Thinning hair is the result of gradual, non-genetic hair loss that can be caused by a number of reasons including hormonal changes in the body such as those experienced by pregnant women and postmenopausal women, to poor nutrition as a result. of a period of ill health.
Aside from these causes, a very common and often overlooked cause of hair thinning is continually wearing your hair in tight hairstyles, which puts undue stress and pressure on the hair roots, ultimately weakening them over time and causes them to fall off prematurely. As hair reaches the end of its normal growth phase it falls out and ideally after going through the resting phase it should grow back and go through the whole cycle again. However, constant pulling or pressing on the hair damages the follicles and can cause them to become inflamed. Inflammation inhibits circulation, which restricts the follicles’ access to vital nutrients needed to grow healthy hair.
Here is a list of the most common hairstyles, which when overused can lead to thinning hair or traction alopecia.
1. Drawstring Ponytails
These hair pieces have a comb and drawstring to secure them to the top of the head. Drawstring ponytails are attached to the hair after the hair has been gathered into a tight bun. Hair gel is sometimes applied to achieve a sleek, smooth finish on natural hair that is held up in a bun. The drawstring ponytail is then attached by pinning it in place with the comb and using the drawstring to secure. While they are a convenient way to style your hair, frequent and constant use can cause hair thinning and bald patches, particularly in the area where the ponytail meets.
2. Tight Buns
The hair is twisted, tightly rolled, and then secured with pins or ties. The continuous effect of twisting and winding the hair can weaken the strands and damage the follicles, resulting in thinning hair.
3. Fabrics
This is a very popular (but not restricted) style among black women and involves wefts of human or synthetic hair that are attached to natural hair, often by sewing it into braids. Sometimes the wefts are also attached by using an anti-fungal adhesive called bonding glue. Weaving is often used to stop the appearance of thinning hair, but unfortunately it can also cause thinning and hair loss, as the braids that the extensions are attached to are very tight to make the weave last longer. Adhesive glue can also cause hair loss when a proper remover is not used to break the glue bond completely before removal.
4. Braids
The hair is braided into thin, tight braids, sometimes with the addition of decorative elements or with hair extensions braided into the hair (remember Brandy’s signature braids?). In addition to the pulling action caused by the tight braid, the hairline suffers because the hairs that the extensions are attached to are often weak and unable to support the weight of the additional hair.
5. Braids
These are a type of braids where the hair is braided close to the scalp. This style is favored as a low-maintenance aesthetic hairstyle, but it can lead to traction alopecia if the braids are too tight, as they put undue pressure on the hair, especially around the hairline.
6. Clip in hair extensions
These hair extensions are made by cutting machine-made wefts of hair into different lengths and attaching clips to each piece. They can be clipped to natural hair in various places including the back, sides of the face, etc. They are commonly used to add color to hair or to give the appearance of fuller hair. Incorrect application by clamping the extensions too tightly or allowing the clips to constantly dig into the scalp when applied can lead to traction alopecia.