traction alopecia is caused by tension on the roots over extended periods of time, this can be caused from keeping it pulled back or up in a tight style without releasing the tension (taking it down) often, or from over tightening the roots its extremely common among african americans even children due to tight braids and cornrows left in for months at a time and among those who call dreadlocks locs its nearly universal with over 99% showing signs of trouble wether minor or advanced stage asains as well have a higher then normal risk due to some tight styling and even weaves can cause the issues danger signs include (not all might show up) bumps along the hairlines where the roots are tightened sometimes resembling pimples, loss of hair in gaps between dreads/braids that refuse to grow bac k as long as the tension remains receding hairlines (from being pulled back) with braids and cornrows and dreads the gaps between themn widen exposing more and more scalp ..in advanced stages it can become wide sporead baldinjg wich may even become permenant in the most severe cases.. treatment is essential and you must act fast at the earliest signs of trouble you jmust keep all tensionoff the roots including thye weight of the hair itself if long no tightening of roots no tight styles or buns the scalp needs to be massaged daily to stimulate bloodfol9w to the scalp essential oios that help bring bloodflow to the kin/scalp can help too biotin supliments help and a biotin/ploacenta treatment may speed recovery
the photo is an example of traction alopecia that has progressed to thye point of being a serious concern and will take many months to recover
it should also be noted that 40% of all african americans experience traction alopecia in thier lifetimes
This is by far the most extreme example
it has become common practice among locticians to do styles like this.
once the traction alopecia has progressed to the point that when hanging down they look too scraggly and scalpy, instead of stopping the tightening that causes it they style it in even tighter styles.
with each dread dangerously thin already they wrap dozens together into tight coils, pulling into a tight rope like style.
Now not only the hairs in the dread sections pulling in horizontally towards the thinning dread, but each dread pulling tightly horizontally into the coils.
these are often left in untill tye next tightening appointment.
there is no release of tension, and widespread devastating balding is the result.
the woman in the photo above will most likely need a hair transplant.
update; this was just posted in a facebook group called girls with dreads are hot the same group the above picture was posted in
this is the look salons call neat tidy sexy hot, whatever
the look they believe all dreads should have
this is the goal of twisting and interlocking when taken as far as it can be taken
at this point there is very little hope of recovery.
notice the pin in there
as tight and bald as she is already shes actively tightening and causing more balding
this is not tidy
this is not neat
this is not fresh
this is what salons and locticians do intentionaly
they use shame tactics if you have hair on your scalp your unkempt nasty dirty look homeless etc you know the rant.
they often post pics almost this bad with captions like "so fresh"
they make you believe this is how you should look
and its shameful to have hair on your head
do not fall for it!
if your twisting or interlocking...
just stop
if your forcing roots to be tight
just stop
balding is not as attractive as they make you believe
if your dreads and scalp do not recover in a few months, join us right away
in most cases we can help save you from transplants
in some cases the traction alopecia cannot bereversed
in any cases with traction alopecia and locs the sooner you stop causing it the better
once your traction alopecia has progressed this far, and locs thinned this much
it will take at least a year to get even partial recovery.
they are your locs
take better care of them so they last
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My new book Ban The Taboo Vol 1
updated by @soaring-eagle: 02/14/15 03:26:10AM