The Ponytail Trap: Protect Your Hair from Breakage & Thinning
The classic ponytail is a stylish go-to hairstyle for many people. However, did you know that one of your favorite hairstyles could be damaging your hair by breaking and thinning it? Here is how the ponytail is ruining your hair and how to prevent it.
The number one cause of breakage in your hair from a ponytail would be because the ponytail is too tight, and it causes too much tension. One of the most popular hairstyles is a slick back ponytail, and although it might look chic, it is pulling your hair so tight that it puts stress on your scalp and hair follicles. You can especially see this with the hair around your face if it gets more thin and fragile. If you feel sore around your scalp and hairs breaking near your hairline, it is time to loosen the ponytail. Loosening the ponytail is the most common way to help your hair, especially if it is worn up regularly.
Another way to help your hair while it is still up is to change the location of the ponytail regularly (high, mid, and low). Additionally, the hair ties you use can cause hair damage. The regular hair ties can create friction, causing the strands of your hair to snap. This is especially true when your hair is too tight and you are taking them out. Instead, other hair ties that reduce friction are scrunchies, spiral hair ties, or fabric covered elastics. If you have to use the classic hair ties, make sure to never wear the uncovered rubber type. Another tip with hair ties is to never rip out your ponytail; instead, carefully unwind the hair tie.
Another factor that can cause a lot of damage is wet hair in a ponytail. Putting your hair up while it is wet can cause major breakage and weaken your hair exponentially. When your hair is wet, it is more fragile and prone to snapping when stretched into a tight ponytail. If you have to tie your hair up while it is wet, wear a scrunchie instead of a classic hair tie. Another way to style your hair while wet instead of a ponytail is to wear a loose braid.
Although ponytails can cause damage, it doesn’t mean that you can’t wear them all together; just wear them wisely. You can switch up styles, loosen the ponytail, and choose better hair ties. Making these changes can greatly improve your hair health.
