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Have you ever looked in the mirror and noticed that your hair seems thinner or patchier in certain areas? You’re not alone!
In fact, 40% of women will lose hair by age 40-sometimes due to factors beyond your control, such as hormonal problems, genetics or illnesses. The good news is that you’re in control of some things you can do to minimize hair damage, such as avoiding certain hairstyles that may pull on your hair.
While it’s OK to wear your hair tightly pulled back from time to time, the constant pulling can cause strands to break or fall out. Uh-oh! Let’s take a look at which styles may damage your locks more than others.
Tight ponytail
A ponytail is a go-to hairstyle for everyone. Chic, stylish, and practical on a hot summer day, it's an iconic look that can be dressed up or down! But experts warn that this staple updo might not be a good idea for those who are prone to hair shedding.
"Ponytails pull at your scalp when held too tightly and can cause long-term hair damage if worn consistently," explains Adanna Jideofor, a PR manager specializing in hair and fashion.
"A tight hairstyle, such as a high ponytail, may lead to traction alopecia," adds May Flanagan, founder of 80s Fashion World. Apart from causing hair loss, traction alopecia may lead to scalp problems such as stinging, itching and redness." While this sounds scary, May notes that traction alopecia is easily fixable-once you stop pulling your hair back. Noted!
Braids
Like the ponytail, braids are another hairstyle that have been worn throughout history. While no one is expecting you to banish a braided updo, it may be a good idea to ease up on tight braids.
According to clinical dermatologist and researcher Dr. Ailynne Marie Vergara-Wijangco (of ThankYourskin), it's beneficial to "avoid frequently wearing hairstyles that pull on your hair. Every once in a while, it’s OK to wear your hair tightly pulled back, but you want to avoid wearing a tightly pulled hairstyle every day. The constant pulling can cause strands of your hair to break or fall out. Hairstyles that constantly pull on your hair include tightly braided hair."
You can still wear braids-but mitigate possible damage by not braiding too tightly at the scalp. Additionally, remember to take breaks between rocking braided styles.
Roller Curls
Anyone who's ever wanted big, bouncy, beautiful curls may have reached for hot rollers. But think again the next time you do so!
"Rollers provide us with a great way to style our hair, but the price of that isn’t very nice," says Monica Davis, professional hairstylist and founder of the MyStraightener.com.
In particular, Monica advises not to leave hot rollers in your hair for an extended period of time. "Wearing rollers overnight is a good way to save time and get a nice-looking hairstyle in the morning, but it exposes your hair and scalp to continuous tension," she continues. "If you toss and turn during the night, your hair will be pulled even more. Roller curls should only be used once a week. Otherwise, your hair may start shedding more than usual. If your hair is prone to shedding, you should ditch this styling method completely."
"Wearing rollers to bed most of the time can lead to hair loss, so dermatologists recommend styling your hair this way only on special occasions," adds Dr. Ailynne Marie Vergara-Wijangco.
The bottom line is that damaging hairstyles definitely exist, and you could be causing serious damage without even knowing it. But don't fret! The key to preserving your gorgeous locks lies in not going overboard with these hairstyles.
