Whether or not you agreed with pics of Naomi Campbell’s traction alopecia showing up on this blog and across the blogosphere, one thing is for sure: we have got to avoid that kind of preventative hair loss. While weaves can be the culprit of hair loss, it’s surely not the only way. If you have any desire to keep the hairs on your head, read on.

The Golden Rules:

1. The theme song from Different Strokes (you know, that 70s sitcom that starred the late Gary Coleman) taught us so much over all these years: “What might be right for you, may not be right for some…“. Truer words have never been spoken. Quit trying to make your hair conform (use your own definition as to what you’d be conforming to) if it causes any kind of damage.

2. Don’t think that thicker or coarser hair textures are less likely to be damaged via relaxers, permanent color, heat styling, or tight braiding. The opposite is actually true: coarser hair textures can tend to be more delicate than anything. Put too much stress on it and it will break off on you.

3. Excessive heat is a player hater. Sure that Dominican blow-out gave you the sleek look you’re after or gave you a change from your usual curly style, but too much of it can leave you with undesirable results. If you’re natural you could possibly get heat damage that permanently straightens parts of your curly/kinky mane. And sometimes (*gulp*) your hair won’t ever spring back.

If you chemically treat your hair, you’re doing double trauma to it. Same thing with the flat iron.

The solution: ease up on the heat. Switch to roller sets and ceramic heat tools for the times you do use heat, but your best bet is via air drying your hair. You can air dry with a braid-set, a twist-set, or a wrap-set. I like to use Moroccanoil Oil Treatment in my wrap-sets because it makes my hair dry much faster especially in the middle section.

4. Loosen up on the braids. Sure braids are a nice way to give your hair a break or to prep the hair for a weave, but if your braids are too tight, it’s also a nice way to lose your edges. It’s a great idea to give your hair a rest in between braids. And if you’re wearing a weave, like celebrity hairstylist Kim Kimble suggests, keeping it in only six to eight weeks is ideal.

5. Stop relaxing so often or stop relaxing altogether. You don’t have to watch Chris Rock’s Good Hair to know there are some mighty potent chemicals in relaxers. Even in so-called “kiddie perms”. Yet some of us relax our hair every 4 weeks! I even heard of some ladies who will relax just their edges a mere 3 weeks after a relaxer (*cue theme from Psycho*). Allow your hair to stretch out more after a relaxer especially if you notice breakage or damage around your edges. Or just go cold turkey and quit the relaxers. If your hair can’t take them, why subject yourself to such torture?

But what if it’s too late? What if the signs of traction alopecia have already wrecked havoc all on your baby hairs? Hopefully you’ve caught it early, because with the help of some TLC (and/or a trip to a dermatologist with extensive experience with traction alopecia) the hair could grow back. Keep monitoring your hair for signs of damage i.e. thinning, breakage, etc.

And if you didn’t catch it early? *gulp* With traction alopecia that is extensive, the hair is often so damaged that it won’t grow back. There are hair transplant surgeries available, but according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, results can range and you must be prepared to fork over a significant amount of your savings as the procedures can be very costly.

Those of you with severe traction alopecia, it’s still not the end of the world. There are many new innovations in wigs to help you feel more like your old self. Slap one on and smile brightly.

Did I miss anything? What do you do to keep your hair healthy? Or have you ever experienced any type of hair loss or damage? Share it all in the comments.

~Danielle

P.S. Keep checking in this week over at The Style and Beauty Doctor. It’s Reader Appreciation Week which means FAB giveaways galore. Good luck :)