June 2011

With almost every female celebrity sporting them, hair extensions are becoming more and more of a regular beauty regime, with sometimes hair-raising effects. But banning them is not the answer, says Consultant Trichologist Iain Sallis.

The latest news circulating the hair and beauty world is the potential damage that hair extensions can do to the health of any individual’s hair.

The worry being that increasing numbers of women are choosing to wear clip in or glue in extensions or a regular basis over long periods of time – spurred on by the thick locks and hair pieces worn by most celebrity icons. Hair loss that occurs from the constant pulling of the hair is know as Traction Alopecia.

What is traction alopecia?

Traction alopecia is not an immune problem and usually due to excessive pulling or tension on hair shafts as a result of certain hairstyles. It is seen more often in women, particularly those of East Indian and Afro-Caribbean origin. Hair loss depends on the way the hair is being pulled. Prolonged traction alopecia can stop new hair follicles developing and lead to permanent hair loss.

So should we ban hair extensions?

Ask the Expert…Consultant Trichologist Iain Sallis is the only hospital based trichologist in the UK and has a network of clinics across the UK currently in Leeds, Hull, Lincoln, Sheffield, Manchester, Nottingham, Harrogate, Huddersfield and London.

Most problems seen by trichologists involve either excessive loss of hair, thinning hair, patches of baldness, hair breakage, scaling problems or
excessive oiliness and itching of the scalp. Conditions range from psoriasis, hair loss, alopecia and baldness.

“To ban extensions because they are bad for hair would be as much use as banning everything else which is bad for our hair...colours, bleach, perming lotion...hair straighteners...the list goes on and on…

When put like that sensational 'headline grabbing' temper tantrums from 'specialists' are completely and totally unrealistic and not constructive in the slightest.

Hair extensions can cause a lot of damage but this is mainly due to poorly qualified hairdressers thinking its an easy thing to do - or the hair dresser gives in to the client when they say "I cannot possibly live without my extensions...so don't take them out" so they don't lose the client (be it a celebrity or not) the hairdresser unwittingly gives in, causing more problems down the line (see Victoria Beckham, Britney Spears, Naomi Campbell) all of them have used extensions for far too long.

Extensions are a 'temporary' style solution...not a quick way to get permanently long hair...and this is why people get damage from them!
 

Traction Alopecia, the diagnosis:

An examination and a consultation with a trichologist would determine if the problems were Traction alopecia (but the sufferer usually has inkling to the cause!)

Traction alopecia, the treatment:

Ensuring the patient understands what is happening to the scalp when the hair is worn in certain ways. Sometimes soreness or infections need to be treated as well.

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