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What Is Traction Alopecia?
Traction alopecia is a form of hair loss caused by repeated or prolonged tension on the hair follicle. Unlike genetic hair loss, it is entirely caused by external forces — hairstyling choices, extensions, weaves, braids, and chemical treatments that pull and stress the root over time.
First documented in 1907 in women who wore tight ponytails for years, traction alopecia affects people of every ethnicity. However, it is disproportionately common in Black women and men — studies suggest it affects up to one in three women of African descent, making it the leading cause of hair loss in this community.
The good news: Unlike many other forms of alopecia, traction alopecia is both preventable and — when caught early — reversible. The follicle is not destroyed; it is stressed. With the right clinical intervention and styling changes, hairline restoration is achievable.
At Bels Beauty Complex, we understand this condition from every angle. Belinda is not only a Clinical Trichologist — she is also an expert braider. She knows exactly what tight braids and weaves do to the scalp, because she has spent three decades working with afro and textured hair at every stage.