Ask A Stylist: Ross Bartolomei, Owner, Salon Hype

Question: I recently saw a story on the local news saying hair extensions are bad for your hair. I've been thinking about getting them, but are they safe? 

Answer: In the 25 years I've been doing hair I've had a lot of inquires about extensions, and I'm not a big fan of any of them.  This is why -- hair extensions are usually glued or clamped into the hair.  What begins to happen, is as you sleep or dry your hair, friction and constant pulling starts to actually damage hair follicles, and can result in patches of hair loss which never grow back in some cases.  Exactly the opposite of what you are trying to achieve!  For a special occasion, my suggestion is to use a clip-in hair extension or use specific volumizing, smoothing or shine products to enhance what you have and make you feel confident with your look.