There’s an ingenious way to prevent traction hair loss (alopecia) from clip-in extensions.
You’ll never again have to worry about bald spots showing up that were caused by your clip-in extensions.
Before I describe this brilliant solution, I must first point out that this works only when your hair is in a ponytail—and a regular ponytail, not that “invisible” ponytail technique that’s been running rampant on YouTube.
The invisible ponytail involves creating a small ponytail, then clipping extensions all around its perimeter. You then take the rest of your hair and brush it over the “invisible” ponytail, concealing the tracks.
Then you bind all of this together into a second ponytail. This technique will cause traction alopecia big-time when done on a regular basis.
In fact, it may cause hair loss even on an occasional basis, because the technique involves so many clip-ins.
My solution will not work for hair that’s down. Secondly, you must use ONLY SINGLE-TRACK extensions.
How to Prevent Traction Alopecia from Clip-in Extensions
• I recommend three to five extensions (single track!), forming the path of a headband. The total number of extensions will depend on the width of the track.
• It will also depend on your hair texture and the clip-ins’ texture. In my case, the texture is fluffy, so I need only three extensions to add desirable volume.
• Two are located on either side of the upper side top of my head, and the third is between these two but further back.
• Insert the track in the same direction that your hair will be when pulled into a ponytail.
• In other words, if the track is above your ear, it cannot be perpendicular to your ear. The track must be at the same angle, or going with the flow, of your hair when it’s pulled into a ponytail.
• Once the clip-ins are in place, brush your hair over them, doing your best to conceal them, and bind everything into a moderately high ponytail.
• This technique will also work for a low ponytail.
• Now, here’s the part that will surprise you: Once your ponytail is in place, all set and perfect…gently and carefully unclip the extensions!
• If you’ve worn extensions before, you should know that all you need do is pull up on either side of the track to release it.
• It takes only a LITTLE tugging to do this. You will NOT dislodge the track. It is already securely bound in place by the ponytail.
• Just gently, with a tiny tug, release the clip; you will hear the little snapping sound.
• Now look in the mirror; can you see the tracks?
If You Can See the Tracks or Bumps, Here’s Why
Unfortunately, if you have the so-called stick hair or pinpoint straight hair (like Marsha Brady’s), you might see too much of the tracks to salvage the situation.
If you have a thicker or more voluminous type of hair, the tracks will be completely hidden. See the image below; that’s my hair, with the tracks released, and they are not detectable.
Because the hair that’s over the tracks is securely bound into a ponytail, the tracks—even though released—will NOT slip around or migrate.
They will actually stay very firmly in place. They will not budge.
Again, if you have “swingy” hair that lacks body, you may be able to see signs of the tracks. I am only conjecturing on this, because I have not tried this solution on anyone else but myself.
But I can say with utmost confidence that if you have a naturally fuller texture, those tracks will be undetectable.
Practice Makes Perfect
There will be a learning curve, too, as far as the best placement of the extensions, and of releasing them while they are beneath hair that’s being pulled into a ponytail—something you’ve probably never done before.
Another thing you’ll have to get down pat is the placement of the tracks so that the ends of the extensions don’t exceed the collective length of your natural ponytail.
You’ll need to figure out just where to place them so that their ends merge perfectly with your natural hair.
Prevent Traction Hair Loss from Clip-in Extensions
The second you release the tracks, that pulling sensation will vanish. That feeling that something is clipped into your hair, tugging at it, will disappear outright.
You won’t even FEEL the extensions.
With the teeth of the clip-in extensions no longer biting into your scalp, there is NO way you will be at any risk for traction alopecia.
