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.
Back to hair loss news
Copyright stophairlossnow.co.uk