Do Hair Extensions Stop Your Hair From Growing?

So, you love your extensions, but you also want your own hair to keep growing underneath. We completely get why the question 'do hair extensions stop your hair from growing?' is a common one, so we're here to give you the real facts. Cliphair was founded in 2007, and we're always here to help with questions before, after and during your hair extension journey.

You'll be glad to know, that no, hair extensions do not stop your hair from growing. Your hair grows from the follicle, which sits under your scalp. Extensions attach to your hair further down, away from the follicle. So, they cannot change how fast your hair grows.

What can happen is breakage, or too much tension at the roots. Both can make it look as if your hair has stopped growing. Here is what is really going on, and how to keep your own hair healthy while you wear extensions.

How Hair Grows (and Why Extensions Don't Stop It)

Every hair on your head goes through a growth cycle. There are three main stages:

• Growth phase (anagen): the hair grows steadily from the follicle. This stage can last for years.
• Transition phase (catagen): a short stage where growth stops and the follicle gets ready to rest.
• Resting phase (telogen): the hair rests, then sheds to make way for a new one.

Each hair is at its own stage. That is why losing a few hairs every day is normal.

The part that matters most is the follicle. This is the tiny pocket under your skin where new hair is made. As long as your follicles are healthy, your hair keeps growing. Extensions sit on the hair shaft, which is the part you can see. They do not reach the follicle.

Want the full story? Read our guide to the life cycle of hair.

Why Your Hair Might Seem to Stop Growing

If your hair seems stuck at the same length, the cause is usually breakage. Your hair is still growing at the root. It is just snapping off further down. Here are the usual reasons:

• Breakage where the extensions attach: this section of hair takes extra strain, so it can snap there.
• Too much weight or tension: extensions that are too heavy for your hair pull on the roots.
• Going too long between maintenance appointments: as your hair grows, the attachments move away from your scalp. This can add strain and cause tangles near the roots.
• Rough brushing: tugging through knots, especially near the roots, causes snapping.
• Traction alopecia (rare): hair loss caused by constant pulling on the follicles over time. Alopecia simply means hair loss.

We cover each of these in more detail in do hair extensions damage your hair? and do hair extensions cause hair loss?

Can Hair Extensions Help You Grow Your Hair Out?

No, hair extensions will not make your hair grow faster. Nothing you attach to your hair can do that. What they can do is make the growing-out stage much easier to live with.

Growing out a bob or a fringe can feel like it takes forever. Is it a lob? Is it a mullet? We have all been there – and don't want to be there for long! Extensions let you wear the length you want now, while your own hair grows at its own pace.

So, what are the best extensions for growing out your hair? A quick rule: if growing your own hair is the goal, choose extensions you can take out.

• Clip-in hair extensions go in and come out in minutes. Wear them when you want and give your hair a break when you don't.
• Halo hair extensions rest on a fine wire around your head, so nothing attaches to your own hair at all.

Both come out at night, so your roots get a proper rest. Ours are made from 100% Remy human hair. Remy means the outer layer of each hair, the cuticle, runs in the same direction. This helps the hair stay smooth and blend with your own.

How to Keep Your Own Hair Healthy While Wearing Extensions

Here is the simplest way to look after your own hair:

• Pick the right method and weight. Fine hair needs a lighter set. Not sure? Let us know your hair type and we will help you choose.
• Use a qualified stylist for professional methods. This goes for tape-ins, nano rings and bonds.
• Keep your maintenance appointments. This keeps the weight sitting where it should.
• Brush gently. Start at the ends and work up. Hold the hair near the roots to take the strain.
• Look after your scalp. A clean, calm scalp is the best place for healthy hair to grow. Use products like our Deep Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner to keep your own hair (and extensions) hydrated. Our guide to scalp care for extension wearers has a step-by-step routine.
• Take clip-ins and halos out before bed. Your hair gets a rest, and your extensions stay tangle-free.

When to Get Advice

Most of the time, extensions and healthy hair get along just fine, and we've already covered the answer to 'do hair extensions stop your hair from growing?' But if you notice thinning patches, soreness or a receding hairline, take your extensions out. Then see a GP or a trichologist, who is a specialist in hair and scalp health.

You are not overthinking it. It is always worth checking. For more on what is normal and what is not, read do hair extensions cause hair loss?