‘Mane’fully yours

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If you have always dreamt of having long, flowing hair like Rapunzel, hair extensions are the way to go. Celebs like Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Richie, Cheryl Cole and Naomi Campbell set the trend for long manes. But the attached pieces put so much tension on the scalp follicles, that they can cause hair fall. Stars like Liz Hurley, Britney Spears and Indian Bong-beauty Bipasha

Basu have all been spotted with bald patches. Experts explain why. Farida Mufdhal, operations head of a leading chain of hair salons, says, “Attaching hair extensions is an external procedure. Artificial or real hair is attached to your hair to give it volume or make it long.”
E. Pasanglepcha, a hair stylist, seconds this, adding, “Going in for treatments like hair straightening or hair perming might result in hair fall if a clear regime is not followed, but hair extensions have got nothing to with hair fall.” The use of different hair products after the treatment or the lack of maintenance might be the culprit, feels Pasanglepcha. “Once you’ve got hair extensions, change of hair products or a change in your daily routine might cause hair fall or balding. It is also important to maintain your mane.”
Farida adds, “The trend is catching up and people are opting for extensions, but after-care is very important. Artificial or real hair strands are attached to the root area, which might result in breakage of your own hair.” She goes on to say that hair extensions can be treated in different ways, “If your hair is straight, the attachment can be straightened to suit your needs. Similarly the extensions can be curled and primed too, but one has to keep in mind the weight the scalp can hold.”
Even celebrities like Beyonce Knowles, Victoria Beckham, hotel heiress Paris Hilton, Baywatch star Pamela Anderson and Ashley Tisdale have sported bad hair extensions. So, how does one get it right? Pasanglepcha advises, “It all depends on the hair texture and the positioning. If your locks are curly, you should opt for extensions that are similar to your original tresses and match them accordingly. It is very important to get the position right, otherwise it could be a disaster.”