Copyright MMXI, DE Taylor. All Rights Reserved
In an attempt to avoid heat use many women turn to braids and weaves as protective styles. While this can be an effective way to protect the hair from heat, it can also be a very damaging practice if not done properly. There are many aspects of braids and weaves that can lead to hair loss. Pattern breakage, failure to cleanse and aerate the strands and the inability to access the hair to moisturize and seal are some of the main issues. However one issue stands out as a potential monster - leaving scores of women with large bald patches and missing hairlines. This beast is called traction alopecia and if not dealt with as soon as a problem is detected it can be irreversible. We've all seen images of Naomi Campbell's devastated hairline or Fergie's bald patches. Images like these remind us that traction alopecia is nothing to take lightly. Traction refers to the excessive pressure imposed upon the hair's follicle with the addition of heavy tracks and synthetic hair, or when tracks and extensions are secured too tight. This pressure causes the hair's bulb, the part of the hair's structure that actively grows hair cells, to be gradually ripped from the follicle prematurely. This can cause possible tearing of the follicle, permanently damaging it. Doing this over and over can cause the damage to be irreversible. The damaged follicle seals itself over and stops producing hair. Hence the disappearing hairlines and bald patches. If this is scaring you it should. Heavy braids attached to the baby hairs on your hairline is an absolute no-no. Women going in for braids and weaves must insist that their hairline be left out and the tracks and braids started further back. Pain, redness, itching and headaches are indications that tracks and braids are in too tight. Overly tight tracks and braids do not make your style last longer! They are just causing you potential balding in the future. Insist that any add-ins be done just slightly firmly and no huge wefts attached to a few fragile strands. If you are leaving the salon in pain that is your body telling you there is a problem. Turn right around and have the salon re-install them comfortably at their expense. Your failure to speak up leads salons to believe they can continue doing these practices even though they know it is wrong. Any good stylist should warn clients about these issues before even starting the install. If you find your hairline diminishing or bald patches showing up a daily massage of the area with a drop of castor oil can be helpful. However if the problem is chronic and the follicle has sealed itself over it's time to get your frequent buyer's card at the wig shop.
In an attempt to avoid heat use many women turn to braids and weaves as protective styles. While this can be an effective way to protect the hair from heat, it can also be a very damaging practice if not done properly. There are many aspects of braids and weaves that can lead to hair loss. Pattern breakage, failure to cleanse and aerate the strands and the inability to access the hair to moisturize and seal are some of the main issues. However one issue stands out as a potential monster - leaving scores of women with large bald patches and missing hairlines. This beast is called traction alopecia and if not dealt with as soon as a problem is detected it can be irreversible. We've all seen images of Naomi Campbell's devastated hairline or Fergie's bald patches. Images like these remind us that traction alopecia is nothing to take lightly. Traction refers to the excessive pressure imposed upon the hair's follicle with the addition of heavy tracks and synthetic hair, or when tracks and extensions are secured too tight. This pressure causes the hair's bulb, the part of the hair's structure that actively grows hair cells, to be gradually ripped from the follicle prematurely. This can cause possible tearing of the follicle, permanently damaging it. Doing this over and over can cause the damage to be irreversible. The damaged follicle seals itself over and stops producing hair. Hence the disappearing hairlines and bald patches. If this is scaring you it should. Heavy braids attached to the baby hairs on your hairline is an absolute no-no. Women going in for braids and weaves must insist that their hairline be left out and the tracks and braids started further back. Pain, redness, itching and headaches are indications that tracks and braids are in too tight. Overly tight tracks and braids do not make your style last longer! They are just causing you potential balding in the future. Insist that any add-ins be done just slightly firmly and no huge wefts attached to a few fragile strands. If you are leaving the salon in pain that is your body telling you there is a problem. Turn right around and have the salon re-install them comfortably at their expense. Your failure to speak up leads salons to believe they can continue doing these practices even though they know it is wrong. Any good stylist should warn clients about these issues before even starting the install. If you find your hairline diminishing or bald patches showing up a daily massage of the area with a drop of castor oil can be helpful. However if the problem is chronic and the follicle has sealed itself over it's time to get your frequent buyer's card at the wig shop.
