The REAL reason Britney shaved her head
Printed From: HairBoutique.com
Category: Hair Extension Topics
Forum Name: Hair Extensions
Forum Description: Hair Extensions can be the quick fix for short hair.
URL: https://talk.hairboutique.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=64243
Printed Date: July 21 2025 at 5:14am
Topic: The REAL reason Britney shaved her head
Posted By: HairHazard
Subject: The REAL reason Britney shaved her head
Date Posted: May 02 2009 at 3:05am
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EXTENSIONS RUINED MY HAIR.  If you are an expert in extensions, PLEASE help. Here's my story:My ('upscale') hair salon charged me a lot for extensions. They told me I could help to improve the health of my hair by using blonde extensions, instead of bleaching my hair. And I could get the length I wanted and thickness too. And I could grow my own hair out (longer) while I was enjoying the extensions. I was told however that I would like them so much I would never want to take them out. They do the "Pure" method (microlinks I guess they are called, copper tubes). They said this is the newest and safest method and does not damage your hair. And they use the best human hair available (they said it does not come in anything but straight). I was told the hair wouldn't need to be replaced for up to a year.
I have fine hair, it was a little longer than shoulder length. Average thickness (not thick, but not super thin). They said they put about 150 extensions in my hair (I'm thinking it might have been more like 125). My scalp hurt and itched for a few days. If I tried to sleep with my extensions without braiding them, I would get up with a tangled mess, and extensions are not easy to brush like natural hair.
I had to go back to have them blend the extensions more to make them look less heavy and fake. The stylist blended and blended and blended and blended (I'm pretty certain my natural hair was blended too) by running the side of I believe scissors down my hair (I never got a cut, which I needed instead of the over blending). When I left it looked a bit less fake, but I felt like I had lost 50% of the thickness of the extensions (and some of the length), which I was not pleased about, I pointed out that the extensions looked a lot thinner, but I didn't complain.
When I went in for maintenance (to have the extensions 'pushed up'), the stylist said my extensions were in good shape and it appeared I was taking good care of them. However I could tell she was using a comb to loosen up knots (it tugs and hurts), and was tossing hair that came out on the floor. I was told that a person loses 100 hairs a day, and when you have extensions that hair gets trapped in the links, so it's not hair loss, it's just natural shedding. I didn't completely buy that concept, but was hoping it was true. I thought it was strange that the stylist could only fit just under 100 in my head, when I had 125-150 before, she said there was no more of my natural hair to attach them to (I thought maybe she just didn't put them in right, but I realize now it must have been because by that point there was less of my own hair left to work with). After I left, my scalp hurt terribly and itched for approx. 3 weeks. I figured it was due to the copper tubes being closer to the scalp, and after it grows out a bit the pain stops. I didn't complain because I figured the only solution was for them to do the process all over again, which takes forever, and they would charge me a lot of money again, and have an attitude because they would think I was just 'bitching' about nothing.
Between the initial cost, blending, pushing them up, adding more in, having extensions that fell out put back in (they originally told me that never happens or is very rare, NOT true), and other issues with improper color (which I won't go into at this time), etc., it had cost me a fortune.
It has been only six months. I needed my extensions pushed up again (I was waiting due to the cost. They charge by the hour for that service, so one person might do it in an hour, whereas another might take 4 hours. I was going to tell her not to put them so close to my scalp this time as I can't tolerate the pain). I have been curious as to the health of my natural hair, and wondering (excited) about how much it had grown. I've been tired of having a head filled with metal (and concerned that the copper tubes were visible to others), and I could feel areas that felt like several extensions were knotted/tangled together where the tubes are attached to my natural hair. Also, despite very much liking longer/thicker hair, each extension looks like a "rope", so it doesn't look smooth or style as well/easily as natural hair (I asked about the sew-in method, because I figured there would not be that "rope" effect, but was told it is terrible, that your natural hair is braided, takes forever to dry, and ends up getting moldy). (I was basically told all other methods are bad).
My friend and I decided to take them all out yesterday to see what was going on, to be able to give my natural hair a good washing and brushing, and hopefully to save time (thus money) when I go in to have them put in again. It didn't seem like that big of a deal to do so, since to have the extensions pushed up, you are essentially taking each one out at a time anyway, plus in the beginning the stylist suggested I take them all out like maybe once every 3 months and have my natural hair colored (I didn't do that, it would have just cost me more money). Some of the extensions were loose enough to slide off with gentle pressure. For the others we used a tool to clamp open the tubes so the extensions would slide out (essentially the same thing the stylist does, not hard to do).
BOTTOM LINE: My natural hair has never looked so bad in my life. It is SHORTER than it was when I started, and much, much THINNER, it's terrible. I had to trim the bottom a little to try to even it out and get some body, but it didn't do any good. It's almost like a bad shag from the 70s. The only way to repair it would be to cut it very short, and I would look terrible with short hair. My theory is that they caused stress to my scalp, that the extensions/tubing might have been too much/too heavy for my hair type, and the knots/tangles cause hair loss, AND the stylist blended my own hair way too much (my hair grows really slow).
I don't want to be seen in public with my hair like this (I'd put it in a ponytail, but my hair is so thin it looks ridiculous). I feel I now HAVE to wear extensions. I don't however want my hair to get further damaged. I need to see someone in the L.A. area who has a lot of experience with a variety of application methods, who can help me, and do it for a reasonable price, but I have no idea where to go. I feel like an idiot for spending so much money (more than I could afford), just to have my hair ruined.
