3 Reasons Why Braids Can Cause Baldness and Frustration 

There's nothing like wearing some nice, stylish braids.

And after several centuries braids are still one of the most popular hairstyles amongst Black women.

But did you know that braids can gradually lead to hair loss that is sometimes irreversible. 

In this article, I will shed some light on why braids can cause balding and how to prevent this from happening.

When your braids are looking great, it makes you smile like this . . . 

#1). Wear Low Tension Braid Styles

Knotless braids offer the best protection for braid styles that use hair extensions.  The reason is that they are similar to your traditional, three-strand braid, except they don't have a knot at the root of the hair.  Instead, with knotless braids, the braiding hair (weave) is added after the braid has already started. The benefit is less tension on your roots, which preserves your hair follicle.

Also, if you are concerned about your hairline, then you also want to be cautious of the styles that you wear with your braids. Certain braid styles, while they may be considered "more fashionable" can actually be extremely damaging to your follicles and your hairline.

Low Tension Braid Styles Include:

• Loose ponytails: This is a great option if you're wearing box braids because it keeps the braids off your face and neck but will not pull too tightly
• Loose bun styles: Allowing your bun to be a little messy, but still swept up into a bun will prevent tension along the perimeter of your hairline. 
• All down styles: Wearing your braids in their natural, down style will keep limiting the stress on your hair because you're wearing your braids the way they naturally flow.

Some braided styles may increase your chances of excessive hair loss and can cause balding.  Try to stay away from styles that are too tight or pull along your hairline.

High Tension Styles To Stay Away From Include:

• High ponytails/buns
• Tight Ponytails
• Cornrows/Feedin Braids Along the Hairline

This is how most people look when they hear that they should stay away from high buns and tight ponytails . . . 

#2) Treat and Cleanse Your Scalp in Braids

One of the biggest reasons why people experience excessive shedding and hair loss while wearing braids is because they completely neglect their hair while wearing them. Maintaining a healthy scalp is vital to protecting your hair in braids.  It's important to ensure your scalp is free of debris and product buildup prior to your braids install. 

To do this, you should use a gentle clarifying shampoo, such as the Quench & Cleanse Shampoo to give your scalp and hair a clean base to work with.   Try to wash your braids every 2-3 weeks if possible as excessive buildup on your scalp can also lead to increased hair fall and shedding.

After you cleanse your hair you should follow up with a conditioner to replenish the moisture back into your hair.  You want to use a conditioner that is full of nutrients and botanical extracts, like the Quench & Repair Conditioner.  However, the best way to apply your conditioner while wearing braids is to dilute it in a water bottle and spray it onto your braids.  

This will help make the rinse-out process even easier while giving your hair the moisture it craves.  Also, try to add the conditioner to your braids and not your scalp; that way you will keep your scalp clean and avoid product buildup that can irritate the scalp. 

Finally, after washing and conditioning your hair you will want to dry your braids completely either by sitting under a dryer or allowing your hair to air dry.  Once your hair is dry, apply a natural and nourishing hair oil like the VoiceOfHair PureFix Hair Elixir to your scalp and distribute it throughout your braids.  This will help seal in the moisture into your braids.

#3) Protect Your Braids with Satin 

When you wear braids it's important to protect your hair at night.  One of the fabrics that can help with that is satin. 

Satin has some amazing benefits such as it can help retain hair moisture, reduce hair loss, and promotes shinier hair. 

Therefore, it is recommend to wear a satin scarf to wrap up your braids and sleep on a satin pillow case. 

In conclusion, wearing braids can look amazing. You will just want to make sure that you're wearing them in a way that is healthy for your scalp and hair.