It’s the Great Hair Inflation.

Somewhere along the way, television decided that a woman over 40 should possess enough hair for three people and a small show pony.

Extensions have become common among Real Housewives, The Kardashians, sideline sports reporters and news anchors because television rewards a very specific look…long, thick, luxurious, glossy hair that holds its shape under brutal studio lighting and still appears camera-ready after a 12-hour day.

High-definition cameras, social media scrutiny and the beauty industry have reinforced the idea that ordinary, age-appropriate hair is somehow unfinished.

The Housewives then pushed the look from polished to positively architectural. Because they compete visually with one another, with younger influencers and with their own heavily filtered photographs, the hair keeps getting longer, thicker and more conspicuous.

There is nothing inherently wrong with extensions, of course. They can enhance your natural head of hair. It is the extreme amount and excessive length that does not ring true. The odd part is the growing uniformity. Different women, different professions, exactly the same cascading mane.

The most annoying feature is Extensionistas NEVER stop touching their fake mane, always arranging and detangling. This hairdo dolly action is now more obnoxious than hair flippers!

So many adorable hair styles. Surrender the 16 year-old prom queen look and just be age appropriate without looking like an entrant at the Kentucky Derby.