Hair Extensions And Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a skin condition that affects a large portion of the population, and will commonly appear on the scalp. Due to this, many with scalp psoriasis often wonder if they are able to have hair extensions fitted, and here we go through the nitty-gritty of how hair extensions and psoriasis work.

The simple fact is that psoriasis and hair extensions are not a great combination. People with psoriasis tend to have very sensitive scalps, and when they are going through a flare-up, their psoriasis can leave their scalp feeling sore and flaky. That said, however, hair extensions can be a difficult thing to resist, and as a great confidence boost, those suffering from psoriasis long for beautiful hair just like the rest of us. So what is the solution?

If you are suffering from psoriasis, but are set on getting hair extensions, here are a few things to consider in order to try to overcome the obstacles psoriasis will throw your way.

Make Sure Your Psoriasis Is Calm Before Fitting Hair Extensions

Firstly, before your hair extensions are fitted you will need to ensure you are going through a “calm” season with your psoriasis. If you are in the middle of a major flare-up, now is not the time to be further irritating your scalp. Seek the treatment necessary to get your psoriasis under control, before introducing an irritant such as hair extensions.

Find An Experienced Hair Extensionist

Secondly, it is key to find an experienced extensionist, who has either worked with psoriasis clients before or is familiar with the condition. When fitting hair extensions on a client with psoriasis, you will need to alter your usual placement of the hair extensions, which is why it is important to have an individual fitting them who knows what they are doing. The hair extensions will need to be fitted in a way that is going to cause absolute minimal disruption to the scalp, and a good way to do this is to fit the extensions further down the hair shaft than normal. Whereby you would normally leave a small gap between the root and the extension to ensure it is laying flat and comfortable but has the maximum amount of regrowth time, you would want to leave a bigger gap for those with psoriasis. This is because their scalp is more than likely to react to any extra pressure put on it, therefore by applying the hair extension in a “looser” technique, you lower the chances of irritation of the scalp. Due to this placement, the hair extensions may not last as long as a traditional fitting, however, this is something psoriasis clients need to be aware of and open to.

Much like the placement of the hair extensions in relation to the root, the placement around the affected areas will also need to be considered. Psoriasis often does not affect the entire scalp, and instead clusters in particular areas. Where possible, it is best to avoid fitting hair extensions around parts of the head with a big flare-up. If you have a patch at the back of the head for example that is looking a little aggravated, do not apply hair extensions here. This may mean that your client cannot have their hair extensions very long, and needs to use them more for thickness than length due to not being able to fit a full head, but in the long run, this will be much healthier for your client's scalp.

Psoriasis Clients Must-Have Regular Maintenance Appointments

Maintenance appointments are essential for all hair extension wearers, but they are particularly important for those with psoriasis. This is so that the hair extension technician can keep a close eye of the scalp, to ensure it remains healthy. Where the hair extensionist may have avoided a patch of the scalp in the initial fitting due to a psoriasis flare-up, this section may now have calmed down, allowing for some fresh extensions to be fitted. On the contrary, there may be a section that has become irritated and needs removing, and having regular maintenance appointments will help you and your client stay on top of their scalp health.

Psoriasis and hair extension type

When it comes to what type of hair extensions you can have when suffering from scalp psoriasis, there are a few things to consider. Firstly, you will want to avoid hair extensions that are very heavy and need daily application. Clip-in hair extensions for example, whilst great in the sense that they can be removed, can sometimes be the worst hair extensions for psoriasis. This is because they are very heavy on the scalp, and are often poorly fitted. In addition to this, because they are fitted and removed daily, the scalp is constantly being handled and is likely to cause a flare-up.

It is, therefore, better to opt for a professional method, where you have a trained hair extensionist keeping an eye on your hair on a regular basis. Opting for strand by strand methods like nano ring and micro ring are great in terms of keeping managing the flaking of the scalp under control, whereas tape hair extensions are great in terms of not putting as much weight and pressure on the hair. We would recommend taking the lifestyle of your client into consideration when opting for which method is best suited to their hair, as well as their natural hair thickness, hairline, and length expectations.

Can Those Suffering For Psoriasis Wear Hair Extensions?

Based on the above, the simple answer is yes, however following the advice above in choosing the right time, person, and method for your hair extensions is key to ensuring your hair health. If after the fitting you find that your psoriasis has been affected, it is very important to ensure you do have these removed, and the possibility of having to do this is something you should factor in before having them fitted.