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A  study, published in the Archives of Dermatology, found that weaves and braids can lead to a permanent type of hair loss common among black women called Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia or CCCA for short. Of the 326 women examined in the study, more than one-fourth of the participants had CCCA, characterized by hair loss at the top of the scalp. Previously, CCCA was thought to be a result of chemical straighteners and hot combs; however, new research has found that CCCA is a result of traction hairstyles, such as braids and weaves that pull at the scalp. Prolonged pulling at the scalp can lead to bumps on the scalp that can become infected and home to bacteria, which can lead to scarring and even permanent hair loss.

To prevent unnecessary hair loss from occurring, it is important to be aware of the problems of traction hairstyles beforehand. It’s also important to give your hair a break from traction hairstyles if you begin experiencing any of these symptoms and see your physician immediately.

To find out if your hair loss is permanent or temporary, Bosley suggests you go seek your doctor or dermatologist for more information. Once you find out which type of hair loss you are experiencing, you can seek hair restoration treatments such as topical solutions and hair loss medications for temporary hair loss, and hair transplantation procedure for permanent hair loss conditions.

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