Does the Slicked-Again Hair Pattern Trigger Hair Loss? We Requested the Specialists

If you happen to search “slicked-back bun” in TikTok, you’ll get near 600 million outcomes. It’s not only a celebrity-favorite coiffure. The girlies love the search for day or evening. But it surely seems, the fashion may not love you again. The truth is, it’s potential slicked-back hair causes hair loss, however don’t stress. If you happen to can’t dwell with out pulling your strands again right into a ponytail or a bun, there are a couple of methods to maintain from going bald. (Sorry.)
Not too long ago, Sofia Richie Grainge‘s slicked-back bun tutorial went viral on the app. She calls it her “smooth lazy lady bun.” Allow us to provide you with a fast run-down. On clear, moist hair, she applies a ton of a protein-enriched hair masks. Severely, she soaks her hair in it. Then, she provides some cream and sections her strands, tying off one half with a skinny elastic. She finishes by tightly pulling again the remainder of her hair and secures the bun with one other elastic. “As a result of it began moist, it’s so secured onto your head,” she says. She finishes with extra cream and hair oil for shine.
She seems beautiful. There’s little question. So do Bella Hadid, Kim Kardashian, and Hailey Bieber after they do a slicked-back coiffure. However there are some main pink flags with the best way Grainge does her model. The primary one is tying your hair again in any respect — particularly this tight — whereas it’s moist.
“Moist hair is extra susceptible because it stretches extra, and the cuticle isn’t as sturdy as when it’s dry,” says NYC hairstylist and authorized trichologist, Shab Caspara. “Repeated stress to the hair cuticle could cause micro-tears, with chance for traction alopecia, which is a sort of hair loss brought on by continued stress in the identical space. Child hairs and chemically handled hair are particularly in danger.” Yup, we’re you, bleach blondes.
Helen Reavey, board-certified trichologist, hairstylist, and founding father of Act+Acre agrees. “Along with potential injury, break up ends and breakage, constantly placing the hair in tight hairstyles like slick-back buns also can trigger traction alopecia, which happens when the hair follicles are regularly pulled, leading to thinning or bald patches, particularly across the hairline and temples,” she says. That is true for moist or dry hair.
“Constantly styling your hair in tight hairstyles can put extreme stress on the hair, leaving it extra liable to breakage and scalp irritation,” Reavey provides. “Doing this fashion as soon as every week or as soon as each two weeks is completely okay, however if you happen to’re doing it day by day it might probably truly result in hygral fatigue. This happens when extreme moisture penetrates the hair, inflicting repeated swelling and injury to the hair follicles.”
Black ladies have recognized about traction alopecia perpetually, as many protecting types, extensions, and wigs, could cause that hair loss, particularly across the temples. As increasingly hair sorts strive tight, slicked-back hairstyles, it’s changing into much more prevalent on extra hair sorts.
Sadly, that’s not the one problem with Grainge’s tutorial. It’s the hair masks. Now, the one she makes use of is nice in your hair if you comply with the instructions on the packaging. However leaving a “reparative,” bond-building masks in for too lengthy can do extra hurt than good. That’s why Reavey recommends utilizing a strictly hydrating masks if you happen to’re going to maintain it in for a very long time. Search for moisturizing elements and butters. “If you happen to do add a hair masks to your smooth again bun, at all times guarantee to rinse it out on the finish of the day,” she provides.
Along with placing an excessive amount of protein in your hair, probably making it extra brittle, the masks might irritate your pores and skin if you happen to go away it on all day. “Merchandise that weren’t meant to be left on the pores and skin or the scalp could cause scalp injury, so you’ll be able to encounter pores and skin irritation or clog your hair follicles and sufficient publicity to this sort of product use could cause hair thinning and hair loss,” Caspara says. Sure elements in merchandise are simply meant to be rinsed out of the hair.
So, you like your slicked-back bun and also you aren’t going to retire it. That’s OK! Small modifications could make an enormous distinction. You now know to fashion your hair when it’s dry. It’s additionally useful to make use of a mild hair tie made out of silk or satin to scale back breakage on the ends, Caspara says.
If you happen to’ve already began to see thinning at your temples, or every other bald patches, go see a dermatologist to rule out every other causes. Then, skip the slicked-back bun in favor of the free, messy bun. Perhaps we should always convey that look again into fashion. Our hair will love us for it.