It clears the face and is done in a few seconds. But this reflex hairstyle could, in the long term, promote hair loss and age your features.
We adopt it on busy mornings, for a sports session or simply when we don’t know what to do with our hair. Practical, quick, it clears the face and even offers a small natural lifting effect. You probably wear this hairstyle several times a week without imagining that it could, in the long term, age you more than it makes you younger.
Indeed, behind this harmless routine lies a risk that dermatologists take very seriously: traction alopecia. Concretely, it is hair loss caused by excessive and repeated tension on the roots. This constant traction weakens the hair follicles to the point of damaging them, sometimes irreversibly. And the main culprit is none other than the high ponytail, especially when worn tight and in the same place day after day. Result: thinning temples, a forehead that appears larger, hair that becomes thinner. So many signs that harden the features and add years to the face.
Why does this risk increase with age? After age 50, hair loses density and strength. It becomes more vulnerable to mechanical attack. Tension that would not have caused any damage at age 30 can now cause breakage and visible thinning of the hairline. The much sought after lifting effect then turns against you: instead of opening the eyes, it exposes thinning hair which ages the face. You must therefore be attentive to the warning signs: hair that is thinning at the temples, a parting that is widening, small broken regrowths around the face, or even headaches at the end of the day.
However, there is no question of giving up tied hairstyles. Dermatologists at Boston Derm Advocate recommend opting for low, loose buns, which put much less pressure on the hairline while maintaining an elegant look. Another tip: vary the position of your attachment from one day to the next so that you never use the same area. The choice of elastic also matters. Choose silk or soft fabric scrunchies with fine elastics that shear the hair fiber. And above all, leave your hair down as often as possible.
Basically, it’s not about banishing the ponytail, but about taming it differently. By varying the attachments, releasing tension and letting the hair breathe, we preserve hair density without sacrificing everyday comfort.
