Traction alopecia is one of the most common causes of African American women hair loss caused by dyes, bleaches, chemical relaxers, gels and oils, which can result in thinning hair on the crown and along the side edges of the scalp. Everyone’s hair loss is different. If you are expecting hair loss as a result of medical treatment such as chemotherapy, you cannot expect yours to play out the same as the person sitting next to you in the treatment room.

To make it even more confusing, traction alopecia is not the only type of hair loss that affects African American women. There are several types, many of which you have probably never heard of. That makes standing alone in front of the mirror, examining your scalp with a magnifying glass one of the most angst-ridden activities of all time. You can see something is happening, but what?

To help you get a better idea of what is happening and possible causes of your hair loss, we have listed a few hair facts about African American women hair loss below.

African American Hair Loss Facts

• 7 in every 10 African American women has experienced severe hair loss.
• 7 in every 10 African American women have experienced hair breakage.
• 6 in ever 10 African American women wear a hair weave.
• 6 in every 10 African American women are dissatisfied with their hair.
• 5 in every 10 African American women have some form of scalp condition.
• 8 in every 10 times African American women’s hair loss is self-induced.
• 7 in every 10 African American women have experienced pain as a part of their beauty regimen.
• 6 in every 10 African American who wear braids, locs or twists longer than three years will most likely develop degenerated follicles which causes a condition called “spacey scalp” or traction alopecia.
• 6 in every 10 African American men suffer from ingrown hairs.
• 6 in every 10 African American girls will loose 6 inches of hair by the age of 15.
• 8 in every 10 African American women who has used harsh chemicals are thinning and have a slower growth rate.
• 9.5 out 10 African Americans do not understand curly hair.
• 6 in every 10 African American women do not remember what their natural textures look or feel like.
• 1 in every 3 African American fathers demand that chemicals are not used on their daughters’ hair.
• 5 in every 10 African American women have resorted to locs, braid or twist due to past chemical damage.
• 8 in every 10 African American men avoid conversation about hair and or will not discuss it with their partners.
• 10 out of 10 African American men whose partner has experienced severe or general hair loss is highly affected by the experience and is extremely emotional about the conversation.
• 1 in every 5 African American women are balding in the crown area.
• 6 in every 10 African Americans have seen or will see a dermatologist for hair loss or a scalp disorder caused by a cultural cosmetic practice.
• 10 out of 10 African American women who has experienced hair loss have been psychologically damaged by hair loss.
• 10 out of 10 men prefer women to have natural hair regardless of how it is worn.
• 10 out of 10 African American women would use an alternative to harsh chemicals.

In Conclusion

Noticing signs of thinning hair or hair loss can be a frightening and devastating experience. You don’t have to suffer in silence wondering what can be done. Our recommendation is to talk to a physician such as a dermatologist and have them examine your scalp and run tests to determine possible causes of your hair loss. In the meantime, you can still maintain your glamorous look by wearing a custom hair system specific made for your hair loss situation. Call (619) 820-0290 or schedule a free complementary consultation today.