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AIBU?

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Original poster

Are hair extensions considered a luxury?

86 replies

uhminagandahing · 09/04/2026 19:56

I know this might sound trivial but would you consider hair extensions a luxury? I've had them for years as I've got such rubbish hair myself. Thinking of cutting down on some expenses though as everything is getting more and more pricey and this would save £85 every 6 weeks (maintenance) but then I feel self conscious with out them!
Aibu- loose the extensions, waste of money
Yanbu- worth it for the confidence

OP posts:
KerryPippin · 09/04/2026 23:28

LiviaDrusillaAugusta · 09/04/2026 22:50

How? It isn’t essential to have great hair.

It may be important to someone’s self esteem but that’s not the same. I think OP should go for it though

Show quote history

That's what I said...it's not essential to have great hair.

It might be essential to some to have half decent hair. Which they might not have naturally.

LiviaDrusillaAugusta · 09/04/2026 23:14

RodJaneandBungle · 09/04/2026 23:09

Lots of judgement - if they work out at £15 a week maybe OP doesn’t have other things - 3 coffees a week - 2 glasses of wine - loads of ways she’d be spending the money in other ways. If they make you feel good cut back on smthg else OP. Obvs if money is v tight then you know your answer I guess.

No judgement. OP asked if they were a luxury and they are. But if she wants it she should go for it.

RodJaneandBungle · 09/04/2026 23:09

Lots of judgement - if they work out at £15 a week maybe OP doesn’t have other things - 3 coffees a week - 2 glasses of wine - loads of ways she’d be spending the money in other ways. If they make you feel good cut back on smthg else OP. Obvs if money is v tight then you know your answer I guess.

LiviaDrusillaAugusta · 09/04/2026 22:50

KerryPippin · 09/04/2026 22:45

I agree with this.

If you want to go from normal to fab - luxury

If your hair is very sparse so you feel self conscious...wig or extensions could be seen as an essential.

Show quote history

How? It isn’t essential to have great hair.

It may be important to someone’s self esteem but that’s not the same. I think OP should go for it though

LiviaDrusillaAugusta · 09/04/2026 22:47

Of course they are a luxury.

Anything hair related (except perhaps shampoo) is a luxury, But that’s fine - get them done if it makes you feel better though, that’s what they are there for!

KerryPippin · 09/04/2026 22:45

PeonyBulb · 09/04/2026 21:38

I actually think that if I had very sparse hair that extensions or a wig etc would be a necessity and not a luxury.

I agree with this.

If you want to go from normal to fab - luxury

If your hair is very sparse so you feel self conscious...wig or extensions could be seen as an essential.

Pyjamatimenow · 09/04/2026 22:35

My extensions and colour costs me 160 every six weeks. Replacing the hair is about 600 per year. It’s definitely a luxury but I wouldn’t give them up. My hair is very thin otherwise. I would feel bald

5128gap · 09/04/2026 22:32

uhminagandahing · 09/04/2026 20:34

Wow your niece is very skilled - I wouldn't dare attempt this!
I've got tape extensions

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She is, but its her partner who does them and he's a plasterer so I think its easy.😂
I don't know about tape ones though.

Original poster
uhminagandahing · 09/04/2026 21:53

Ohhhwell · 09/04/2026 20:57

I think they look silly and you can always tell when someone has them in, no matter how much thet pay you can still notice them.

It's true, they often look very blunt and too thick. When styled correctly they look nice though

OP posts:
PeonyBulb · 09/04/2026 21:38

I actually think that if I had very sparse hair that extensions or a wig etc would be a necessity and not a luxury.

Original poster
uhminagandahing · 09/04/2026 21:34

TheCurious0range · 09/04/2026 20:57

Don't extensions damage or weaken your actual hair over time? You might be better if going cold turkey and throwing some of that budget at good products

They don't seem to have damaged mine luckily - I think you've got to be really careful and take great care of them. I think I might do that - get some really good shampoo and supplements!

OP posts:
Catza · 09/04/2026 21:10

I spend £67 on a haircut every six weeks so it's not much difference but where I live hair extensions would cost minimum £200 which I cannot afford. I have shit hair and my answer to that is to rock a short haircut.

Coconutter24 · 09/04/2026 21:10

JumpinJehoshaphat · 09/04/2026 21:06

I’ve never had them as I have thick hair. But several friends with thin hair have extensions. I don’t think it’s a luxury at all. Hair is pretty important to most women.

Hair is pretty important to a lot of women but it is still a luxury to be able to have them

JumpinJehoshaphat · 09/04/2026 21:06

I’ve never had them as I have thick hair. But several friends with thin hair have extensions. I don’t think it’s a luxury at all. Hair is pretty important to most women.

grrrlatrix · 09/04/2026 21:04

A luxury, but if you can afford them… 🤷‍♀️

cestlavielife · 09/04/2026 21:01

They are important for you
Up to you how you spend your money

FestiveFancy · 09/04/2026 21:00

Of course they are a luxury, but that doesn't mean you should stop. As others have said, if there are other ways you can cut costs that are an equitable saving (and you're not in a position where you need to be saving both amounts!) then if they make you feel better about yourself then you're allowed to keep them. I have/do lots of things that are absolutely considered a luxury, and could be stopped if I was destitute, but some I would fight to hold on to longer than others because they make me hall/improve my quality of life!

Ohhhwell · 09/04/2026 20:57

I think they look silly and you can always tell when someone has them in, no matter how much thet pay you can still notice them.

TheCurious0range · 09/04/2026 20:57

Don't extensions damage or weaken your actual hair over time? You might be better if going cold turkey and throwing some of that budget at good products

Original poster
uhminagandahing · 09/04/2026 20:52

IndieRocknRoll · 09/04/2026 20:50

Ah just seen that you’ve got tapes. My nano rings cost the same to buy and £100 every 10-12 weeks to maintain. Maybe you could get longer out of a different type of extension?

Oh that's such a good idea. Nano rings - I'll look them up. On top of the tapes cost it's also the neverending salon visits that are getting tiresome so every three months would be great!

OP posts:
IndieRocknRoll · 09/04/2026 20:50

Ah just seen that you’ve got tapes. My nano rings cost the same to buy and £100 every 10-12 weeks to maintain. Maybe you could get longer out of a different type of extension?

IndieRocknRoll · 09/04/2026 20:47

You really don’t need them refitted every 6 weeks.
As long as you look after them properly in between appointments, you could get 10-12 weeks between refitting. I’ve never had any issues but I’m really careful about how I care for them. I’ve also managed to keep them for around 15 months as my hairdresser said they were still in good condition.
You would need to do your own roots in between but that would be a compromise rather than not having them at all.

OldHattie · 09/04/2026 20:47

Yes they are obviously a luxury. But that doesn't mean you can't have them! It's just a matter of priorities. I pay about the same for my hair to be cut every 8 weeks or so. I am not exactly rich but I look a mess if I don't keep on top of if. So it is worth it.

SunnyRedSnail · 09/04/2026 20:46

uhminagandahing · 09/04/2026 20:09

So the ones I have are £280 for the hair which then lasts about a year. Then every 6 weeks colour and refit are £85. In the grad scheme of things that's not much for extensions - most people need more hair than me so easily pay double or triple!

But yes I think I'll try and get my own hair into better shape and form and try to embrace it. It really is just too expensive. And a hassle as you say! Maybe I should start taking collagen

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It's a HUGE luxury.

I spend £30 a year on my hair!!

NancyJoan · 09/04/2026 20:46

Well, I pay £90 for my colour every 5 weeks, which is preposterous, but here we are. Lots of things I would cut before that.

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