Reasons for Hair Loss
A: The short answer is that while these two habits are unlikely to be the primary cause of continuous hair loss over five years, they can contribute to hair breakage and root strain if done improperly.
Here is how her styling habits actually play into it:
• Towel Wrapping: Twisting hair tightly into a heavy cotton towel turban exerts continuous pull on the hair roots. This condition is known as traction alopecia. Because hair is at its weakest and most fragile when wet, heavy towels can also cause severe hair shaft breakage.
Tension and breakage can happen gradually over time without causing any noticeable scalp soreness or visible irritation. To avoid this strain, she can switch to gently squeezing out excess moisture using an absorbent microfiber towel or a soft T-shirt instead of twisting a heavy towel around her head.
• Hairspray: Heavy use of hairspray does not affect the hair follicle or stop new hair from growing. However, ingredients in hairsprays can dry out the hair shaft. When combined with daily brushing or combing through hard-set hair, it leads to hair breakage, which can easily look like thinning hair. Actual hair loss from hairspray itself only occurs in rare cases of an allergic reaction or contact dermatitis on the scalp.
My Recommendation: Because your mom has experienced hair loss over a five-year period, external styling habits are almost certainly not the root cause. She should schedule an evaluation with a doctor or dermatologist. They can perform targeted blood work and a scalp exam to identify the true underlying issue. With an accurate diagnosis, many forms of hair loss can be treated or managed effectively.
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See also:
Hair loss
How to towel dry hair
How many hairs do we lose per day?