Hair loss is universal with every ethnicity susceptible to it to some degree. That said, some groups are more prone to hair loss than others, and some demographics are more likely to experience certain types of hair loss than others. Yet even though we know about these differences, is there some truth and science behind it?
Is Hair Loss Common in People with Afro-Textured Hair?
People with Afro-textured hair are less common than their white counterparts to suffer hair loss, but the difference is often explained by the age of the participants in the study. The Centre of Evidence Based Dermatology in Great Britain suggests that the studies did not control for the ages of the participants, making it appear that this was more of a problem for white people.
Once the difference in ages of study participants is considered, hair loss among differing racial and ethnic groups is similar. But, since more hair loss studies only address patients with straight hair and lighter skin, there is a perception that other ethnicities do not face hair loss issues. This means that hair loss in other groups may be misdiagnosed or misunderstood.
Further complicating the issue for women with Afro-textured hair is that certain styling practices can lead to greater risk for hair loss.
Is Hair Loss Common in Women With Afro-Textured Hair?
Until Jada Pinkett Smith and Rep. Ayanna Pressley began to – separately – speak out about their hair loss, balding amongwomen with Afro-textured hair was often ignored or misunderstood. But several forms of alopecia are very common among women with Afro-textured hair and lead to balding later in life.
Specifically, many women with Afro-textured hair suffer from traction alopecia and central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia. Traction alopecia is usually associated with hair styles that pull constantly at the hair follicle root, causing weakness. Traditional styles for Afro-textured hair such as braids and locs may contribute to this if the styles are too tight and pull too much on the follicle.
Central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia is hair loss that begins at the crown of the head and spreads outward. This type of alopecia is seen in families and is usually associated with scarring of the hair follicles… though dermatologists have not concluded why.
Wayne State University professor Dr. Danita Peoples-Patterson explained that in addition to the hair styles, the way women with Afro-textured hair have traditionally cared for their hair is a factor as well. Typically, heat (including very hot water) and chemicals for straightening have been part of the way women with Afro-textured hair style their hair. Both can cause scarring of the hair follicles and that leads to hair loss.
At Johns Hopkins, doctors are offering women with Afro-textured hair alternatives to giving up their traditional hair styles with suggestions for a few simple changes to help prevent traction alopecia – as well as other types of hair loss.
Suggestions include:
- Create looser braids or dreadlocks.
- Remove braids after three months.
- Remove weaves and hair extensions after 8 weeks.
- Minimize use of relaxers and have them professionally applied.
- Avoid use of heat on your hair, for drying, tightening of braids, etc.
Experts say that hair loss in women with Afro-textured hair can go undetected for years. This is because it masquerades as breakage, leaving many people to notice it only when their hairline recedes, or their braids seem thinner.
Precision Hair Restoration Handles All Types of Hair Loss with Personalized Treatment
If you are concerned that your hair is thinning, or that your hair styes might be causing long-term damage, the team at Precision Hair restoration can help. To get started on your hair restoration journey, contact us today!
