Traction alopecia is a form of acquired hair loss, that results from prolonged or repetitive tension from tight hairstyles.
This picture looks horrible, I know…but this is a lady who has gone to one braider time after time. The braider would braid her hair too tightly and she would continually have her hair up in a high ponytail. Sometimes people don't see what others can see. Over time her hair thinned in the front and eventually grew back very slowly. This is a typical case of a braids lover with a lack of knowledge on how to treat their hair when they do have braids in. And the sad case of a braider who doesn't care and braids as tight as she wants to, as long as the money train keeps coming back.
This happens to people of all ages and ethnicities, sometimes with just doing a tight ponytail day after day. Its important you learn, that braids will always be a bit snug the first time you get them. Especially if its box braids and not knotless braids. But they shouldn't be excessively painful for days after. Its best if this does happen to keep your braids down in low styles. Do not go back to the same braider and treat your scalp with care. By asking the chemist for antiseptic ointments, putting a cold compress on the area and maybe even taking it all out.
Switching from box braids to knotless braids has been the best thing in my braiding career. They are lighter, more versatile and are a low tension new school version of box braids. Because I have eyes to see and scalp care knowledge, I can let clients know what they can do to help their issues and also put the onto medical professionals that can help.
Take care,
Jay