Hair extensions under fire

Once again hair extensions have come under fire in the British press over the weekend, with dramatic headlines screaming 'scalp-hunters' and images of young girls having their hair hacked off for Western vanity. This story looks set to go on and on. Last year's papers were full of horror stories and opinions on how Posh and friends could endorse such a practice. And with celebrities such as Jennifer Aniston being quoted as saying extensions ruined her hair, it looked like it could be the end for extensions. But the service continued to be as popular as ever and the reason has to be because of the professionalism of the industry.With the press -- and ultimately clients -- raising concerns, it was up to the industry to educate them about where hair comes from, how to look after it properly and the ethics behind the service. Reputable distributors can declare where their hair comes from and these are the companies that the indusrty should salute. They say no publicity is bad publicity, and I suspect after reading the papers on Sunday, phones will continue to be ringing in salons across the country for appointments for extensions. And the reason? We live in an image obsessed society, where we want to look good and feel good. Shows like 10 Years Younger demonstrate how extensions can make hair look fuller, not just longer, and restore someone's confidence and self esteem. As long as the industry supports those companies that are professional and know where their hair comes from, clients will continue to want extensions, safe in the knowledge that it has come from a reliable source and no harm was done. As long as the industry continues to be professional and educate clients this story will soon die out. ruthx