JANUARY 2023 | 5 Minute Read
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Hair loss for women has become quite the topic of conversation on social media lately, and certainly a topic for us at kaia HQ. It’s not uncommon to shed strands of hair following your shower routine or throughout the day, however, if you’ve noticed more and more strands in the drain as of late, you could be in the early stages of hair loss. Naturally, your immediate course of action is to make changes to your diet, hair routine, take vitamins and try any at-home remedies the internet will tell you; however, implementing these changes is often frustrating and futile if you can’t pinpoint the root cause of the issue.
Hair loss for women is real, and there are numerous factors that could be contributing to it, but this often overlooked habit many of us do before a gym workout can be the culprit… tight hairstyles.
Wearing a tight hairstyle, such as a ponytail or bun while working out, can lead to a form of hair loss for women called traction alopecia. This form of alopecia (hair loss) is caused by repeated stress on the hair follicle from pulling, leading to damage and, in some cases, causes permanent hair loss if not addressed early.
During a workout, your hair is much more prone to damage due to it being in a weaker state. Hair that is exposed to moisture is more prone to breakage, so sweating combined with a tight hairstyle can cause hair loss for women who combine these on a regular basis. Sweat can lead to hair loss by clogging hair follicles and disrupting hair growth.
Since this form of alopecia occurs over a period of time, noticing the early signs is crucial to preventing permanent damage. This includes looking for:
Take time each month to evaluate your hair and if you notice any of these early signs, know that your hairstyle is causing damage. If hair is left pulled tightly, it will stop growing in areas with significant pulling, and shiny, bald skin patches may begin to show. If traction alopecia hair loss advances to this stage, hair will not grow back.
There are several things you can do to reduce your chances of developing traction alopecia hair loss for women caused by your workout hairstyles.
We’ve mentioned that tight ponytails and buns contribute to hair loss when working out. It’s okay to wear a tight hairstyle every once in a while, but doing so when working out, especially if you work out 3-5 times a week, will take a toll on your hair follicle health.
It can be tricky to think of alternative hairstyles at the gym when you want to keep your hair out of your face. A loose braid is the ideal gym hairstyle to prevent hair pulling while allowing you to accomplish a rigorous workout. A low ponytail with a silk or satin scrunchie will also work, so long as you loosen the hairstyle around your hairline. Changing up your hairstyle will also reduce repeated pulling in one area while allowing your hair follicles a chance to recover.
I highly recommend wearing a headband while you work out for two reasons. First, it will help keep your hair out of the way. This, combined with a loose braid or hairstyle, will prevent pulling. Secondly, it will help keep away sweat from the forehead and scalp, which can cause irritation.
Scalp health is key to preventing hair loss for women, and one tip I always give regular gym-goers is to use dry shampoo beforehand. Apply this all-natural overnight dry shampoo before sweating at the gym to soak up the oils. With its fine particle size, you can trust it won’t block your hair follicles, leaving you with fresher-looking hair while also helping your scalp health.
Hair health starts at the root and taking these steps to ensure your scalp and hair follicles are healthy will help prevent permanent hair loss. Check out another one of my blogs for some more tips to improve scalp health.
All content found on this website is created for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this Website.
Clean beauty industry maven and product developer Madame Sweat (Mary Futher) founded kaia naturals after spending 20 years working for global beauty companies. She now shares advice on modern hygiene etiquette for grooming, hosting, home and travel on Instagram, TikTok and her popular blog called The House of Hygiene.
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