Starr Prescott
Updated: Mar 21, 2022
Nope. Beauty need not equate to pain.
A few weeks ago I posted this post on instagram and wanted to talk more about how we can prevent Traction Alopecia.
Beauty is not pain. For many generations we have been taught beauty is pain, however, we do not have to endure pain to be beautiful.
Braids, wigs and weaves should not be installed in a tight unbearable manner. You shouldn't need a pain killer after leaving the salon. If this is you then please STOP and save your hair strands! and save yourself the headache.
Let's talk strength, vitamins and stress. Is your hair strands strong enough to uphold some of these amazing hair styles? Are you deficient in any vitamins and/or trace minerals? are you stress?
Braids and/or hair extensions; if your hair is experiencing an abnormal shed then I wouldn't recommend putting any hair extensions on the hair.
Since you already have weak fragile hair putting additional hair will only add weight which will cause further damage. tight braids, and or pony tails will cause redness and inflammation to the scalp.
Here's what you may want to do when you're experiencing abnormal shedding.
Stop wearing tight braids and/or hair extensions; if your hair is experiencing an abnormal shed then I wouldn't recommend putting any hair extensions on the hair. Since you already have weak fragile hair putting additional hair, or pulling the hair extremely tight will only add weight which will cause further damage. Tight braids, and or pony tails will cause redness and eventually cause inflammation to the scalp. Change your hair stylist if he/she braid extremely tight or shows no concern about the integrity of your natural hair.
Get a full Vitamin blood panel done, Identify what's causing the shedding, nine out of ten there is a vitamin and/or mineral deficiency in the body. Vitamin D, A, B12, Biotin & Vitamin C are the most essential vitamins for hair growth. Iron, Silica, zinc, copper, and selenium are essential trace minerals for hair growth. Hair loss is a common problem that may be improved with vitamin and mineral supplementation. Vitamins and minerals are important for normal cell growth and function and may contribute to hair loss when they are deficient. While supplementation is relatively affordable and easily accessible, it is important to know which vitamins and minerals are helpful in treating hair loss. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6380979/)
Take a Stress test and manage your stress levels, stress can cause excessive hair shedding. Telogen Effluvium is stress induced hair loss. A considerable number of different causes for telogen effluvium exist. Among the common causes are high fevers, childbirth, severe infections, severe chronic illness, severe psychological stress, major surgery or illnesses, over or under active thyroid gland, crash diets with inadequate protein, and a variety of medications. Most hair loss from medications is this type and causes include retinoids, beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, antidepressants, and NSAIDS (including ibuprofen) The most important issue in telogen effluvium is to determine if an underlying cause for the problem is present.https://www.aocd.org/page/telogeneffluviumha
Are we actually causing additional damage to our fragile hair strands by ignoring all the signs and messages its giving us about our health and covering it up with braids , wigs and hair extensions? In my professional opinion YES! We cause this preventable condition. Our health talks to us through our hair first but are we listening? If you are experiencing hair loss and want to understand what can be the possible causes and receive proper guidance look for a Certified Hair Loss Practitioner or Certified Trichologist in your area and schedule a Hair Loss Consultation.