I had the scare of a lifetime a year ago when I noticed a small bald patch pretty close to the crown of my hair. It was sort of odd because at the time I could not figure out what I did to my hair that would cause any sort of trauma nor did I understand why this patch would seemingly appear out of nowhere.
Even though my patch was pretty small it was enough to keep my mind a bit occupied for at least a few days. With that said, I know how devastating bald patches can be and getting to the root of it is always a top priority. In this post, we want to dive into some of the reasons you might develop a bald spot and what to do about it.
What causes bald spots
There are many reasons that you might develop a bald spot or drastic hair loss. A big one is health and stress and in addition to that your diet, hormonal changes, and even your age can lead also to loss.
When your hair loss is circular like many women often experience, this kind of spot is specifically called Alopecia Areata which is an autoimmune condition that causes the body to attack the hair follicles causing hair loss.
What should you do
Alopecia is treatable so we would suggest immediately setting an appointment with your doctor or dermatologist when you notice a bald spot.
In addition to setting that appointment, we would also suggest that you remain vigilant about your hair styles and hair care regimen.
I spent a great chunk of the year wearing nothing but ponytails that pulled on the crown of my hair which is what contributed to my patch. Since then I have am very careful and avoid tight sleek ponytails like the plague.
Pulling your hair unevenly in one section, excessive breakage, rough detangling and plucking your hair out can all contribute to hair loss over time.
Another thing we would also suggest is that you avoid anything that would deplete the hair strands like heat, hair color or relaxers.
Practice low manipulation styles
You need to choose styles that do not require daily styling but that are easy on the roots and easy on the hair strands. In my opinion styles like loose twists or regular two strand twists using your own hair are ideal instead of styles that use added hair like box braids or kinky* twists. Less is more when you are trying to grow out your patch.
Focus on your regimen
By regimen, I am also referring to any recommendations or supplements* your health professional will want you to include as well as being diligent about keeping your scalp and hair healthy.
Scalp health is critical so ensure that you are cleansing the scalp using gentle cleansers and making sure you are not adding any oils* that might clog your pores.
Deep condition your hair weekly and be very consistent with your entire hair care process. As you try to regrow your hair check your progress regularly and do not hesitate to see a professional more than once if you do not see any significant results.
Yes I have bald sport around my side .