Megan Mitchell, a bride from Canada, experienced a hair disaster after she lost over half of her natural hair following the removal of nano bead hair extensions installed for her wedding. As a content creator, Megan shared her traumatic experience in a viral TikTok video, posted a few weeks post her August nuptials, sparking a dialogue on the safety of hair extensions.
Justifying her devastating revelation, Megan stated, “I knew I didn’t have a lot of hair before, but it was more than I have now.” She admitted to having fine hair initially but went through a hair growth journey in 2021 to reverse the excessive damage. When her hair was at its thickest and longest, she decided to opt for the extensions for her wedding, even after being deemed a ‘good candidate’ by a stylist.
The moment of the extension removal came with an intense shock for Megan. She found her hair significantly thinner, with hardly enough left to tie up into a bun. She was astounded and mortified.
But what exactly are nano bead hair extensions, and can they inflict such massive harm to your hair? To put an end to these speculations, London-based hairstylist Zoe Adams tossed some light. According to her, there are two types of hair extensions in the discussion – Nano Bead Extensions and Nano Bond Extensions. Both are applied by threading them onto a tiny bead and clamping them to the hair, without using any glue or heat.
Essentially, Nano ring hair extensions are known for their smaller size, thereby making them more comfortable and discreet than traditional hair extensions. On the contrary, Nicolette Rauchut, a senior stylist from New York, argued that the nano bead extensions don’t benefit natural hair as keratin bonds do.
Certain conditions, like improper removal or being left on for too long, may put your hair health at risk. If extensions are repositioned after a lengthy period, they may cause damage to your locks. In addition, misuse or neglect of the extensions or employing unsuitable tools or products can lessen their lifespan and impact your hair health.
Further damage may happen if too many extensions are inserted as they can weigh the hair down, triggering more shedding or hair loss. And while nano beads aren’t supposed to harm hair significantly, they hold a sizable amount of hair compared to their attachment point, potentially causing high tension levels that could damage fine hair.
Despite the unceremonious loss, Megan is concentrating on nursing her hair back to good health, admitting that a bob cut might be her last resort. She has started biotin supplements and red light therapy to heal her hair alongside other supplements like B12.
Simultaneously, Adams urges those experiencing breakage from such extensions to consult their stylist immediately to eliminate them and possibly rectify the harm’s appearance and prevent further shedding. Mitchell admits, “A woman’s hair is personal, and it’s challenging to have it taken away without choice.”
While hair loss can be devastating, it’s important to understand the potential risks of any beauty treatments and to always consult with professionals to ensure they are suitable for your specific condition.
