Over 55% of women experience hair thinning during their lifetime [1]. So it is not surprising that many choose to wear hair extensions for thickness and to get more volume in their hair, leading to a hair extension market worth more than $3bn [2].
Extensions can blend in seamlessly with natural hair, making it look fuller and healthier. However, while they can make your locks appear thicker, heavy hair extensions can cause hair loss as well [3].
That is why it’s important to choose a type of extension that strikes the right balance between increasing hair thickness and posing a risk to your hair safety. Keep reading this article to get all the information you need to make a good choice, such as:
There are many different kinds of hair extensions out there, of different lengths, weights and attachment systems. They each have their advantages and disadvantages and are designed to complement certain types of hair. Here are some of the best extensions if your hair is fine and/or thinning, and you want to boost volume without causing excessive damage:
This type of temporary hair extensions is the only one that doesn’t carry the risk of traction alopecia. That is because they are not attached in any way to your natural hair. The extensions are placed on a loop of strong, transparent nylon string. The loop is then placed on your crown and adjusted to fit snugly (hair clips can be added for extra hold). It is then disguised beneath your natural hair.
Pros: These extensions can be thick and full without having to worry about hair shedding. They are also very easy to apply and remove at home, requiring no additional installation, professional maintenance or removal costs.
Cons: Halo extensions are temporary, so you have to put them on and blend them in each time you want to use them. Moreover, they have a less secure hold than other types.
Duration: 6 months – 2 years, depending on extension quality, frequency of use and how well they are maintained.
Average UK cost: £150 to £600, depending on thickness, length, hair quality and brand.
Hair loss risk: Very low, as the extensions rest on your head and don’t pull at your hair follicles. Furthermore, no heat or adhesives are needed for installation.
Maybe the most commonly used, clip-on hair extensions are temporary and can be easily applied and taken out. All you need to do is use the clip on the end of the hairpiece to attach it securely to your natural hair.
While clip-on extensions can pull on your hair follicles, especially if they are on the heavier or bulkier side, you can take frequent breaks from wearing them. So they’re ideal for enhancing your hair volume for special occasions, but you don’t have to sleep or wash your hair with them on.
Pros: They are inexpensive and easy to apply and remove at home. Furthermore, wearing them on and off gives your hair follicles time to recover and prevents hair loss.
Cons: If your hair is very thin, the clips may be visible. Moreover, bulky, heavy clip-on extensions can be uncomfortable and risky if you have very fine hair,
Duration: Synthetic clip-on hair extensions usually last 1-3 months, but well-maintained natural ones can last from 3 months to as long as 1 year.
Average UK cost: £20- £200/set, depending on their material, length, thickness, quality and brand (synthetic varieties are less expensive than natural hair).
Hair loss risk: The risk of hair loss increases with extension weight, frequency and duration of use. So it should be safe to use light clip-on hair extensions occasionally for a few hours at a time. However, it is best to check with your trichologist before wearing them if you are already experiencing a type of alopecia.
These semi-permanent hair extensions attach to your natural hair with a special two-sided sticky tape. If well maintained, they can be worn for several weeks without requiring reattachment, providing extra volume and masking your thinning areas. The tape helps distribute the weight of the extensions more evenly on your natural hair, compared to some permanent hair extensions (e.g. micro-link hairpieces).
Pros: These extensions are among the quickest to apply. They are often light and reusable.
Cons: Some may be too light to provide substantial hair volume and they can become unglued or slip if exposed to oil-based hair products.
Duration: 4-8 weeks, but can be reused up to 3-4 times if well-maintained.
Average UK cost: £150 to £700, depending on material, quality, thickness, length and brand.
Hair loss risk: There is more hair loss risk in wearing tape-in extensions than temporary ones, as they pull continuously on your hair for weeks at a time. But the risk is smaller than for permanent hair extensions. Some people may develop an allergic reaction to the glue used on the tapes. This can cause a scalp rash, inflammation, itching, tenderness, swelling and hair shedding. If you experience difficulty breathing alongside these symptoms, call emergency services immediately.
If your hair has been falling out more than usual or you have fine type 1A hair, it is best to stay away from the following types of hair extensions. While they can provide volume and thickness to your hair, they also carry a significant risk of hair loss.
Weft extensions are made of hair strands attached to a thin strip of fabric (a weft). Some of them are long enough to surround your head from one temple to the other. Sewn-in wefts involve making one horizontal braid (or several vertical ones) in your hair and sewing the extensions into it by hand.
If the weft is heavy and long, it can cause a horseshoe-shaped pattern of hair loss [4]. The braids themselves can also cause alopecia if worn continuously for up to 2 months, (which is how long the extensions often last). This is why this type of extension is considered the most damaging and is only recommended for people with thicker, coarser hair.
