Losing the hair in the front of your hair not only ages your appearance but can be a big self-esteem killer. Most hairline loss with ethnic hair occurs due to traction alopecia and misuse of chemical services.
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Alopecia
Whether you wear your hair natural in its big in state or chemically relaxed, constantly pulling the front to style it will eventually lead to thinning of that area. The myth is that this only happens to ladies who wear weaves.
Sadly this isn’t true as it also happens when you have relaxed hair and like to pull it back into tight ponytails and up-dos regularly. Or you have dreadlocks that get styled into tight styles and cornrows that are plaited to tightly in the front, especially using hair extensions.
All this pulling causes wear and tear, which why it’s referred to as ‘ traction’. The hair becomes thinner in the front and eventually so sparse that the scalp begins to show.
A definable sign of alopecia is an area of the scalp where the skin is shiny and the hair just doesn’t grow back. The general assumption is that in order to rectify this hair should be grown naturally or plaited in braids. This isn’t a solution and can only make the problem worse, by pulling the hairline hair even back further.
Chemical alopecia is caused repeated chemical treatments on the same thinning,area of hair. Some ladies will use a relaxer every two weeks to maintain a smooth sleek appearance on their hair and to try to prevent a kinky textured re-growth, which just destroys the hair and breaks it bit by bit.
The hardest part is convincing someone who’s made this a habit that it’s unhealthy and should be stopped immediately. Constant heat styling on that same area can further make the problem worse by thinking each strand of damaged hair as you go over it with heat.
Solutions?
With any form of hair loss, the best way to fix the damage or slow it down is to immediately stop whatever is causing the problem. If it’s tension to the scalp stop the tugging immediately. In the case of dreadlocks, it’s advisable to stop getting the hair twisted every two weeks and start giving more time between styling services allow for thicker growth at the base of the scalp.
Professional stylists advise that ladies with chemical damage, grow the hair out naturally and start washing it more often. Get your hair washed at a salon where they can also offer a hair massage. This stimulates movement in the scalp and gets your blood cells flowing.
This may not regrow the hairline but it will result in healthier hair underneath the damage. A weekly massage also using a light hair oil or serum is also recommend. Oils with ingredients such as castor oil or argan oil are advised. Any oils that won’t clog up your pores. These are not long-term solutions especially if the scalp area is shiny.
Avoid
- Products with petroleum jelly and gels
- Heat styling
- Hairstyles that pull the hair up,such as ponytails, buns, twists.
- Braids with finely attached extensions (micro braids) as they wear down the finer parts your hair and pull the front.
- Peroxide and bleach, it thins and dries your hair and it will eventually fall out. If you colour your hair in a much lighter share be prepared to cut it at some point
The best solution for hairline loss to see a specialist or dermatologist. There are home products that can be recommended after a medical consultation. Your problem will be assessed and you’ll be given an exact solution.
Go to clinics
LightSculpt:
This aesthetic clinic offers the professional services of a doctor where you can get a skin, hair, nails IV infusion; a drip that directly infuses the necessary vitamins to help hair grow. Or ask about the Platelet Rich Plasma treatment for hair loss.
Go to www.lightsculpt.co.za or contact 011 616 1436 for more information.
Hair Options Unlimited:
Contact them for hair loss treatments such as Follicular Unit Extraction, Hair-by-hair Reconstruction or Micro Dot Pigmentation.
Contact 087 550 3623 for more information.
Hair Clinic International:
Specialises in hair loss for men and women. You can speak to a specialist about laser re-growth which is said to help regrow hair and prevent further breakage, plus other non-surgical treatment methods are available.
Visit www.hicsa.co.za or contact 011 040 7500 for more information.
Words by Thami Kwazi
Disclaimer: The information provided within this site is strictly for the purposes of information only and is not a replacement or substitute for professional advice.
