With hair extensions becoming a common fad these days, from Hollywood to kids playing with their hair, you might wonder if there is any long-lasting detrimental effect these extensions have to a person’s real hair or scalp. Just how safe is it to use hair extensions and what are the consequences of using them for a long period of time? Consider some of the answers discussed below.

The Only Real Threat

There are always going to be a few issues here and there with any cosmetic change a person does but in regards to hair extensions there are only three and all of them can be avoided in one way or another. Most of the time, you can avoid these issues simply by using a different type of hair extension method or by using different chemicals to treat/dye/alter the extension. The three main issues are:

Heat Damage to Natural Hair

This is mostly caused by using wefts or hot fusion application. Wefts are extensions where the strands are melded into a long strand and then are directly taped or glued to the scalp or right at the base of the natural hair. The problem with wefts is that they can damage the scalp and even pull the hair right out of their roots.

Hot fusion on the other is bad for your hair. The constant application of glue or wax with the addition of heat can cause your real hair to become dry, crisp, and unresponsive. This means your hair will look coarse, it breaks off easily, and it will tangle up easily as well.

What is the best solution for the aforementioned heat damage? Instead of using wefts or hot fusion application you should instead use cold fusion. Cold fusion is just like hot fusion but it uses ultrasonic waves instead of direct heat to melt the glue or wax. This means there is no fear of hair drying. As an added benefit, cold fusion creates a better, stronger bond for your hair and hair extension.

Chemical Damage

This is a very basic issue. Depending on the type of hair extension you have – whether synthetic or real – there will be certain chemicals you need to avoid. Some chemicals can damage the synthetic material used for some extensions while there are chemicals that are bad for real hair. One good example is hair dye – you need to make sure that the hair dye you are buying is safe for the specific type of hair extension you have. The best way to handle this issue is to ask your hairdresser or the person who helped you apply the extensions regarding what types of chemical treatments, hair dye, and other hair products are good and bad for the extensions you used.

Weight Issues

Now this is mostly a problem for people who use wefts, clip-on extensions, and weaved in or sewed in extensions. These application methods can create too much weight and the added weight will continuously tug on your hair, slowly uprooting your natural hair from the scalp. One good way to avoid this is to remove the extensions after using them. This is very ideal for clip-on extensions.