Sydney Wingfield

Having thin hair, whether it's from natural causes or damage, can be hard to style and maintain. If you have experience with shedding or even hair loss, you may be looking for a quick solution to boost thickness, and hair extensions are a great option. The thought of hair extensions for thin hair may be a bit daunting as you don't want to cause any more damage and encourage any more fallout. However, celebrity hairstylist Andrew Fitzsimons tells PS, "Hair extensions can make a world of difference for anyone, but especially those who have always had thinner hair." Not only can they make your hair appear fuller and more voluminous in a natural way, but extensions can also provide you with more variety when it comes to styling. While extensions themselves don't directly improve the health of thin hair, "They can provide temporary solutions to enhance volume and length, which can improve confidence," celebrity hairstylist Annagjid "Kee" Taylor says. "Extensions can also offer protection to fragile strands by minimizing the need for excessive heat styling or chemical treatments that can weaken thin hair." Hair extensions can add some life to your hair and give it that oomph that you're missing. Ahead, Taylor and Fitzsimons break down all of the information you could need about using hair extensions for thin hair. How to Conceal Hair Extensions in Thin Hair "The process of concealing your extensions starts before you even put them in," Fitzsimons says. "For the best, undetectable application, make sure you create clean parts when you section your hair. Also, keep extensions away from your hairline or close to your part." He explains that clip-in hair extensions often come with six or more wefts, but if you already have thin hair, you may not have enough to cover the pieces, so don't feel like you need to use them all. "If the extensions are too bulky, you can always bring them to your salon and ask your stylist to thin out the wefts." To conceal extensions in thin hair effectively, it is important to choose lightweight, quality options. "Those with thin hair may at times find it difficult to seamlessly blend extension into their natural hair, however, there are ways to overcome this," Taylor says. "Make sure your extensions are properly placed by intentionally positioning them where your hair is denser and opt for color-matched extensions for seamless blending." "Layering the extensions, trimming, [and] blending them with your natural hair can enhance and maintain a natural look. Regular maintenance and gentle handling are always essential to keeping the extensions discreet, preserving their quality and ensuring that your extensions match your hair type and texture." That said, hair extensions aren't for everyone. "Those who have extremely fine or fragile hair may find that extensions cause too much tension or damage to their natural hair," Taylor says. "Also, those experiencing hair loss or scalp conditions should consult with a medical professional before getting extensions, as they may exacerbate underlying issues." The Best Hair Extensions For Thin Hair As far as good options go, there are a variety of hair extensions for thin hair that work well to add volume and length. "Hand-tied extensions offer a seamless blend with your natural hair while providing the desired volume and length without excessive tension," Taylor says. "This involves gently sliding small beads onto the hair and hand-threading extension wefts through them. These extensions work especially well for straight or wavy hair as they lay flat against the head." Taylor says Kovi's Hand-Tied Extensions are a high-quality choice that won't break the bank. "Being crafted from small groupings of human hair, these make for a great non-detectable option." Types of Hair Extensions to Avoid With Thin Hair There are a few types of extensions that you should think twice about before using. "Extensions such as clip-ins, which are temporary and can be clipped in and out daily, are not recommended for thin hair," Taylor says. "This is because taking them in and out every day can cause excessive stress on the hair, and they can slip throughout the day, making your hair more prone to breakage." Sew-in extensions, also known as weaves, are also not so great for thin hair. "While they are a popular choice for many, sew-ins need a strong foundation because the extensions are essentially getting braided into your natural hair," Taylor says. "This technique can also cause overall too much tension and stress on your scalp and hair." Overall, it is best to avoid any extensions that feel a little too heavy and have application and removal processes that can be rough on the hair and scalp. How Long Do Hair Extensions Last in Thin Hair? "Extension life varies depending on the type of hair extensions that you wear," Taylor says. "They can last anywhere from a few days to nine months. Regardless of the extension type, it is important to practice taking care of your natural hair and extensions to extend their life and quality." She explains that with proper care, hand-tied extensions can last up to six to nine months, while tape-in extensions can last anywhere from six to 10 weeks. The best extensions for thin hair aren't as thick as classic clip-ins hair extensions. For some shopping recommendations, keep scrolling.

