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Overview
Braids and ponytails pull hair.
It can become permanent.
When to get medical care
Call 911Not an emergency.
Get care todayNot usually urgent.
See a doctor soonThinning at the hairline.
Causes
Caused by tight styles.
OwieClear has pages on 1 condition that can cause hair loss from tight hairstyles. Each shows how soon to get care.
Common causes
- Hair loss from tight hairstyles (traction alopecia)Often treated at home
Thinning along the hairline or edges from hairstyles that pull for a long time, like tight braids, ponytails, weaves, locs, or extensions.
What you can do at home
- Loosen styles.
Medicines
Usually none.
At the doctor
Diagnosed by exam.
Questions you may be asked
- Hairstyles
The exam
A scalp exam.
Tests
- None
Prevention
Loose styles.
- Change styles often
Check your symptoms
Most symptoms have more than one possible cause. The symptom checker looks at all of your symptoms together, plus your age, and shows how soon to get care.
Sources
Last updated 2026-11-13.