bald spots

Uggh...

Well, Jamie, I am very sorry to hear about your situation, and I can tell you that there have been tons of women on these boards who have had similar results with hairlocs. If you search through the threads, you'll find story and story that sounds exactly like yours.

It does not sound like you had Great Lengths, though. Great Lengths are not metal locs/links; they're Keratin fusion, and believe me, you'd know the difference. From your description, it sounds like you may have had Eurolocs or some sort of microrings after the Hairlocs. Either way, none of these methods has worked for you, so it's time to move on to something else. I know how much it sucks to have all of your extensions come out on their own, especially when you paid so much money for them.

To determine what would be best, I think we'd need to know a bit more information--where you're located, whether you want to look into DIY or continue to go to stylists, what your real hair is like, what you want it to look like, and the extent of the damage you have from these applications.

Clip-ins are always an option, and they work quite well for some people, depending on what their hair is like. Failing that, it's quite possible that Shrinkies or pinchbraids could be good options for you, too. I'm personally not a fan of fusion, but it works well for some people, and depending on your hair, that may be an option, too.

Again, you really have my sympathies here; so many of us have been through exactly what you're describing. Were you able to get a refund for any of these applications?

Anyway, just give us a little more information, and I'm sure there are several options that would be much more secure, afforable, and less damaging than what you've been using.

:)

Hi Jamie,

I think I have a better idea of your situation now, and I have a few recommendations. I should preface this by saying, however, that I am not an expert in hairloss or extensions at all. You should definitely consult with others on these boards--and possibly a dermatologist--before you proceed with any type of extensions, whether "permanent" or clip-in's.

First of all, you should not go back to either of the extensionists you've used previously. Ever. Clearly, their methods have caused a lot of damage, and if you go back to them, the damage will only get worse. Again, many women have had problems with hairlocs and eurolocs, so what you're describing is (unfortunately) not all that unusual. That said, the first step in reversing the damage is not returning to these stylists.

As far as I know, there are basically two types of damage caused by the loc-ing method: 1) the breaking of the hair underneath the loc, about 1/4 to 1 1/2 inch from the scalp, due to mechanical and/or chemical (copper) breakdown of the hair; and 2) actual bald spots caused by either A) too much weight attached to too-small sections of your own hair, B) attaching the locs too close to the scalp, thus causing the hair to rip out from the root due to tension, and C) problematic removal. In your case, it sounds like you have Type 2, presumably caused by A. If you have Type 1 (breakage near the root), there is no need to worry about the hair growing back. If you have Type 2, chances are, the hair will still grow back, but you'll want to monitor your hair closely for the next few weeks to make sure.

There is a condition known as traction alopecia, wherein hairloss is caused by excessive tension, causing the follicles to break down. Generally, this is caused by tension in the same spot or spots of the head over an extended time period--usually at least two to three years. Hair extensions, as well as certain types of hairstyles, can cause this, but given that you've only had your extensions for 10 months, I would really doubt that you have this. Chances are, the hair has just been pulled out from the root and will grow back. If you don't see regrowth in these spots within a few weeks, however, I would seriously recommend seeing a dermatologist. If you do see regrowth, I think you're probably OK. It will, of course, take a long time to grow that hair back, but as long as the follicles aren't damaged, your hair will most likely grow.

For the next few weeks, I would suggest not doing anything to your hair. Again, if you don't see regrowth, please see a doctor. If you do see regrowth, I think it's probably OK to proceed with certain options.

The safest form of extensions are generally clip-ins. I don't wear these, but there's a lot of good information on these boards about various kinds of clip-ins as well as tips on how to wear them. Some women with very thin hair have difficulty with clip-ins because they can be somewhat bulky. A lot of this depends on how you wear your hair, too. To determine whether they would work for you, I would recommend trying some cheap synthetic clip-ins before investing in anything expensive (you can get a set from eBay for about $15). If they work for you, you can wear these during the day and take them out at night, upgrading to a more expensive set as needed. There are also other removable options such as clip-on ponytails and 3/4 falls that can work well, too.

Failing that, there are a few other extensions methods that may be suitable. DIY just means "do-it-yourself," by the way, and many women on these boards have great success doing their own extensions with minimal damage for a fraction of the cost. Some of the methods available for at-home use include shrinkies and extendtubes. If you would rather have a professional do your hair, I would recommend trying pinchbraids or one of the other methods I mentioned for DIY (there are two other threads on these boards--"Extensions 101 Links for Beginners" and "Bridget, Your Question is Here," which describe these processes in more depth--you may have to go back a few pages to find them, though).

Perhaps you can read up on these methods--and keep monitoring your hair--over the next few weeks or so. Then, when you've figured out what would be best for you, we can provide more recommendations. I know how much it sucks to have hairloss, even in the short term, so if you need something to tide you over for the next few weeks, I would suggest either clip-ins or a clip-on ponytail. If there's a wig store in your area, they may be able to help you in providing at least a short-term fix. Otherwise, there are many Internet stores that carry these items.

Again, you really have my sympathies here. My gut feeling is that your hair will grow back, but only time will tell, obviously. Again, please do not go back to these stylists. If your theory is correct (that they simply attached too much weight to too-small sections of you real hair), obviously they don't have the experience required to be doing extensions in the first place. The hair should be sectioned (especially if it's thin) in 1/4 sections at least--not sections of just a few strands. That's pretty basic, so there's really no excuse for the hairloss you've experienced.

Anyway, please keep us posted, and good luck!

:)

Thank you for all your information. What can I use to take the remaining extensions out of my hair myself, so I don't have to return to them?

hey can i just say that clip ins are not always a good idea, spesh if ouyr gonna be wearign the every day cause they exery so much pressureon a small area. and i ended up getting thinning where i put the clips in i would never use clip ins again. dont mean to scare you hun :-/
hope you get your hair sorted