poor - do you really want to benefit from their desperation?
You may opt for extensions because you are too impatient for your own hair to grow. But this quick fix may backfire. Long hair may look nice, but it requires maintenance - especially if you've got this look with extensions. What do you think of extensions - have they been problem-free for you, or have you had a disastrous experience?
Comments
Cristina: My hair has always been my pride and joy. I figured since it is pretty damn healthy, it could deal with some bleach damage. And I figured the master stylist who did all the color-corrections would know how much would be too much. I was wrong, and now I want to burst into tears every time I look at my hair or touch it. I just don't know what to do. my hair has also NEVER been shorter than this and it breaks and falls out. What should i do to regrow hair?
Robbin: I had brain surgery and lost all confidence when I lost my hair. I wore wigs and now extensions. I definetely think your own hair is better but....
Ashley: Amanda, we all have our opinions-of course as a Stylist, you support the extensions business-its still a stupid thing in my opinion-I understand people who can't grow their hair or are losing their hair because of cancer or a health problem, would find comfort in using extensions and that's fine-what angers me about fake hair, in general, is when people simply do not take care of their hair properly, style it to death or bleach it or whatever, knowing that they could take better care of it-then cut it off and get insecure and get extensions-real long hair will always be more beautiful, period-people can do whatever they want-just because extensions are popular doesn't mean they are a good idea
Megan: I love my extensions. Sure they're a little expensive but that's all. I love them! And it only takes half an hour to put them in my hair and then they stay there for up to 3 months! I've only ever had a few fall out when brushing them.
Holly: I think hair sewn in extensions are gross because they create tangles , breakage, and just end up looking bad. I wore clip in hair extensions for the past two years. Just because someone has extensions (Ashley) does not mean they don't take care of their hair. Some girls wear them as a confidence boost for while their waiting for their hair to grow out, which is fine I think. But yes, some girls do not know how to blend them in properly or it ends up looking obvious. I tossed my extensions mainly because my hair is long enough now to reach my standards :) but also because even clip ins damage the hair, they are hard to keep healthy and looking nice, and because they are uncomfortable. I think it's perfectly fine to wear extensions, it's their own hair, right? So who cares!
Naomi: Some hair extensions are hurting on my head �
Mariarudrud: I don't know about you but I have clip ins and love them
Jae-Lin: Yeah, i don't agree with number 8. so these poor women r selling their hair. we r "exploiting" them by buying it. And what do you suppose would happen if no one was buying their hair? They wouldn't get money. No one is going to buy their hair if it's not on demand. It's a win win. Little money is better than no money, i would do what have to survive and I'm sure they don't mind, because a)it'll grow back b)they get paid c)usually they cut their hair at religious ceremonies, so it would be gone anyway d) they're probably used to it.
:
Feedback Junction
Where Thoughts and Opinions Converge