This is an archived article and the information in the story may be outdated. Please check the time stamp on the story to see when it was updated last.
You may be plagued by thinning hair due to genetics or any number of outside factors, but regardless of the cause, it’s one of the most frustrating beauty issues to grapple with. Unfortunately, even despite your best intentions, your current hair care routine may actually be making your hair loss worse and causing consistent fallout and thinning. If this sounds familiar, there’s one mistake you could be making when handling your hair, and how you should style it instead.
Although it can be tempting to toss hair up into a tight ponytail to get it out of your face, if you are dealing with thinning hair, this could be aggravating the issue. Michelle Cleveland, Celebrity Hair Stylist and Owner of Hair Addict Salon explains, “The worst mistake someone with thinning hair could make that will make their situation worse is to over stress the hair by pulling it in tight ponies, buns or clips. Over styling and heating the hair excessively with appliances can also contribute to hair loss!” By tying the hair tightly into a ponytail, the elastic can rip the hair from the root, speeding up thinning.
When you struggle with hair loss, the problem likely stems from the root, and when you put your hair up into a ponytail or bun, the strength of your strands is tested. If it’s weak, it will come out more easily. Hair expert Ghanima Abdullah explains, “Your hair follicles might be having a hard time holding on to the hairs. If you’re used to pulling your hair tightly, give it up. It could be why you’re experiencing thinning.”
If you already struggle from thinning hair and want to know exactly how to style it to best play up your natural texture, Cleveland has some suggestions. “The best hairstyle for women with thinning hair is to allow it to be styled in the same direction that it grows on your scalp. For the top of the hair that would be forward: towards your face not back,” she says. “Think of a pixie or graduated bob that pushes the hair in that direction. Those types of styles work best when you have a thinning crown!”
Hair loss and thinning can be disheartening, but switching up your beauty routine to be more gentle with your roots can make a major difference in the thickness of your hair. If you often pull your hair back to work out, try a braid instead to limit tugging from the roots while providing your locks with some nice texture. This may not help your hair to grow back any more quickly, but it will slow the fallout rate and protect against future breakage.