These permanent hair extensions are made of individual hairpieces, but they can still be thick and heavy, especially if they are also long. Their tips are dipped in keratin, which is then heated and fused to your natural hair strands using a special tool.
There are two major problems with using these hair extensions for thickness. First, your thinner natural hair has to withstand their weight constantly for 3-6 months. In addition, the heat and adhesive used to apply them can damage your natural strands if installed incorrectly (and it can be very hard to fix heat-damaged hair). Moreover, hair breakage can also occur during the removal process (especially if the technician is inexperienced).
Micro-link extensions are individual strands that have a small bead at the tip. Your natural hair strands are inserted through this bead, which is then clamped to the hair root. Using thick, long extensions can weigh your hair down for several months.
If improperly installed, the beads can be too tight and cause hair breakage. Alternatively, they can slip down your strands, pulling harder on your hair follicles and causing hair tangling/matting [3].
While micro-link extensions don’t need heat or adhesive to attach to your natural hair, they’re only recommended to people with thick, coarse hair that can support their weight. These hair extensions for thickness are also high maintenance; they require careful detangling, and you’ll need to avoid any hair growth oils that can make them slip.
Hair extensions for thickness are normally bulkier than those only used for length, so they can provide you with more volume. This generally makes them heavier, which means they will pull harder on your hair roots. When tension is constantly applied to your hair follicles, they get damaged over time, to the point where they stop producing hair. That is why tight hairstyles such as top knots also cause hair loss.
This condition is called traction alopecia [5][6] and it mainly affects the hair around your fringe area or the back of your head (the areas where extensions are usually attached). The longer you wear accessories that pull on your hair and the heavier your extensions are, the more chances you have of developing this type of alopecia.
Traction alopecia is normally temporary, meaning your hair will grow back a few months after you stop applying hair extensions [3][5]. However, in some rare cases, it can become permanent and require treatment to improve. If hair loss medication, such as Minoxidil, doesn’t work, your best chance of recovering your hair is with a hair transplant [7].
In rare cases, hair extensions can cause hair loss by triggering an allergic reaction (contact dermatitis). This happens most often in people who are sensitive to components in synthetic extensions [8] or in the adhesive used to secure them to your hair [9]. So if you notice swelling, tenderness, itching, redness and/or a rash on your scalp [10] shortly after getting hair extensions installed, best get them removed as soon as possible and wash your hair thoroughly.
Choosing the right kind of hair extensions and maintaining them properly are the best ways to minimise the risk of developing traction alopecia. Here are some good ways to do that:
If you have been wondering why your hair feels thinner lately, to the point where you need hair extensions for thickness, it may be worth investigating. Some of the reasons your hair is falling out may include one or more of the following:
If you are experiencing hair thinning, the best thing you can do is to get it diagnosed and treated as soon as possible, so you no longer have to rely on extensions for thick luxurious hair. Keep in mind that some types of alopecia are progressive and will worsen over time if unaddressed.
Book a consultation now with one of our experienced hair doctors and they will get to the root of your hair problems right away. They will use state-of-the-art diagnostic trichology tests to reveal your condition and recommend the best hair loss treatment for women (or the most effective hair loss treatment for men). They will also provide you with valuable insight on how to grow thicker hair naturally, so you won’t need to rely on potentially harmful cosmetic accessories to look and feel amazing anymore.
If you would like to know more about hair extensions for thickness, read the answers to these frequently asked questions.
While hand-tied extensions are generally milder on your hair, that is because they are thin and evenly distributed on a longer weft. While they can help with length, they are not normally recommended for improving hair thickness, because they are usually flat and fine.
A tingling or burning sensation on the scalp can be an early symptom of traction alopecia or of an allergic reaction. If you are experiencing this, it is advisable to remove your hair extensions as soon as possible. If the tingling was caused by an allergy, try to find out which extension component caused it and avoid using hair products that contain the irritant substance in the future.
However, if traction alopecia is also a possibility, avoid wearing any heavy accessories or tight hairstyles for at least a few weeks. This will give your hair follicles a chance to heal and avoid hair loss. You may also want to consider wearing lighter hair extensions in the future.
If applied properly, halo extensions are generally secure, as the loop they are on is easily adjustable to your head. Your natural hair also covers the extensions, providing some extra safety. However, if you are concerned about their hold, you can use additional hair clips to secure them in place.
If you are experiencing itching, swelling, or inflammation when wearing your clip-on hair extensions, you may be allergic to them. If they are made of synthetic hair, try switching to a human hair variety (you should also know that unethical manufacturers can sometimes claim to use human hair when in reality using synthetic materials, so it may be worth changing brands). Alternatively, you could try wearing lighter extensions for shorter periods and see if you are still experiencing this symptom.
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