Extensions at 20.

I've been thinking about your situation a little more, and if your doctor feels it's safe for you to have extensions (and only if he says it's OK), you may be able to do them with the open-ended braiding technique.

Amm is right about the fact that if you don't have long enough hair to cover extensions, they won't be properly concealed, so any kind of fusion, locs, links, shrinks, etc. probably wouldn't work. But the open-ended technique, which is used a lot on short hair, may be an option. I think they can look really cool, but it's not a very "natural" look; if that's what you're going for, you should probably go the topper/integration route, or combine a T-closer http://www.hairpiece.com/product.asp?pf_id=APE510%5F1 (which can be woven or microlinked in) with some extensions. Just be aware that a T-closer or topper will require more frequent maintenance than standard extensions. It's possible to achieve realistic-looking results, but those methods come with their own unique challenges.

Here's an example of the open-ended technique: http://www.boogiemama.com/album/displayimage.php?album=1&pos=69 As you can see, the braids are visible at the roots; the hair extends down from that, so theoretically, you could use whatever kind of hair you want (synth or human) in whatever texture, color, and length. Sometimes, if you don't have enough length or volume on top, it looks worse to try to conceal the extensions (if that makes any sense). I don't have a lot of volume or length on the top, so I've been playing around with the idea myself.

Good luck, and again, be sure to check with your doctor before you proceed with any of these options. :)

Sometimes it just has to be said -- you can't wear extensions that don't show near the front of the head unless you have your own hair to cover them. The same is true of the crown.

Birth control pills trick your body into believing it is pregnant causing your hair not to shed very much. Downside; it makes you more hungry and causes water weight gain (in some women).

Thyroid checked out fine, so did all the other multiple tests. I am starting the patch (birth control) in a few weeks ( OBGYN said to wait until my next period) and she said that might make my hair FEEL a little thicker, but not necessarily cure the problem.

In the meantime, I'm polling the masses here.. You guys have been a better resource than any of my hair stylists that I have ever had.

I thank you profusely.

Have you been to a doctor and had some bloodwork done? Sometimes a thyroid condition can cause hair to slow down, fall out, stop growing or all three. If it is not your thyroid it may be hormonal. Sometimes having too much of a male hormone in your body can cause hair problems. Before you start any type of hair extension method please see your doctor because if may have irreversible effects. If hair extensions are not for you there are some wonderful wigs out there that can give you the self-confidence you desire. After my last pregnancy my hair was falling out in clusters where before I had beautiful thick hair. I was very defistated because I was known for my beautiful hair. Two years later and many doctor visits we found out it was hormonal and just putting me on a birth control pill was the answer. My hair has now grown back to it fullness and has it's luster again. I wear extensions to give me length since my hair does not grow very fast, but at least it is growing again. I wish you all the best because I know how frustrating it can be. I am in my early 30's and had this problem.

Wow! Thanks for the quick reply! I truly appreciate it.

I've tried everything from Rogaine, prescribed topical treatments, various "hair growth" pills, and been through several dermatologists and physicians. Ultimately, the hair has stopped growing my top left front of my face(What's the correct terminology for that?). It's the same length when I cut it in high school, which was a pixie do. That corner of my scalp is a mere half, inch and a half long. The other side of that same crown is approximately 3 or maybe 4 inches long. The rest of my hair, though, is 6 or 7 inches long. I haven't really lost any hair, so much as it has stopped growing on the top and the rest grows incredibly slowly. I don't shed much at all, it's just soo frustrating to look like this.

I am very well aware that extensions are not going to improve my condition, but I am desperate for some hair.

Though you can't necessarily "see" my hair, your sound advice is appreciated. I just want to have all my ducks in a row before I begin the long and arduous search for a reputable hair salon in my area.

Again, I thank you!

Hi, and welcome to our site. Although this isn't a hairloss site as such, there's a lot of valuable information here on extensions and various cosmetic hair-enhancement options.

Whether you're a candidate for extensions would depend on a few factors, most importantly how much hair you still have on your head. So, for example, if you're still in the early stages of hairloss and don't have a very wide part, large bald spots, or a lot of scalp showing, you may be a candidate. Also, if you have a lot of shedding, this may be a problem, too, because you need enough secure hair at the root to attach the extensions to; otherwise the extensions will fall out with your own hair. Along these lines, you need to have enough volume of hair on top to conceal the extensions (this is often the reason why hairloss sufferers don't do well with extensions).

Now, one thing you should know up front is that no extensions method will improve the condition of your hair. This may seem fairly obvious, but there are a lot of vendors out there who claim it will--and all of those claims are false as far as I'm concerned. Extensions may be either non-damaging, minimally damaging, or extremely damaging, depending on the method, the stylist, and your own hair.

Another thing you should know is that many extensionists claim that their methods are perfect for hairloss, but none of these methods is really designed to address hairloss. Some people with hairloss may benefit by using a particular method, but it's not designed for this, and extensionists are not hairloss experts.

This said, before any of us can advise you further, we'd need to know more about your hair. How long have you been losing it? How rapid had the loss been? Are you using any sorts of treatments (laser comb, rogaine, propecia, etc.)? And what does your hair look like now? Is it an even, diffuse thinning, or mostly on the top of your head? Is your front hairline OK, or is it receeding?

Even if you aren't a candidate for extensions, you may do well with a topper/integration piece. Many women wear these (either woven or bonded in), and the results can be amazing.

I also want to point you to a few resources that may be helpful:
http://www.heralopecia.com is a wonderful community of women who share all sorts of information, advice, and support. Unfortunately, their bulletin boards are down at the moment, though, but keep checking--they should be back up soon.
http://www.hairsite.com/ is currently serving as a stand-in for many of the heralopecia members and has a lot of valuable info., too.
http://www.keratin.net can also be useful, so be sure to check it out.
There are also two MSN groups--Hair Habit and Wig Support--that are excellent resources as well.

Let me also say that I feel for you. It is horribly traumatic to lose your hair, and it's much more common than people realize. Most of the women I've chatted with on hairloss boards are in their 20s and 30s, too. And I have experienced some hairloss myself, although not nearly as bad as many people; it's still unclear to me whether it is the beginning stages of alopecia or a temporary condition brought on by stress or something else. Either way, it is very upsetting. Only time will tell, but I've gained a lot of knowledge about these issues from the women on these sites.

And lastly, please proceed with caution when it comes to your hair. You may hear wonderful reviews or bold claims about a method, but some companies simply false-advertise, and some clients may have great success with a method, but it doesn't mean it's right for you. More specifically, I would advise you to avoid all forms of glue/fusion/bonding, including Keratin, as well as wefts, which don't tend to work well with thinning hair.

Please take your time exploring your options, ask a lot of questions, and do a lot of research. We're here to help in whatever way we can, and there are others on the hairloss boards who are trememdously generous, knowledgable, and helpful.

MiamiGirl: Maybe you can chime in here, too.

Good luck, and keep us posted:).