Sometimes pretty mundane habits can prove to have unexpected consequences. Take our hair, for instance. On non-wash hair days, what do you tend to do with it? Scrape it back and tie it up? Does the same apply when you’re heading into the shower or working out? Well, it turns out that pulled back ponytail and bun on the top of your head could actually be causing irreversible hair loss, particularly if you got into a routine of pulling it back more regularly during lockdown. Yikes.

Dr Bessam Farjo, Hair Restoration Surgeon & Hair Loss Expert at Farjo Hair Institute has warned that constantly adopting tight, slicked-back hairstyles could be the reason you might be suffering from premature baldness.

Tight hairstyles could cause traction alopecia

He told GLAMOUR wearing very tight styles in your hair such as ponytail can cause a hair loss condition named traction alopecia. “This results in mechanical damage to the roots if applied long-term. It tends to be more common with women who wear braided styles.”

He added: “Put simply, if your hair is starting to fall out or you’re noticing areas of hair loss around the hairline, this may be the cause.”

How can you prevent traction alopecia?

Dr Farjo suggests switching up your hair lewks ASAP. “It’s best to avoid tight hairstyles full stop to prevent the strain on your hair. If you notice hair falling out it’s advisable to stop and switch to a much looser style for keeping your hair up.”

What can you do if the damage is already done?

“Once the hair have disappeared, it’s unlikely that they will grow back,” says Dr Farjo. “An option that could be considered if this were the case is a hair transplant. This would be performed in the areas where the hair has been lost. Hair transplants have come on leaps and bounds and done by the right surgeon, can offer virtually undetectable results.”

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