Hair sheds daily as part of its natural growth cycle. When wearing hair extensions, your hair will shed in exactly the same way as it does when you’re not wearing them. On average we lose around 50-100 hairs per day as part of this natural process. However, when you are wearing hair extensions, shed hair that would normally come out in your brush or in the shower, will remain trapped within the extension seal – i.e. it will shed from your scalp but not from the extension. Over time this hair will start to build up at the root area.
It is essential that the extensions are separated from each other with your fingers every day, and that you brush your hair thoroughly at the scalp, as this will prevent shed hair from becoming entwined and matted at the root. If this happens it can be very difficult to untangle.
Matting caused by hair extensions left in too long
Hair extensions should never be kept in for longer than 3 – 4 months, since the amount of hair that will have shed naturally from your scalp will be considerable by this time.
If hair extensions are kept in too long, the build-up of hair that has shed will inevitably become matted at the roots, which can be extremely difficult detangle without causing damage to your natural hair. The extensions will need removing in order to release the shed hair. Furthermore, the extensions will start to become unstable if they are kept in too long. This is because the natural shedding process will eventually cause the extension to be secured by fewer strands of the natural hair than was originally taken to hold it in place. This can put tension on the hair, which can in turn weaken it.
When the hair extensions are removed, the shed hair is combed out and can look like a lot of hair is coming out. This is because after wearing extensions for 3 – 4 months, around 4500 – 6000 hairs will have shed naturally from your scalp (based on shedding 50 hairs per day). This may sound like a lot, but your hair is constantly replacing itself and on average we have 100,000 to 150,000 hairs on our head. There is no need to be concerned that your hair is falling out during the removal process, as this is simply the naturally shed hair being released.
You may still continue to wear your hair extensions by having them removed and refitted on the same day.