People have been blaming stress for their gray hair for ages. Whether it's from parenthood, a job, or the normal ups and downs of life - stress is often a factor many associate with their gray hair. We've all seen people in power, such as presidents, start their term with their natural hair color, only for it to make way for silver by the end of their term. "The medical term for graying is canities," trichologist Bridgette Hill, WTS, tells PS. "There is a growing curiosity in the science and medical community for study of the hair follicle," she says. "Graying is the loss of melanin in the hair shaft. Melanin is the term used to describe natural pigments found in most organisms." Going gray is a part of the natural aging process for some, but can stress contribute to the early onset? To find out once and for all if there's a connection, we tapped some experts. Ahead, trichologists help us understand if stress can really make your hair turn gray or if there are other factors at play here. Does Stress Make Your Hair Gray? In short, yes, stress can turn your hair gray - but not in the way you might think. Whether you're dealing with acute stress, chronic stress, or even psychological stress, there's a chance that it can be the cause of your graying hair. "Hair that has already grown out of the follicle won't change color due to stress or any other external factors," board-certified trichologist Helen Reavey says. "However, oxidative stress can cause any new growth to come in 'gray.' Oxidative stress triggers the body's production of free radicals, which are unstable molecules that can damage cells, including those responsible for producing melanin in hair follicles." Hill explains that the gray coloring of a hair fiber is a result of some melanocyte activity (the cells that produce melanin), and the white coloring of a hair fiber is the complete absence of all melanin and melanocyte activity. As we age, hair follicles naturally begin to produce less melanin. This makes the hair grow translucent, without any pigment, appearing white. According to healthcare education company StatPearls, when the body is under stress, the hormone cortisol is released throughout the body, even the hair follicles. Once inside the hair follicle, Hill says the stress hormone causes the melanocytes in the dermal papilla - which houses all the cells that determine hair's characteristics, per the Journal of Dermatological Science - to die. "The cortisol causes the melanocytes to replicate more rapidly into pigment cells, permanently killing off all the melanin-producing cells from the dermal papilla, creating a white or gray hair fiber formation," Hill says. It's important to remember that going gray is a natural part of aging that everyone will likely go through eventually. If you're noticing more grays accompanied by stress, making some life changes may be able to help. Sydney Wingfield has been a freelance writer in the beauty and wellness space for six years. She has written for Women's Health, Marie Claire, Glamour, and other publications and loves to cover all things skin care, makeup, and hair.

While exfoliating is key to maintaining healthy skin, using products that have a rough texture or an aggressive formula risks damaging your skin barrier. When you exfoliate away dead skin cells from the outer layer of your skin, it increases cell turnover - your skin's natural process that replaces dead skin cells with healthy ones. This makes your skin appear bright and healthy. If you've been put off by skin-care acids out of fear that you won't be able to tolerate them, a reliable skin-care ingredient that will make you glow is malic acid. Even if the ingredient sounds a bit unfamiliar, there's a good chance you've used a facial cleanser or serum formulated with this alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) derived from apples. Malic acid is used in many skin-care products because of its ability to clear dead skin cells, resulting in a brighter complexion and smoother texture. It has many other benefits too, which is why it's becoming such a well-known and frequently used ingredient. Implementing malic acid in your skin-care routine means the road to brighter-looking skin is ahead; however, it's important to know all about any AHA you're planning on using on your skin. To help understand how malic acid works, we asked an expert to give us the lowdown on the exfoliating component, including how to use it and if it is safe for sensitive skin. What Is Malic Acid? Naturally derived from fruits like apples, cherries, and even pears, malic acid is an AHA that can be "potentially beneficial for skin because of its ability to break up the 'glue' between dead skin cells," board-certified dermatologist Rachel Nazarian, MD, tells POPSUGAR. This provides a "chemical exfoliation effect, which makes skin smoother, improves tone, and replaces old, aged, damaged skin with newer, fresher, and healthier skin," she says. Malic acid has a larger molecular size than its AHA counterparts, meaning it penetrates the skin at a lower rate. This makes it a relatively gentle option for exfoliation. What Are Malic Acid's Benefits For Skin? Since malic acid is a chemical exfoliant, it aids in exfoliating or removing dead cells from the outermost layer of the skin. In the process, it helps diminish the appearance of discoloration and treat fine lines and wrinkles. In addition, malic acid can help unclog pores, resulting in a brighter and more radiant-looking complexion, and it can be beneficial in treating melasma, according to a study published in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology. However, according to the International Journal of Toxicology, there is not enough available information to determine if it is safe to use while pregnant or breastfeeding, which is why it's important to err on the side of caution when using skin care formulated with malic acid. How to Use Malic Acid For Skin How you use malic acid in your skin-care regimen is totally dependent on your preference and skin type. However, it's worth noting that Dr. Nazarian doesn't recommend using it alone as your primary source of exfoliation. "The clinical evidence and studies on malic acid are far more limited than other common exfoliants that we use in skin care." Malic acid has long been used as a supportive player in the ingredient list as a pH (the degree of acidity or alkalinity) adjuster in formulations. You can think of it as a supporting actor if you will. Opting for products that include components like vitamin C, glycerin, and hyaluronic acid will allow your skin to experience the benefits of malic acid while reducing the possibility of irritating. You can find malic acid listed as an ingredient in various acne and facial cleansers, night creams, and serums. No matter how you use it, especially when you're just starting out, Dr. Nazarian recommends applying it to the skin in moderation – once a week at most - and monitoring for irritation and overdrying of the skin. Once your skin can handle it, you can slowly increase the frequency of use. Is Malic Acid Safe For Sensitive Skin? Generally, malic acid is fairly gentle on skin. However, if you consider yourself to be very reactive, Dr. Nazarian suggests proceeding with caution and doing a patch test on a discrete area of your body before using it on your entire face. It has the ability to improve moisture and add hydration to skin as a humectant, but she says overall, "it can be quite irritating to many sensitive skin types." If you find that your skin is way too sensitive for malic acid, she recommends using other tried-and-true chemical exfoliants that are known to be gentle on the skin, such as products made with glycolic acid and lactic acid. To ensure your skin is getting the moisture it needs and then some, you can apply a hyaluronic-acid-based serum to your skin before applying malic acid. If irritation does arise, she suggests applying hydrating fatty acids to the skin, such as coconut oil, avocado oil, or shea butter, to counteract it.