Contents:
- What’s Going On?
- Avoid Braiding
- Avoid Tight Ponytails Or Tight Updos
- Avoid Harsh Chemicals
- Using Essential Oils To Regrow Your Hair
- Final Considerations
What’s Going On?
Thin edges caused by traction alopecia used to be a rare condition in black women up until the early 90’s but with the large scale popularization of weaves, it is now more common than ever, particularly among younger women.
It’s a shame that most of these women don’t know that by slightly adjusting their regimens they could turn the act of wearing weave into a means by which to achieve long healthy hair of their own. Sadly, even now some are ignorant of this fact.
The truth is unless you are like the Chadian women who don’t mind too much that the rest of their hair has galloped past their hairlines – thin edges in stark comparison to the rest of their flowing mane – then you want to have a thick hairline to match the rest of your crown. The women from Chad tend to go for the sparse hairline look for a certain aesthetic appeal because it gives the illusion of a protruding forehead which in their culture, means they are beautiful.
Thankfully most of us have come to realize the potential pitfalls of tight braiding (micro-braiding & cornrows included) which gives us a better chance at arresting any issues with thinning edges before they begin; but, for those who have already been struck with traction alopecia, all there is to do is to try to find a way to regrow those edges.
Alopecia Areata, on the other hand, causes round patches of hair loss currently thought to be an autoimmune condition. With this type of alopecia, if the hair loss is not comprehensive (all over the body), the hair will regrow in a few months with or without treatment but it can’t hurt to speed things along.
In the case of traction alopecia, before even embarking on a treatment plan, you absolutely MUST stop what it is that you were doing to cause the thinning in the first place.
Avoid Braiding
It is best to avoid any type of braiding: micros, weaves & cornrows, while treating traction alopecia. Normally, we would advise you to give them up altogether for the duration of your treatment since they tend to weaken the hairline by placing tension on the follicles beneath the scalp; however, if you are the type of person who finds braiding to be your best option for a protective style then this is what we suggest:
- Limit the duration that you would usually keep your hair in a braided style If you are used to going four weeks with your braids it may be to your benefit to reduce that time drastically to just one week but no more than two weeks. This way you lessen the amount of time your follicles endure the pull of the braided style.
- You can get the braided look for special occasions only to give your hairline time to breath without tension.
- You can install crochet braids for the braided look. There are various methods that you can employ to rock the style without actually braiding your own hair underneath. With regards to limiting the tension on individual strands at the hairline, you can opt for installing reasonably sized individual twists or braids with your own hair before adding the crochet extensions* on top.
- Make crown braids a staple hairstyle. Create the crown braid using extensions* to form a braid long enough to wrap around the affected area and then pin it in place to hide the hairline. At night you can apply your treatment to the hairline easily without messing with the hairdo too much.
Avoid Tight Ponytails Or Tight Updos
These hairstyles put stress on the hair follicles around your hairline, which is where most thinning occurs. The hairstyles also leave your edges exposed which will tempt you to try to slick down or sculpt the few strands left in an attempt to achieve artistic looking baby hairs. All that stress appled to try to “slay them edges” is just not worth it. Pick a style that hides your edges instead and leave the fuzz alone so it can have a fighting chance at growing back strong.
Avoid Harsh Chemicals
This should be self explanatory but I will mention it anyway. Avoid any harsh chemicals coming into contact with your scalp, these include relaxers and hair dye too. Keep your hair products as natural as possible.
I am 24 years old and have thin edges and bald spots in my nape area. My hair is thick except in those areas. Balding and thinning hair runs in my family. I have been dealing with this problem since I was about 17. I don’t know what to do its so so embarrassing. I used to wear alot of tight braids, get perms and put alot of gel in my hair but im trying to avoid those things now Help! Please!
Castor oil to the rescue
I know that there are several different types of Castor oil but which one is better?
Looks like she even permed the damaged edges look. You can’t relax damage hair. It will never grow back now!
Wow
Essential Oils way to go Naturally
I seen a little girl with this problem she was so adorable hope this can get rectify for anyone with this condition
Looks like she wore too many weaves and didn’t let her hair breathe in between
I’ve been an avid wearer of sew-ins for the last 3 years and have NEVER experienced anything like that. I have thick, natural hair and all my edges. Weaves are no always the culprit for hairloss such as this.
Yea I always wear my weave as long as I want and it actually grows my hair and it more thicker.
So it’s not always the weave and maybe she doesn’t take care of hair…
Wow
Before someone comments negatively or makes fun of the woman in the picture, please understand that regular alopecia happens at no fault of the person & cannot be prevented by the person who has it. TENSION Alopecia is caused by the hair being pulled too tight by different hairstyles and can be prevented.
Wow tht is severe..and I’m complaining abt my edges–it hers can fixed then there’s hope for me.
Jamaican Black Castor Oil JBCO, some hair vitamins, drink lots of water, and eat lots of veggies.
What’s the difference between tension alopecia and traction alopecia ??
