With summer just around the corner, many women with long hair
will opt to wear their hair up in a variety of styles, from buns to braids. However,
up dos, particularly ones that are too tight, can put strain on your hair which
may cause breakage. Indeed, female hair loss can be made worse by the action of
putting up your hair, where the strands are pulled, twisted and wrapped around
each other in order to achieve the perfect up do. Here we explain some of the
best ways to avoid damage to your hair.
Dry Your
Hair First
Your hair is at its weakest when wet, so ensure all of your
hair is dry before it pulling back into an up do. Where possible let your hair dry
naturally to avoid further damage from a hair dryer. When dry your hair is able
to stretch a small amount; however, when wet it is much more likely to snap
when strained. If you are in a rush, try blow drying from your roots to just
past where your hair band will sit, then allow the rest of your hair to dry
while tied up.
Be Gentle
Avoid pulling hair back off your face too tightly as this
will put large amounts of tension on the fine hairs at the front of your head.
These can become weak and thin, and in some cases can even leave bald patches.
Traction alopecia is often caused by wearing the hair in a style that is too
severe and tight; so to avoid this try going for a softer look such as a messy
bun or loose ponytail, or try leaving small strands of hair down at the front
to frame your face.
Switch Your
Styles
If you wear your hair up on a day to day basis, try out a new
style or placement to give the hairs in the frequent position of your up do a
break. Hair can be worn on top of the head in a high ponytail or bun, in the
middle of the head, at the back of the crown or on the nape of your neck in a
low ponytail or elegant chignon.
Ditch the
Metal
Metal fasteners will snag and tear at your hair throughout
the day, so throw out any hairbands with these and invest in some high quality
fabric ties. These will hold the hair in place throughout the day without
needing to be wrapped around the hair as tightly, allowing your hair to move
freely while avoiding damage. Alternatively you could try using a silicon band,
or even a bungee.
Careful
Removal
Many women will pull the tie out of their hair with little
care, dragging with it a large amount of hair. To avoid tearing chunks of locks
out, take the time to carefully unwind your hair tie one loop at a time. This
is much gentler than pulling the band down your ponytail, which can cause hair
to snag and break along the way which may lead to some female hair loss.
Try Out a
Gym Style
Tight ponytails at the gym can ruin your hair, so try out a
softer style such as a loose bun or fishtail plait. These can be secured with
clips or snag free ties to give your hair room to move. Prepare your hair for
the gym by spraying dry shampoo onto your roots to prevent surplus moisture
from drenching your whole head with sweat. Powder based dry shampoos work best
for this, and can be topped up after your workout to keep you looking fresh.
Let Your
Hair Rest
Give your tresses time to recuperate and wear your hair down
for a week, while avoiding hot tool use such as dryers and straighteners. This
will allow your hair to grow stronger again, and will allow the natural texture
of your hair to show. Try not to wear hair up while sleeping as well, as hair
is best left to fall around you naturally,
Female Hair Loss – For
more information on how we can help with your hair loss, click on the link
above.
