Has Rihanna's Over-Styling Caught Up With Her?

Photo by PR Photos

According to new reports, Rihanna is the latest hair chameleon to have her over-styling habits catch up to her. 

Rihanna, like many other celebrities, are constantly reinventing their look through dramatic hairstyles, and while this may be a sign of self expression for the star, it can have damaging, and potentially long-lasting effects on your hair follicles.

Chronically tight braids, weaves and extensions put excessive tension on the hair follicles under the skin by pulling on the hair fibers. Over the long-term, this type of hair styling can cause traction alopecia a condition that permanently weakens or destroys hair follicles. 

My advice is to avoid hairstyles, wigs, weaves or hair extensions that pull on the follicles or with time; you’ll have nothing left to attach the artificial hair to. Remember, once your follicles are permanently damaged in this way, the only real option is to have a hair transplant 

Hollywood's Unhealthy Obsession with Hair Extensions

 

Photo by PR Photos

The June 21st issue of The Hollywood Reporter has a feature on the growing demand in Hollywood for hair extensions. A wide range of celebrities are reportedly using them - Rihanna, Vanessa Hudgens, Jennifer Aniston, Halle Berry, Jessica Simpson, Beyonce and Jennifer Lopez, just to name a few. And, of course, who can forget Naomi Campbell's side-effects from extensions?

Photo by PR Photos, edited/notated by Dr. Bauman

And that's just the point: hair extensions are actually extremely harmful to the hair follicles. Because of the excess weight and pulling, hair extensions, when worn too much, can lead to a type of hair loss called "traction alopecia." Traction alopecia is a form of "scarring alopecia" and characterized by an obliteration of the hair follicles. Hair transplantation is the most effective way to reverse this condition.

If you are a regular user of hair extensions, weaves, braids or wigs that attach to the hair, your hair follicles are in danger of permanent damage. 

Hollywood often leads the world when it comes to style, but the new extension trend is definitely one to avoid.