Are Hair Extensions Haram or Halal? Human vs Synthetic Hair?

Women who practice Islam follow a specific set of principles regarding how they are to adorn themselves. The rules are mostly cut and dry, but when it comes to hair extensions, some gray areas cause widespread confusion.

If you practice Islam and are considering hair extensions, this article will be helpful to you. We’ll tell you once and for all whether hair extensions are haram (Arabic for “forbidden”) or halal ("permissible"). 

*This informational article is accurate as of the time of its writing. Also, the views expressed in Islam do not necessarily reflect the views of Curl Centric. 

Are Hair Extensions Haram?

All human hair extensions are haram, since you're not suppose to join one's hair with the hair of another person. In the Islamic religion, human hair extensions are forbidden.

The main rule that prohibits extension-wearing for women is expressed when the messenger of Allah said “May Allah curse the one who adds hair extensions and the one who has them added, the one who does tattoos and the one who has them done.”

It clearly states that both women who wear hair extensions and the stylists who perform extension hair installations should be cursed. This makes the issue crystal clear – human hair extensions are haram under all circumstances. 

It is also believed that the Prophet forbade women from adorning their heads with extension hair. Wearing extensions as a female follower of Islam is not a small offense either.

In fact, it is deemed a major sin which is thought to bring about misfortune and uncleanness of spirit. Even if you’re dealing with hair loss (or "hair fall" in some cultures), hair extensions are not permitted. 

According to seekersguidance.org, synthetic and animal fur-derived extensions may be permitted in some cases. This is because hair extensions of this type are often used as decorative hairstyle elements.

But, as many of us know, you can find synthetic hair extensions that look very much like human hair extensions. Therefore, many still see any type of extension hair as a violation of Islamic ideals and beliefs. 

Why Extensions Are Haram?

Some may wonder, “what’s so bad about extensions?” Well, scholars and leaders of Islam believe that hair extensions are deceptive and produce an illusion to others. They make others think that you’ve got thicker or longer hair than you have.

Caring for and presenting your natural, unaltered self to others is very important in Islamic religion and wearing extensions is seen as a transgression against Allah, who created you the way you were destined to be.

So, great emphasis is placed on caring for your hair and not using hair enhancements or hairpieces. 

Should You Avoid Hair Extensions?

If your goal is to strictly abide by the Islamic rules, human hair extensions are definitely off the table. There’s no question about this rule - all human hair extensions are haram.

But when you get into synthetic hair extensions, there’s a bit of a gray area. Some say that the rules against human hair extensions apply to all types of hair extensions, no matter what they’re made of the hair is prohibited. 

So, if you decide to try out synthetic hair extensions, be aware that others may stare or even confront you about it. If you’d like to proceed and try hair extensions, be sure that they don’t come from a human or a pig.

You should also stay away from full synthetic/non-human hair wigs or weaves, as they may be seen as haram to some people.

If you want to be entirely in the clear, go for partial synthetic extensions that don’t completely cover your hair. When they only partially cover the hair, wearing them won’t seem like attempted deception. 

What are Synthetic Hair Extensions?

Synthetic hair extensions are non-human hair extensions composed of manmade fibers. They are machine-made and can look very much like human hair. They come in various types, styles, and colors (more on that further down in this article). 

Benefits of Synthetic Hair Extensions

Synthetic hair extensions come with a few great benefits that you should know about. We’ll outline a few of the top ones in the below list:

• They are cheap. Synthetic hair is much cheaper than human hair, which is why it is so popular. Human hair is often several times more expensive than synthetic hair because it comes from the head of a human, so it's real hair. If you want to save money you can wear non-human hair (or synthetic extensions) to save some money.
• They hold their original style well. During manufacturing, synthetic hair extensions are often set into a particular curl or wave pattern. Whatever texture it has right out of the box should remain for the entire time you own your synthetic hair extensions. 
• They come in a variety of fun colors. Though you may not wear bold colors while you’re out and about, you can enjoy experimenting with colorful synthetic extensions in private.   

Drawbacks of Synthetic Hair Extensions

Synthetic hair extensions come with a unique set of drawbacks. Here they are: 

• They tangle easily. Synthetic hair is known for its tendency to tangle and the longer the extensions are, the more tangled they may get. So, if you do decide to try synthetic extensions, you’ll need to make sure that you always have a comb nearby. 
• They don’t look natural. To the untrained eye, synthetic extensions are a good alternative for human hair. But particularly observant people can instantly tell when extensions are synthetic. Synthetic extensions have an unnatural shine and can be stiff. These are telltale signs that the extensions are not your natural hair. 

Where to Buy Synthetic Hair

Now that you know that synthetic hair is potentially not haram, we’ll bet you want to find out how to get your hands on some. Synthetic hair extensions are so popular that you can find them at almost any beauty supply store.

Sally Beauty Supply and local beauty supply stores usually carry synthetic hair. You may also be able to find it in large department stores.

If you prefer to shop online, Amazon is a great place to start - you’ll find all types of synthetic extensions at various price points there. 

Types of Synthetic Extensions to Choose From 

• Clip-in extensions: Clip-in extensions allow you to add streaks of color, thickness, or length to your natural hair just by clipping in small wefts of hair. These extensions are a lot of fun since they come in every color of the rainbow. Just be sure to remove your clip-in extensions every night before you go to bed. 
• Tape-in extensions: Tape-in extensions are designed to be adhered to your hair using tape. These are good for anyone who has strong, undamaged hair. If your hair is damaged or fine, you should pass on tape-in extensions. They could rip your hair out at the roots. 
• Braiding extensions: If you are into braids, grab yourself some synthetic braiding hair and get to plaiting. Braiding hair is most often made of kanekalon, yaki, or toyokalon fiber, all of which are manmade. But before you braid your hair up, assess its health and give it the care it needs. 
• Synthetic wigs: Synthetic wigs, sometimes considered a form of extensions, cover the entire head. They are particularly helpful for anyone who wants to wear wigs try out new styles or conceal hair loss. 

Related Articles

• How To Install Hair Extensions Yourself
• How Long Do Professional Hair Extensions Last
• How To Choose the Best Hair Extensions for Thin Hair
• How Do Hair Extensions Work

Just to recap - human and pig hair extensions are haram, while synthetic and other non-human hair extensions are sometimes acceptble. If you’ve decided to try out synthetic hair extensions, you’ve got lots of options to explore.

But if you want to be completely safe under Islamic rules, avoiding all extensions (and any other hair that's not your real hair) is your best bet. We hope that this article has helped clear up some of the uncertainty surrounding hair extensions for Islamic people.