According to the American Academy of Dermatology, 40% of women age 40 and up begin to show signs of hair loss due to poor nutrition, medical conditions, hormones, or genetics. With almost half of mid-age women struggling to keep a beautiful head of hair, the importance of finding a quality hair salon to preserve the integrity of your natural or sew in hair extensions is obvious. But what techniques do salons use that protect both your natural hair and extensions? Let’s take a look!

Honoring Your Natural Hair

We women try approximately 104 different hair styles throughout the course of our lifetime. That said, salons offering hair extension services know that half the beautification battle is won when they protect their client’s natural head of hair. Scalp pretreatment, double–checking the tightness of extensions, and suggesting the best brand of shampoo for your extensions are value–added services you should expect from a quality hair stylist. Remember– the quality of your extensions won’t matter if your natural head of hair is unhealthy!

Pretreatment for Itchy Scalps

One of the most common complaints people have about their natural hair and weaves is the constant itching, dryness, and even flaking that occurs due to environment, genetics, and lifestyle. An itchy head can cause not only irritation, but can take a toll on the overall health of your hair or extensions. For both natural hair and weaves, experienced hair salons will pre–treat your scalp with shampoo high in sulfate to rehydrate your scalp and remove flakes. For scalps suffering from excessive dryness, some salons may incorporate hydrating oils into your treatment to achieve better results.

Loose Extensions

Sew-in hair extensions are a great way to switch up your hair style while allowing your natural hair to grow. Generally, extensions can cost anywhere from $300 to $10,000—-an investment women strive their best to protect. Leaders in the hair salon industry know that braiding extensions in too tightly can cause detrimental damage to a client’s natural hair, and (in some cases), can even cause their natural hair to fall out! If you’re considering hair extensions, be sure to pick a stylist you trust, and don’t be afraid to speak up if you think your extensions are too tight.

The bottom line is this: if you’re looking for hair extension services, be sure to pick a hair stylist that uses all of these tips on their current clients. You’ll be glad you did.