I'm very sad, and would very much appreciate your help/advice. Thank you
 PS Forgot to mention that while we were taking the extensions out, and trying to gently untangle the knots, we were seeing tons of loose hair coming out, I was hoping it was extension hair, but I'm sure it was mine  ------------- Let it fly in the breeze And get caught in the trees Make a home for the fleas In my hair |
Replies:
Posted By: starblue
Date Posted: May 02 2009 at 11:29pm
| Oh, honey, I feel so bad that happened to you.. |
Posted By: Samantha_Jane
Date Posted: May 03 2009 at 12:03pm
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That sounds awful, and I'm sorry to hear you had such a bad exerience, but all extensionsists are no the same as that!
I would suggest leavin them out for a bit and tryin to find a new salon to go to, where are you from?
Oh and if you have thinner and finer hair, they should have made the bonds smaller and uses less hair each strand!
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Posted By: TanglesRC
Date Posted: May 03 2009 at 1:00pm
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hello-
as a professional here is my feedback.
first off your hair should not itch or hurt for more then a day or so.
they could of been in way to high to cause it to hurt, the itching could also mean it was being pulled which could cause damage.
they hair that they put in could of been a bit too thick to support the amount of hair of your own that they were using to hold it, again, could cause breakage. without seeing your hair, and the hair they put it, it would be hard to do a diagnose.
as far as loosing (sheding) 100 strands per day or so of own hair.., that is 100% true-
blending the extension hair with your own takes great expertise and skill, and no your own hair really doesnt need to be cut, or blended.
i require all my clients to come to me every 8 weeks for maintenance.
at that time i check EVERY single strand, open up each one, check for health of hair, making sure there is still enough of your own hair to support the strand and move them up-
you should never wait longer then 9 or ten weeks at the utmost.
wearing a braid or ponytail to bed every nite is also a must. and hair, good hair, should not tangle up...
far as your stylist not being able to re install the ones that came, that is really not possible- she should of taken the time to find spaces. My installs are clean neat even sections, i am such a perfectionist, so when strands come out, which they will- a few here and there, i can very eaisly find where they go back in.
i would love to meet with you and see what we can do to help your hair look better and start growing and healing. lots of time, my experience has been, ( and mine too) i have been wearing my extensions for over 6 years)
we get so used to long, thick hair that when we take it out, it is a shock to see our own hair, however with that said, i have lots of clients who has grown their hair out with my extensions, we took them out, they got used to it and love their own new longer hair. I offer a few different options. Would love for u to check out my website and call me to see if i can help you- i have lots of clients who drive to me from all over, far as two to three hours....
i am honest, reliable and I am a Licensed, Certified, Master Extension Expert and educator...
sand
www.hairsand.com
------------- Bringing beauty, one head at a time... |
Posted By: HairHazard
Date Posted: May 03 2009 at 10:16pm
Thank you starblue for your kindness  ------------- Let it fly in the breeze And get caught in the trees Make a home for the fleas In my hair |
Posted By: HairHazard
Date Posted: May 03 2009 at 10:21pm
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Thank you Samantha ------------- Let it fly in the breeze And get caught in the trees Make a home for the fleas In my hair |
Posted By: HairHazard
Date Posted: May 03 2009 at 10:31pm
TaglesRC: Thank you so much for your knowledge and advice, I was very happy to read your post. The way you describe your work: expert, perfectionist, clean, neat, even sections, checking the health and strength of your clients' hair during maintenance, natural hair growing underneath, is exactly what I'm looking for, and how all extensionists should be before offering this service. You are however quite far from me  I'm going to look at your site, and I'll contact you. Thank you again  ------------- Let it fly in the breeze And get caught in the trees Make a home for the fleas In my hair |
Posted By: TanglesRC
Date Posted: May 04 2009 at 1:52am
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i look forward to hearing from you.
------------- Bringing beauty, one head at a time... |
Posted By: kittyface
Date Posted: May 04 2009 at 2:27am
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I can't wear micro cylinders either. I have a lot of hair, but my hair is very fine. It shows the rings and rips too easily with them in.
I now have a sew in and I like it a lot. it's much easier to take care of and I don't have to worry about it showing as much. I haven't had any trouble with mold or mildew. The lady that does my hair makes a very fine braid so it's not very bulky. The only downside to this method is that the small amount of my hair in the braid does get damaged when I take it out. I probably have lost maybe an inch of length from parts of that hair. But to put it in perspective, my hair is also bleached completely white. You may not have this problem with healthier hair. The lady I go to is very nice and inexpensive. She does pretty much every method you can think of. The only thing is that she's located in Orange County in Westminster, so that may be too far for you to travel. She has her own shop and it's not fancy. You're pretty much alone with her for the couple of hours it takes to do your hair. I get two rows sewn in and I bring my own hair (no one can match my color so I order synthetic hair from plastikhaar). I also prefer to cut the extensions down myself, but it only costs $80. She can also do the cuts and sell you the hair if you like, but you'd have to ask her about price. This is her website http://www.abchairextension.com/index.htm parts may still be under construction, but it has her phone number and email. Her name is Mavis, I'm sure she'd be happy to help you. |
Posted By: shaylaxtx
Date Posted: May 04 2009 at 7:55am
| i think you should save yourself a lot of money and further damage and just buy a set of clip in extensions. i've had so many methods of extensions, they never really look natural, cost ridiculous amounts of money to maintain and they are all damaging to some degree. clip ins i have found also look the most natural- they don't form the "rope" thing like you mentioned. |