Woman shares how viral hairstyle left her with a huge bald spot in the centre of her scalp – but there’s a FREE solution
IT’S the viral hairstyle that’s taken the fashion world and red carpet by storm.
With huge celebs such as Hailey Bieber, Sofia Richie and Molly-Mae Hague all showing off their sleek buns, the on-trend look is showing no signs of disappearing off the radar any time soon.
However, if you love a slick back bun, you might want to think twice, as one woman has revealed the damage the viral style allegedly left her with.
Taking to TikTok, April Hurtdo issued a stark warning after the popular slick back bun destroyed the centre of her scalp – leaving the young woman with a huge bald spot.
“Tight, slicked-back buns that pull on your roots can cause traction alopecia: a form of hair loss caused by repeated hair pulling,” Arran Isherwood, Senior Trichological Specialist at FUE Clinics, said.
“With the amount of tugging that happens when you put your hair up like this, it’s no surprise that it can cause breakage or even bald patches,” the whizz previously told The Sun.
Showing off the horrific damage, the dark-haired beauty said: ”Take this as your sign t stop doing a slick ack hairstyle every other day.”
According to the young woman, from New York City, the US, she was always pulling the tresses as ”tight” as she possibly could when sporting the look.
”Tight enough to cause a temporary face lift —I know I’m my own problem,” she regretted following the trend in the viral video.
Luckily, in the majority of cases, Arran said the issues can be reversed – but only if you bid farewell to “tight hairstyles like braids, high ponytails and slick back buns”.
“In time, hair follicles will grow back,” Arran shared with Fabulous.
“Even though you might like the look, your strands need time to recover from the constant pulling and it shouldn’t become a daily habit,” Arran concluded.
There are also a host of other solutions TikTokers shared with April – some of which, such as changing the parting every now and then, are totally free.
Another easy fix, which might take longer to show up, is simply giving your scalp a massage to stimulate blood flow – and in turn, promote hair growth.
Chatting with the U.S. Sun, celebrity stylist Ryan Pearl previously recommended using scalp-friendly products such as oils or serums to “enhance the massage experience”.
“Relax and enjoy the process, as stress reduction can also benefit hair health,” he added.
Hairstyles that are kind to your locks
- Loose Braids: Opt for loose, soft braids rather than tight ones to minimise tension on the scalp and reduce breakage.
- Low Ponytail: A low ponytail is less stressful on your hair compared to high, tight ponytails. Use a fabric-covered hair tie to avoid snagging.
- Messy Bun: A relaxed, messy bun can be both stylish and kind to your hair. Avoid pulling your hair too tightly and use gentle hair ties.
- Soft Waves: Embrace your natural texture or use heatless methods to create soft waves, reducing the need for damaging heat styling tools.
- Half-Up, Half-Down: This style keeps some hair pulled back while leaving the rest down, reducing the strain on your scalp.
- Headbands and Scarves: Using headbands or scarves can keep hair out of your face without causing damage, and they can be quite fashionable.
- Loose Plaits for Sleeping: Before bed, loosely plait your hair to prevent tangles and breakage overnight.
While some were raving over professional haircare, there were also plenty of more affordable options, such as the viral rosemary oil – which you can find at Boots for as little as £6.
The budget-friendly beauty buy ”may support circulation, which may prevent hair follicles from being starved of blood supply, dying off, and leading to hair loss”, reported Healthline.
On top of stimulating hair growth, some thrifty beauty lovers use the essential oil to prevent premature greying and even to help with dandruff and flaky scalp.
According to a study Trusted Source, the TikTok-hyped bargain find ”may benefit nerve tissue by increasing nerve growth factor” – which, in turn, may boost hair growth and skin health.
Since being bravely shared online, April’s clip has racked up a whopping 3.2million views, close to 195k likes and over 1,000 comments.
One person said: ”Me too sis. I noticed mine in the exact same spot around October and I grew it back by derma rolling my scalp and applying hair growth oil after!!
”Also started taking collagen x2 daily!”
”I have that same little bald spot,” another cried.
”Traction alopecia is real ladies,” someone else added.