Both terms seems to be interchangeable. However, traction alopecia appears to be the more widely used term.
tension alopecia is caused by contact tension on the hair and follicles, causing the hair to come out. Some ppl are born w/ alopecia and don’t have any body hair, none on their head, no eyebrows, etc. That type of alopecia is a medical condition that just occurs, whereas “traction alopecia’ occurs because the hair was pulled too tight and too often.
this is not regular alopecia, tension on her hair cause this. i would go to the barber and shear the sides to style it in a mohawk. it already looks like that
She could have just mald pattern baldness, cancer treatments, Trichtotelomania or how ever you spell it. Why would the 1st thing that jump out of som1s mouth is must be wearin too many weaves huh huh. Now that youv gotten your FB attention…. pick up a book & keep reading. Plus there are different types of alopesia. There is a type that if you are under alot of stress, it causes your edges to fall completely out & it is well known in white people but they are not gonna down each other about having to get expensive hair pieces. I know for a FACT.
Is there any doctors on this post, so Alopecia can look this way. I have Lupus and finally after they realized after test being ran that I had not had a perm this is how my hair looked it just started coming out so because you don’t use chemicals don’t try and judge the next person a lot of you went natural for a different reason that’s all I’m going to say about that. Don’t pretend it’s just been all of your life.
I’m not sure what to use
I don’t agree that this only became a problem 20 years ago. I am 39 and I can clearly recall seeing girls with edges like this as far back as elementary school.
You can buy hairfinity go on http://www.hairfinity.com to grow hair out
God bless you talk to the people to see if you can use Hair infinity they are great for growing hair back
It look like it hurt bad bAd!
I have CCCA and JBCO has help my edges a lot. But my Dr wants me to stop bc it also causes inflammation for people who have alopecia. Ladies lets be nice to one another….. We are here to help one another not hurt each other.
what is CCCA?
Awwww poor baby. I hope it grows back for her.
Antonia Williams sorry to say I can’t recommend any product for thinning/bald edges. The best thing I ever did was simply going natural not pulling my hair back, wrapping up @ night & I’ve used Jamaician black castor oil keep it oiled.
I pull mine back everyday (in a puff). I think I may have yanked out a gray hair as a result…
your point?
Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia (CCCA)
You can google it
I have a 30year old son and I have been doing braids before he was born I also have had many of my customers with the problem and I always tell them to when you wash your hair be sure to do a hot oil treatment and it seems to work just fine
mdr
I’ve heard eating lots of raw garlic (sorry your friends may flee) and lots of onions. You never know hon it may work.
Mines Is not quite that bad but it thin I’ve tried every thing …. Now I have more things on my list to try…
These people braiding hair to tight Iam 61 I don’t play that I got a head of thick hair my hair been every color grow like crazy all this glue sewin if not done right yes you will be bald
I use Jamaican black castor oil %100 and I use wild growth. I believe Its Ors has a product that I know works Great as well
Omg, I’m so sorry baby girl, you can do it.All the best!!
LADIES WE NEED TO STAND STRONG AGAINST THESE” WEIVOLOGIST” DESTROYING OUR SISTER’S HAIR LINES!!
JOB is the bomb! Been using it for almost a year now. Hair is so thick and healthy!
Opps JBC I MEANT
tea tree conditioner …rub n daily!!!!
So my question is does this product help with thinning of due to pulling hair back? Please & thank u
I had it as a child… Swimming and perms at a young age… Brushing and no tension and patience it has grown back…
Wow, Jamaican black castor oil will help this geeeshh: (
Try hairfinity
I know this glue from weaves and Hair dye…vitamin deficient will cause this..remedy sewn in weave done right to fall over area for long period of time…rub in coconut castor olive oil do Not wash with sulfate shampoo …take Folic acid eat lots fish and garlic…smile often
This is an extreme case of traction alopecia. I think that she should completely stop relaxing her hair for good. First treat the edges with JBCO and essential oils that stimulate hair growth. No protective styling just washing, conditioning and daily moisturizing…no pulling hair back at least for now
Hmmm they have hair balm for that, you rub it where you lose hair and it grows back, seen people who wear alot of braids hair grow back
Alexis’ comment below helps alot too
God is going to bless you bll
I can’t necessarily feel bad foe people who bring this upon themselves. But, if born with it, yes.
Some people are so insensitive and uneducated . There are many other reasons people may not have hair @ Kelly. In my case because of breast cancer and my hair grew back thinner and of a different texture that’s harder to manage. Actually, all of my hair is thinner…eyelids, etc. Hopefully you’ll never have to encounter any life issue that you have no control over!
Good luck
Julia Holmes
That’s “Traction Alopecia” caused by tight hairstyles. Mine is different hunni x
@ Julia Holmes thanks for showing me tho. I suffer from “Alopecia Areata” its an autoimmune disease and there is no cure for mine because its my immune system attacking my hair follicles. Where this type of alopecia can be stopped if she looks after her hair ….
