Hormone imbalances can develop with age, which can trigger hair to grow more slowly or become thinner. Various hormones affect the growth cycle and a decrease in estrogen levels during and after menopause causes hair follicles to shrink and can contribute to hair loss and thinning.
Melissa is 47 years old and has always had naturally thick hair, but in the past year noticed that her hair was starting to thin with age, which really started to impact her confidence. She had never worn hair extensions before but wanted to find a permanent solution that would restore thickness to her hair and make her feel herself again. Whilst her natural hair was still thick at the root, she found that she was suffering from breakage towards the ends of her hair, leaving her with weak, brittle hair. Due to breakage she was really struggling to grow her hair and found herself getting increasingly frustrated.
Professional hair extensions are a great option for older women who are suffering from age-related thinning, with a wide range of methods and shades to create a seamless, natural blend.
We worked with Melissa to use 18” Nanobond® extensions to add volume back into her thinning hair, using rooted blonde shades Cashmere Blonde and Sunset Boulevard, which also enhanced her coloured blonde hair for a multitonal look.
Did you know that hair extensions don’t only come in extra long lengths? A common misconception is that extensions only add length, when in reality, millions of women worldwide use them to enhance thickness for a natural look. Beauty Works extensions are available in a wide range of lengths from 14”-28” so you can choose to add inches or simply boost the thickness of your own hair. Professional extensions can also be cut by your stylist to whatever length and shape you desire, even adding layering to match in seamlessly with your own hair.
Read Melissa’s full story below:
My hair has always been my “thing”, I’ve always been lucky to have quite thick, coarse hair, and I’ve had it highlighted blonde for as long as I can remember since about the age of 14. It’s been my ‘crown of glory’; and my hair’s always been one of my favourite features. In the last year or two it’s started to thin, been a lot more fragile and I’ve been suffering from breakage. It’s still quite thick at the root but I’ve noticed how much thinner it’s getting at the ends and I’ve really struggled to grow it.
Did it impact your confidence?
Because my hair had been thinning, it really impacted my confidence, particularly where it wasn’t growing and breaking at the ends. I was starting to feel really low and panicking at how much thinner it was becoming as I got older. I’m on camera a lot as part of my job so it really knocked my confidence.
What were your thoughts on extensions before having them fitted?
I was always really nervous about using extensions! I thought they would damage my hair more or would hurt to wear. I was mainly worried that they’d look really fake. I’m a complete convert to hair extensions now and can’t tell you how much I love them. They are so comfortable to wear, I genuinely can’t even feel them, they just feel so natural. They also look really natural too. People my age often think of extensions as only being an option for younger people, but wearing them has really changed this perception for me and it’s given me so much thickness at the bottom of my hair where it had been so thin and wasn’t growing. It’s restored my confidence and feels like I’ve got my old hair back from when I was younger.
Do you find extensions easy to wear?
The biggest surprise for me was how comfortable they are to wear, I don't even feel them! My hair does feel slightly heavier but in a good way, like I've got my old thick hair back. I’ve slept really well with them too, which was something I had been worried about before getting them fitted. I thought that they might feel tight or uncomfortable but I've not had that at all. They are really flexible within your natural hair which has made them easy to wear and style.
How does styling your hair give you more confidence?
Styling my hair with extensions makes my hair so much easier to style, it just falls into place when I wake up. Where I had thinner, straggly ends with my natural hair I was struggling to get styles to hold, but with my extensions in curls last longer and I get amazing results every time.
What look were you wanting to create with extensions?
I had a consultation with my hairdresser on what method of extensions would work best for my hair type and we agreed on Nanobonds®. We used two different rooted blonde shades to add depth and a multitonal blend with my own hair. I wanted to restore my natural hair and add thickness whilst wanting them to still look natural so we chose a shorter length. I’m so pleased with the results and the whole experience of working with Beauty Works.
What advice would you give to someone who is looking to try hair extensions?
My advice would be to anyone around my age who is noticing their hair getting thinner, just do it! It’s the best thing I ever did. Women my age think extensions are only for younger womens or have a preconception that you can only have super long hair. Looking at mine you can see it really is for any age, and can be used to enhance your natural length. If you are of an age where your hair is getting slightly thinner with hormone changes I would honestly say go and try it. It’s nothing like you may have thought it will be and you can restore and enhance your natural hair back to looking its best. They’re so natural and it feels like you have your old hair back.
Did you find the colour matching process easy?
A worry of mine was whether there would be a shade that matched my hair, particularly as I have it coloured but the colour match was perfect. We used two shades Cashmere Blonde and Sunset Boulevard - which created an amazing blend that matched my hair perfectly. I love that you can add lighter extensions without actually bleaching your hair, which is a really good option if you want to use less colour on your hair.
How have extensions made you feel more confident?
My Beauty Works extensions have made me feel so much more confident. I actually hadn’t realised just how negative it was making me feel about my appearance and now I’ve got my thickness back I could never go back. My hair had become so straggly, mainly down to hormonal changes, but extensions have restored thickness to my hair and given me my full look back. Every day is a good hair day with extensions and I couldn't recommend them enough.
As part of our #MyHairIsMyConfidence campaign we are exploring different ways that hair extensions give confidence and how they work to combat common hair concerns. Over the course of the series we will meet extensions lovers who all wear them for different reasons, but all have one thing in common - feeling empowered by their hair.
If you’d like to share your story with us and be in our #MyHairIsMyConfidence campaign, sign up here.
Want to find out more about how professional extensions can add colour to your hair? Book a consultation with one of our 4000+ trusted salon partners. Find your nearest salon via our Salon Locator.
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