TL;DR (Too Long; Didn’t Read):
Wearing tight hairstyles like braids, weaves, ponytails, or head coverings too often can cause traction alopecia, a type of hair loss from repeated scalp tension. While it can become permanent if untreated, it’s often reversible if caught early. See a dermatologist at the first sign of thinning, and switch to looser, lower-stress hairstyles. Prevent damage by rotating styles, avoiding overly tight weaves, and giving your hair regular breaks to recover.
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Pulling your hair back tightly can instantly add professionalism, style, and a sense of cleanliness to your look. However, done too often, these sleek ponytails, cornrows, tightly pinned head coverings and intense updos can come at a cost.
The constant pulling at your hairline can result in damage to your hair. If such hairdos are constantly putting pressure on your scalp, the pulling can end up in a receding hairline and hair loss in that area. This type of hair loss is known as traction alopecia.
Traction alopecia can affect anybody who regularly wears tight hairstyles or puts repeated stress on their scalp. Certain cultures or professions may favor or require tight hairstyles, making traction alopecia more common in these groups.
While anybody can experience traction alopecia, it is more commonly found among girls and women of African descent due to the shape of their hair follicles as well as the prevalence of weaves, head coverings, and tight braiding. Traction alopecia is also more prevalent among ballet dancers, waiters, military personnel, and anyone who must pull their hair tightly back for work many hours a day.
Hairstyles That Can Cause Traction Alopecia
Some common hairstyles that, when worn too tightly, can result in traction alopecia include:
- Tightly braided hair
- Locs
- Cornrows
- Hair extensions or weaves, particularly if worn on relaxed hair
- Up-dos that are tightly pulled like buns and ponytails
- Styles involving wearing rollers to bed a significant amount of time
Tight hats, head scarfs, or other hair coverings can rub on the hair and scalp, which over time can result in traction alopecia. This stress is exacerbated if you pull your hair back tightly previous to covering it.
Is Traction Alopecia Reversible?
If this condition affects you, that is probably the first question on your mind. The answer lies somewhere in the middle – traction alopecia can become permanent if it is left untreated for a long period of time. The best way to stop hair loss is to prevent it in the first place, which is what we will touch on below.
But if you’re reading this article because you’re affected by traction alopecia, take heart; partnering with a board-certified dermatologist when you start noticing symptoms may help your hair grow back. If you notice hair loss, an experienced dermatologist can help you diagnose the kind of hair loss you have and formulate a treatment plan accordingly.
Most often when somebody is diagnosed with traction alopecia, the dermatologist will advise them to immediately stop wearing tight hairstyles that stress their scalp and hair follicles. Instead, it will be recommended to wear hairstyles that are less stressful on your scalp, such as looser braids and natural styles, as well as reducing the amount of chemical products and heat treatments used on your hair.
When swapping out your hairstyling habits isn’t effective, there are certain medications your dermatologist may prescribe to help regrow your hair, such as:
- Antibiotics
- Corticosteroids
- Minoxidil
In certain cases of severe hair loss, the dermatologist may be able to restore your natural hairline or increase the amount of hair in thinning or bald areas through a hair restoration procedure like a hair transplant.
Preventing Hair Loss Caused By Traction Alopecia
There are ways that you can protect your hair while still wearing your preferred head coverings and hairstyles. The following tips can reduce the damage to your hair follicles when wearing tight hairstyles:
Switch up your hairstyle once in a while: It’s okay to wear your hair pulled back tightly, but afford your scalp some relief by giving it some time off from tight hairstyles when you’re able to. Loosen your hairstyle to reduce the constant pulling by:
- Looser braids, particularly around the hairline
- Longer hair is heavier and pulls on your scalp more, so consider keeping braids/locs a shorter length.
- Thicker braids or locs that provider more support
- Taking your braids out every 6-8 weeks
When wearing a weave, take certain precautions. Some dermatologist recommendations to prevent weaves from causing hair loss include:
- Immediately removing the weave if it tugs on your scalp enough to cause pain
- Only wearing them for limited periods of time
- Making sure cornrows aren’t too tight
- Opting for sewn-in weaves rather than the ones that employ bonding glue, as the glue can irritate and tug on your scalp even more
The key to preventing or reducing traction alopecia is giving your scalp some relief every once in a while. Change your hairstyle up regularly in order to give your hair some breathing room to recover from tight styles. If you wear cornrows for a ew weeks, you can try going natural for a few months or wear looser braids.
Give your hair a break from any kind of styling at least a few times a year to let it naturally recover from stress. Remember: Take good care of your hair and scalp so it continues to look and feel good! Prevention is the best cure.