Thanks for your comment I suffer from the same
Ok Amal Jolie
Gray Jenkins Paulette was that directed at me? O.o
Because if it was I didn’t know I needed to be so specific, just assumed ppl would use common sense when reading my statement. Unless you some how managed to bring cancer upon yourself intentionally for hilarious giggles :/ . “If born with it was just an example obviously. But I’ll be very super specific next time since my first statement was so unclear. I’m very educated, so read and analyze very carefully before you go off on other ppl because it is you who ends up looking foolish!
Get over yourself Jamila Kelly….You sound very ignorant and your comments are just as ignorant as you are….
I notice sinceI I had my baby in November my hair started coming out in the front. I hope this doesn’t happen to me. Is thereanything that I can do to stop my hair from coming out.
Jamila KellyJ i agree. I don’t understand how someone can let their edges get this bad. I see it all the time, and not just black women either. traction alopecia is preventable and takes a long time of not taking care of your hair to occur. This doesn’t happen over night. Which if people knew anything about reading comprehension they would have understood you were saying that all along. So playing the I’m sick card had nothing to duo with the point u were making.
This is horrible! I feel for her and I hope she does whatever it takes to regrow her hair! I recently braided my hair and I am careful concerning the “tension” of the braids. I make sure that I don’t pull the hair to tightly and I also try NOT to braid the hair around my edges! I moisturize daily and will remove them after a few weeks, pre-poo, deep condition, moisturize and let my hair “rest” for about a week (I’m natural) by putting my hair in twists and then re-braid my hair again. I use various oils on my hair and scalp and sulfate free shampoos. I’m all about growing my hair and gaining length, but at the same time, I have to take care of my scalp and hair and try my best not to manipulate it too much!
That s*** fried and died it look like a apple pie
ShiSalon Stl Ericka Strong
Quisha Nakia read this. #Ponytails
Damn!
Wow! That is sad
You know what? It could always be worst. Easy for me to say right? Try and stay positive with God’s help.
Welp. I surely wouldn’t haven’t taken that pic Quiet Storm
This isn’t funny Quisha Nakia :/
You can go to http://www.hairfinity.com if you want to grow your hair back and alway use oil on you hair
Do they have any online coupons?
That makes me not want to ever get a hair weave again!
Poor thing! I hope she can get it to grow back.
Really Tip Carlyle.
Lol this the Pict I was telling u bout
Omg..
Llh! Glad U didn’t Quisha Nakia!
Thats really bad! Too sad
Sad… Y’all woman gon learn today
OMG…..you see your hair falling out,but you kept wearing the weave’s and this is the end result,hopefully it’ll grow back,be your natural self
How long do it take to grow it back
🙁
Different types of alopecia. Most have nothing to do with hair weaves.
She got it bad, Rihanna gave y’all a style
Aie
OMG!! KimaNi Keir
Beverly?
I don’t wear weave. If I want to change up my look I use a wig. Hope it grows back.
Buttt to me it is Mel Brady. Get out of your feelings boo.
Some people aren’t even worth the words they type on this page….nor the words they misspell…
Is that Rihanna?
BRAIDS! WEAVES! WIGS OH MY!
I was always taught that if you didn’t have anything nice to say, you shouldn’t say anything at all. I believe everyone should be taught this. I myself am a victim of Alopecia (family history) and i’ll be the first to let you know it’s no fun and having others make negative remarks or make fun of your hair or lack of it is very painful to a person, no matter what age they may be. What we all need to remember is that anything can happen to anyone at any time. As for those who are suffering with hair loss, keep in mind that what works for one person may not work for someone else. All we can do is continue trying until we find a product, formula or combination that works for us. To those who comment negatively, please remember that we didn’t make ourselves and if we could, none of us would be suffering with any disease or ailment…Please Be Kind..It may not mean anything to you, but it may mean the world to the ones you hurt with your harsh words.. Be Blessed
Can I sit under the dryer with JBCO for better absorption ,I used a product called follicure on my hair some years ago and my scalp is still not right ,right know today I did a detox several times it helped a little im constantly using vitamin e oil to try to heal my skin .
Hi. Just read up on this research on another site. There are two studies the one above and another into pumpkin seed oil .Both achieved hair regrowth. Also to improve on the carrier oils used mix coconut, jojoba argan with grapeseed. SO much B.S. about hair growth on the internet but the article will point you to the research sources to check up on http://arganoildirect.com/argan-oil-for-hair-loss-2#essential-oil-hair-loss-recipe It did take 6 months of daily application but if you are in the 44% of people who it works for it is cheap and side-effect free. Also, points out that the only proven to work products contain minidoxil and this has about a 44% success rate itself – so no better than the essential oils!
Following for +results
Pls do u have peppermint oil
I am 58 years old and also have no edges, i haven’t had my hair weaved in 4 months. I do wear wigs, but that makes it worse. I can’t wear my hair nature, its to embarrassing. Don’t know what to do.
Am a 55 year-old lady and have been suffering with hair lost for the past 4 years I hair all over but very bald on the top any advice would be helpful
Family history of Male pattern baldness in the women! My edges are thinned due to wearing braids however hair was already thin due to Male pattern balding. What can I do to at least make my hair thicken and get edges back?