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 …
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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?
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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.
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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.
Frequently asked questions
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 …
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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
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.
Gwen: They'll look fake too!
jass: Clip in hair extensions are great. If you get the right person to put them in they are not damaging or harmful at all and they should only be worn for the recommended length of time.
Ashley: @Holly, @Holly, @Holly, you are entitled to your opinion, of course-But in my opinion, fake har is fake hair-It can look good sometimes-i still do not think it matches the beauty and wonderful feeling of having real, healthy long hair-Real hair can't compare to extensions-Like i said, only using extensions because you want longer hair is stupid-Once in a while for a fancy occasion is fine-everyday is tacky-extensions, no matter how well they are blended in or how much they cost, are bad for your hair-and i honestly don't get how they help your confidence-since the hair is fake, the compliments, to me-would seem fake-I get compliments all the time for my actual hair, which is long and thick and past my hips-i know lots of people use hair extensions-but most of those people are just too lazy to grow and take care of long hair-some people have actual health conditions where they just can't grow hair-i understand that-i don't understand people who blindly refuse to take care of their hair properly, resort to chopping it off so they don't have to deal with it, then get insecure and throw away tons of money on hair extensions:/ the whole extensions business is a rip off-its amazing how more people would rather pay money to get fake hair, rather than wait and let their own hair grow
Mariarudrud: I don't know about you but I have clip ins and love them
Chantel: I love extensions , it's good to change your look sometimes!
Ashley: Extensions, in my opinion, are stupid-and such a waste of money-why pay money to get someone else\'s hair attached to your head? and then once you blow your money on the stupid hair, once your done with it, you go a salon and they just throw the hair away like its nothing-repulsive-Extensions are gross-People can\'t grow their own hair? anyone can grow hair-people just don\'t want to wait or take the time to take care of their hair and grow it properly-i understand maybe using extensions once in a while for a special occasion like a wedding where you want to look fancier- i do not understand girls that wear fake hair all the time-its very unclassy-how can you feel good about having extensions? do you think people look at you and go \"wow, that fake hair looks really beautiful on you\" i have hair down to my hips-no one could pay me any amount of money to cut my hair, or ever consider throwing away my money on extensions-only if your severely losing your hair and balding because of a health condition or something should you consider getting hair attached to your head-if your just using extensions, because you want longer hair, its stupid-and tacky-celebrities only get away with it because they have stylists working on their hair all the time-real people don\'t have that luxery, so their hair looks like crap-i can always spot extensions and i think the whole extensions thing is hideous
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