People use their hair as a form of self-expression. The way we style our hair says a lot about our personality, and it is crucial for many people to have a specific hairstyle to express themselves. 

But did you know, sometimes the way you style your hair can trigger unwanted hair loss?

Alopecia is the term people use when referring to hair loss. Traction Alopecia is a hair loss triggered by constantly styling hair in tight hairstyles, including ponytails, buns, or braids. It is more harmful if people use heat or chemicals to achieve these hairstyles. 

Traction Alopecia was first discovered in Greenland in the 1900s when doctors found that women who wear their hair in tight hairstyles had lost a concerning amount of hair along their hairline. 

You can recognize if you’re suffering from traction alopecia if you constantly wear your hair in tight hairstyles. Some other indicators include:

1. Follicitus. This is an inflammation of the hair follicles.
2. Bumps on the scalp.
3. Redness on the scalp. 
4. Soreness or stinging in the scalp.
5. Pus-filled blisters on the scalp.

While traction alopecia is more common in African American women, it can affect people of any ethnicity.

Some ways you can prevent your traction alopecia from getting too out of hand can be:

1. Wearing your hair down
2. Switching up your hairstyles every few weeks
3. If you wear weaves or braids, try to avoid chemicals in your hair as they can cause a lot of damage
4. Avoid using rubber hair ties when tying your hair. They tend to cause more damage when you take them out.
5. Use heat tools such as a straightener or curler on the lowest heat settings.
6. If you wear a wig, try finding some with a satin wig cap which is less damaging to the scalp.
7. If you braid your hair, try to make thicker braids. Thin braids tend to cause more damage. 

Traction Alopecia can be prevented if you notice it early on and implement the suggestions mentioned above.