Can your hairstyle be responsible for your hair loss?
Most of us feel incomplete without a suitable hairstyle to finish off our look.
Playing around with different hairstyles is a fun way to discover new ways to enhance our beauty. Having a well-coiffed style can do wonders for your overall beauty and confidence! There’s nothing like getting a gorgeous new hairstyle! Whether for a special event, or a new everyday look, finding and exploring new hairstyles is always fun! That makes it more impactful on our overall beauty and confidence when we experience hair loss.
But can your style be responsible for your hair loss?
Dr. Hinah Altaf, Specialist Dermatologist in Dubai is saying “The answer is YES. Anyone who frequently wears a tightly pulled hairstyle can experience hair loss. In fact, there’s actually a medical term for this type of hair loss called traction alopecia. The earlier it is diagnosed, the higher the chances it can be reversed fully.”
However, in time, the continuous pulling can damage your hair follicles. If you damage your hair follicles, your hair cannot grow back, so you develop permanent alopecia.
So if you want to lessen the risk for traction alopecia you have to avoid frequently wearing hairstyles that pull on your hair, such as:
- Buns, ponytails, and up-dos that are tightly pulled
- Cornrows
- Dreadlocks
- Hair extensions or weaves
- Tightly braided hair
When you wear your hair pulled back, loosen the hairstyle a bit to reduce the constant pulling by:
- Loosen braids, especially around your hairline
- Wear a braided style for no longer than two to three months
- Opt for thicker braids and dreadlocks
The most popular hairstyles are by far those involving weaves. But are they safe? How do we choose the weave to avoid traction alopecia? Dr. Hinah Altaf, Specialist Dermatologist in Dubai is recommending that you:
- Wear them for short periods of time, as the pulling can increase your risk
- Remove them immediately, if they cause pain or irritate your scalp
- Opt for sewn-in weaves rather than ones that use bonding glue
If you wear hairstyles that pull tightly, take time every month to look for these early signs of hair loss:
- Broken hairs around your forehead
- A receding hairline
- Patches of hair loss where your hair is pulled tightly
If you see any of the above, it’s time to stop pulling on your hair so that your hair can regrow.
When the pulling continues, most people eventually notice that their hair stops growing. Where you once had hair, you’ll see shiny, bald skin. When traction alopecia advances to this stage, your hair cannot grow back.
Change your hairstyle immediately if you notice any of the following problems. These are signs that your hairstyle or products could cause hair loss:
- Pain from tightly pulled hair
- Stinging on your scalp
- Crusts on your scalp
- Tenting (sections of your scalp are being pulled up like a tent)
