It appears that years of chemical and thermal treatment have affected Kim Kardashian’s hair, leaving it thin. Fans of the reality show star were shocked by her appearance in the trailer for the new series of “Keeping Up with the Kardashians.”
Kim Kardashian’s Natural Hair
43-year-old Kim Kardashian showcased her natural hair during a gym scene, revealing short, brittle-looking strands. This is not the first time the social media icon has allowed fans to see her real hair.
In August, Kim was photographed near a private plane in Los Angeles. She didn’t have the thick, glamorous hair she usually flaunts on red carpets; instead, she had a modest bun of thin hair.
Experts have discussed possible reasons why Kim’s natural hair looks the way it does.
Hair damage is inevitable when the scalp undergoes extreme procedures, regardless of the stylist’s talent, although the most qualified stylists usually assess how much stress the hair can handle.
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“When you take extensions out, it’s not just a return to what your hair was like before; you often end up with hair in worse condition,” says an expert.
Hair extensions create stress on hair follicles, which are the roots of the hair. Subsequently, hair in the follicle falls out, a condition known as traction alopecia.
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Signs of traction alopecia include thinning or balding around the forehead and temples, but this can be reversed if treated early, avoiding tight hairstyles that create tension on the scalp.
Wigs can also damage the scalp by blocking hair follicles and causing bacterial buildup.
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Excessively tight wigs can lead to hair loss and breakage around the perimeter of the head.
Hair lightening is not any better.
Strong chemicals are used in the bleaching process to strip hair of melanin, the natural pigment that determines hair color. Bleaching also damages the integrity and structure of the hair, leaving it dry and brittle.
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“Any permanent chemical treatment, whether it’s highlights or bleaching, damages the hair to a degree that depends very much on how drastic the change is. So, if you’re a brunette or a brunette and change to blonde, it’s more damaging than if you were a natural blonde and lightened your hair even further,” says an expert.
Kim Kardashian is naturally a brunette and dyed her hair platinum blonde in May of last year to fully resemble Marilyn Monroe at the Met Gala.
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She dyed her hair to look like the movie star for 14 hours straight.
Healthy hair is covered with cuticles lying flat, like shingles on a roof. But when the hair cuticle is subjected to bleaching, it makes it easier for toxins to penetrate. Therefore, the hair is prone to tangling and breakage.
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“The outer layer of the hair remains weaker, but the inner part of the hair can also be damaged. If you excessively bleach your hair, there will come a point where your hair just can’t take it, and it will break,” says an expert.
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The use of heat, such as a flat iron, on dry hair also deprives the hair of moisture, making strands dry and unruly.
The expert emphasized the importance of knowing how much chemical or heat exposure hair can withstand.
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