Dear Doc,
Hair styles and trends always seem to involve putting chemicals or false hair on the head. It’s so great to see women with natural hair, and styled in so many creative ways, especially the cornrows.
The new trends now seem to be these very long plaits with beads at the end.
Some of the plaits look very tight on some people’s heads. What are the longterm effects of tight hair plaiting? And I also want to know about weaves. What are the long-term effects on the scalp and hair by people who wear weaves all the time? – Deborah
Dear Deborah,
Thank you for your question. Tight hair plaiting can damage the hair root and pull out the hair plug, which if permanently damaged, prevents regrowth and can lead to permanent balding, what we medically term alopecia.
The damage and erosion of the hair line is a common problem which must be addressed and halted early in the process before permanent damage is done.
The effect of weave depends on the technique used whether sewn in or glued and also how long it is left in.
Hair that is glued if not done correctly tends to be the major culprit of hair line damage.
These styles must be done professionally and the hair must be given a chance “to breathe” every so often. One form of extension should not kept in for months on end.
