Nearly 50% of black women report having hair loss in some form. However, few doctors are knowledgeable about black hairstyling techniques, leaving many women to sort through useless or even harmful advice on their own.
For women to protect their damaged hair and recognize common warning signs of hair loss, dermatologist Crystal Aguh, one of only a few dermatologists in the nation who specializes in hair loss, offers the following advice.
What Steps Can I Take to Prevent Or Slow Hair Loss?
Unfortunately, some types of hair loss are inherited, and there isn’t much that can be done to stop them. Alopecia areata and female pattern hair loss are two genetic forms of hair loss.
However, poor diet and stress can also cause other types of hair loss, such as generalized hair shedding. Try to maintain a healthy diet, and find ways to look after your mental well-being.
Maintaining your regular checkup schedule will be of additional benefit. Anemia, low levels of vitamin D and abnormal thyroid hormones can all affect the health of your hair. If these conditions are a factor in your hair loss, your primary care physician can identify it with a few simple blood tests.
Black women in particular are prone to traction alopecia, a type of hair loss brought on by heat, chemicals, and tight hairstyles like some braids, dreadlocks, extensions, and weaves that pull at the hair root.
What Can I Do About Traction Alopecia?
To protect your hair from traction alopecia and prevent further damage:
Ask your stylist to make dreadlocks or braids that are looser.
If you have braids, remove them after three months.
Remove any weaves or hair extensions you are wearing after eight weeks.
Make sure a professional applied the relaxing or coloring if you have that type of hair treatment. Avoid all chemical treatments entirely if you continue to experience hair breakage or shedding.
Reduce your use of heat styling tools like hair dryers, flat irons, and curling irons, or stop using them altogether. These damage the hair and may result in severe hair loss.
What Are the Warning Signs of Hair Loss?
It can be challenging to determine if you’re losing hair, particularly if it happens gradually.
Instead, you may notice that your ponytails don’t feel as thick, or that your scalp is more visible.
If you’re unsure, ask your stylist (preferably someone who has known you for some time) if they have noticed any differences. This is particularly crucial for women who are losing their hair in areas that are challenging to see without assistance, like the top of the scalp.
Schedule a consultation with a dermatologist if you or your stylist suspect hair loss. Generally speaking, the more hair you can save the quicker you act.
For more signs & treatments of hair loss, check Home Services Offers