A sleek ponytail, cornrow, tight updo, or headdress can help you express your style, look, and feel. However, these hairs continue to pull on your hair and damage its health. Over time, pulling can cause hair loss.
The medical term for this type of hair loss is traction alopecia.
Anyone who wears tight hair ties or puts pressure on their scalp can develop traction alopecia. Some people are more likely to develop traction alopecia than others because tight hair is common in their culture or profession. This is especially true for African American girls and women.
Ballet dancers, soldiers, and people whose jobs require them to comb their hair back are also at high risk for traction alopecia.
What hairstyles cause traction alopecia?
Traction alopecia can occur when the following hair is pulled too tightly:
Corn corn
Corn
Tight braids
Buns, ponytails, and tight buns
Hair extensions or braids, especially if your hair is relaxed
Children’s styles should be worn mostly to bed.
Constant friction from hats, bandanas, or other hair coverings, especially if the hair is pulled back before being covered, can cause traction alopecia. If you are of African descent, the shape of your hair follicles can cause your hair to become damaged due to hard or stressed hair.
There are many causes of hair loss. You can learn more at Alopecia: Who suffers from it and what causes it.
How to protect your hair from hair loss?
Dermatologists say that by following these tips, you can protect your hair while wearing your favorite hairstyle or clothes. Don’t use hair that pulls your hair frequently. It’s okay to brush your hair vigorously every now and then, but you want to avoid overdoing it.
Loosen up your hairstyle so it doesn’t pull. To reduce permanent pulls, you can:
Loosen up your braids, especially around the perimeter of your hair.
Choose thick braids and plaits. Keep your braids/curls short because long hair is heavier and harder to pull.
Do not wear braids for more than 6 to 8 weeks.
Be careful when wearing wigs. To prevent hair loss from wigs, dermatologists recommend the following:
Wear them for short periods of time.
If they hurt or irritate your scalp, remove them immediately. Choose a sew-in braid instead of a glue-in braid.
Make sure your cornrows are not tight.
Change your hair regularly to give your hair time to break free from its rigid structure. For example, you may want to wear your cornrows loosely braided after wearing them out or leave them natural for a few months. If possible, take a break between styling to give your hair time to recover from the stress. This can be done by wearing your hair naturally or temporarily covering it with a wig or scarf.
If you notice any of the following problems, change your hair immediately. These are signs that your hair or products may be causing hair loss:
Hair is pulled tight and painfully
Scalp tingling
Scalp crust
Tent-like (tented area of the scalp)
If you cover your hair, loosen it up from underneath. A scarf or other covering made of silk or satin provides more protection to your hair than other materials.
Look for early signs of hair loss. If you have thick hair, take some time each month to watch for early signs of hair loss:
Hair around forehead breaks off
Repeat hair
Hair loss occurs where hair is pulled tightly
When pulling continues, most people will find that their hair stops growing. Where your hair once was, you will find shiny skin. When traction alopecia reaches this stage, the hair stops growing.
Taking good care of your hair while you are dying it can help it look and feel better. Learn more in Healthy Hair and Hair Loss Tips: Management Tips Can traction alopecia be reversed?
The best way to prevent hair loss is to see a board-certified dermatologist when you start noticing symptoms. This is because some types of hair loss, including traction alopecia, can last longer if left untreated.
Your dermatologist can diagnose your type of hair loss and develop the right treatment plan for you.
If you have traction alopecia, dermatologists say you should avoid wearing tight hair clips because they put pressure on the hair follicles. Instead, your dermatologist may recommend lower-risk options like loose braids, reduced heat, and products for your hair.