SheFinds receives commissions for purchases made through the links in this post.
When you have thinning hair, you may feel more limited in the styles you choose, but you still have options when it comes to how you style your locks and make them look their very best. There are a number of great haircuts for fine and thinning hair, volume-boosting products that can create a bit of oomph, and even coloring solutions like well-placed highlights and lowlights that give your mane dimension. But the ways in which you care for your hair become even more important to consider because some stying tips that seem like they’d be a great idea can wreak havoc on delicate, thinning strands.
But let’s get more specific. According to hair experts, there is one styling mistake that you should never make if you struggle with hair loss (as well as a couple more to keep in your back pocket). Here’s the hair styling error that isn’t serving your hair at all.
Tight Hairstyles
Tight buns, braids, ponytails — all can look supremely elegant, trendy, and fun. But pulling on your hair too tightly if you suffer from hair loss is the worst styling mistake you can make, according to Ghanima Abdullah, a cosmetologist at therighthairstyles.com. “When you pull your hair back for that ponytail, it’s causing increased pressure on your hair follicles and when your hair is thinning your follicles are already weak,” Abdullah said.
Jae Pak, M.D., a hair restoration specialist at Jae Pak Medical, agrees. “Wearing tight braids that cause excessive pulling on the hair can cause trauma to the follicle that leads to permanent damage and thinning,” Pak said. “If you have a family history of hair loss, you are especially at risk and should avoid this type of hairstyle if you want to preserve your hair follicles as long as possible.”
Unfortunately, one styling move you might be eager to try when your hair is thinning — adding hair extensions — can make the problem worse because they, too, pull on your hair follicles. “These might be the first thing you think of when your hair is thinning to try to add some extra volume, but they weigh too heavily on your hair follicles,” Abdullah said. “They can contribute to hair loss.”
Avoid Excessive Heat & Product
Here’s another tip that is a bit of a double-edged sword. While some volume-boosting products are actually activated by heat and can result in your roots and hair looking thicker and more lifted, they should not be methods that you rely upon daily for haircare. These products (including dry shampoo) can clog the scalp’s follicles and, if not properly removed, can contribute to hair loss. Excessive heat is also damaging — when you blow dry, make sure you first apply a heat-protectant spray and use a diffuser when possible.
So which styles are safest for thinning hair?
“The best thing to do when your hair is thinning is to wear your hair down,” Abdullah said. “Don’t pull it or add clips. You can tie a scarf or wear a hat if it’s really embarrassing, but not ponytails or buns.”
Pak adds the importance of caring for the skin on the scalp where the follicles are located. “Scalp masks packed with nourishing ingredients should be just as commonplace as face masks,” Pak said.
One to try: Briogio Don’t Despair, Repair Deep Conditioning Hair Mask, which is free of sulfates and parabens and provides intense hydration for all hair types (but is particularly heavenly for dry, dry hair).
