The Sunday News
Rutendo Chidawanyika
LAST week was the worst week for me. I got box braids done for a day, I couldn’t sleep at night so I unplaited. My scalp and face were swollen for the next couple of days. And I know I’m not the only one who has gone through that. Some won’t even unplait but go through with it. I agree that most hairdos are straining but you should be able to sleep.
You tie your head with your doek or stocking on your head as usual but when you put it on the pillow, it hurts. You don’t know whether to sleep on your side or your back. It hurts so bad that you only get to sleep by God’s grace and a painkiller.
Other than causing so much pain, tight braids can also lead to traction alopecia, which can lead to hair loss. It also causes skin bumps on the hairline and severe headache. I know people think about the money they spent but my health comes first. So how do you get rid of this pain, which is actually caused by the tightness of the braids? The best way of preventing tight braids is not to have it in the first place (but that’s not possible). Always tell your hairdresser that your hair is tight while she is still doing it.
Tight braids hurt
If your scalp or head is in pain, that’s a sure sign that your hair is braided too tightly or you have too much extension hair added, making the roots of your hair carry extra weight. Remember that any pain is a sign that something is wrong. Although some braiders and hair experts will tell you to simply take a painkiller, this doesn’t actually solve the problem of whatever is causing that pain.
It might cause temporary or permanent hair loss
Very tight braids can also cause traction alopecia, or hair loss resulting from too much tension on the scalp. As explained at the beginning of the article you have to be able to sleep at night. If your scalp feels like its being pricked by a hundred needles, then your stylist applied too much pressure on your hair.
Tight cornrows or braids can trigger a migraine
Another detrimental effect of having your hair braided too tight is that it can trigger migraines. These triggers can range from the dietary to the environmental. These include exposure to bright lights and loud noise, having irregular meals, stress, and yes — excessively tight braids. What’s worse, these triggers can also compound and make migraines even more insufferable, with headaches lasting for days at a time.
It damages your hair
The point of protective hairstyles is to protect the ends of your hair and decrease tangling, counterproductive, making your hair prone to moderate and serious breakage. To care for braided hair better, ensure that your scalp is regularly cleaned and moisturised with hair food. Consider using a stocking cap to shampoo your hair without disturbing the braids.
Braid bumps or infected follicles can occur
If you’ve ever had your hair braided too tight before, you may have noticed some braid bumps at the top of your neck towards your hairline or in between braids. These are usually signs of folliculitis, or an inflammation of the hair follicle commonly caused by bacterial infections. While letting your hair rest and putting on some tea tree oil can make these braid bumps go away, other, more sinister complications can arise if the tightness isn’t addressed properly. Although the level of damage and wounds seen in this example isn’t common, it demonstrates the unrecognised dangers of too much tension on the scalp.
Having African hair is an extreme sport as is. You need to grow your hair and switch it up from time to time. Braids are the bomb because they never go out of style, they last longer and look good on everyone. Just be careful, don’t lose all your hair because you have spent a fortune on plaiting. I don’t always unplait when I feel pressure, but this one time the pain was on another level. Know the difference. —Additional information from online.
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