An increasing number of women are turning to surgery to reverse hair loss caused by hair extensions, like those sported by Cheryl Cole in the latest L’Oreal advertising campaign.
The UK’s leading hair transplant specialists – The Farjo Medical Centre – has revealed that a growing proportion of its patients are young women, looking to reverse the damage caused by hair extensions. Despite the many risks, they continue to prove popular thanks to celebrity fans, such as Cheryl, Lady Gaga and Britney Spears.
Women as young as 20 are now turning to surgery after suffering from constant pulling
* It often occurs in people who wear hair extensions or tight braids over a long period of time
*Bald patches are one of the many potential side effects
* Caused by hair extensions, when the extensions are woven too tightly they can pull on existing hair and lead to premature shedding
* The glue that’s attached to the natural hair can burn and split the ends of the hair and, in some cases, people can suffer from headaches
Cheryl caused controversy recently, when she admitted to having hair extensions in the recent L’Oreal adverts. Whilst the adverts promise to combat women’s five key hair issues – weak, limp, lifeless, dull and straw-like locks – the star’s hair extensions can be the very cause of these problems.
His warning echoes the sentiments of actress Jennifer Aniston, who admitted in Harper’s Bazaar magazine that ‘nothing destroys your hair faster than extensions’. She said: “It’s taken a year and a half to get my hair grown out. I decided to have a couple of extensions, never knowing you end up with 400 things in your head that cause your hair to break off.”
Restoration Surgery (ISHRS), Medical Director of the Institute of Trichologists and founder of Farjo Medical Centre, said:
“The damage caused by hair extensions will, in most cases, correct itself once the user stops wearing them. However, there are cases where the damage is so severe it can resemble alopecia areata. In any eventuality, hair extensions will always damage your hair and the potential risks are certainly not ‘worth it’.”
The centre has an international reputation for not only using the latest hair transplantation techniques – recognised throughout the surgical field – but also for placing significant emphasis on developing pioneering ways to counter hair loss.
Words by Lea James
