At UKLASH, we’re here for you through every step of your hair growth journey. You may think you’re doing everything you can to nourish and strengthen your hair by using an array of our products, but without realising, it could be your everyday hairstyles that are getting in the way of you achieving your dream locks.

You could be encouraging your hair to break or even, in extreme cases, be inducing Traction Alopecia through the consistent use of tight hairstyles or excessive heat.

In this article, we are going to break down the top five hairstyles you can create to give your hair a rest, allowing our award-winning UKHAIR growth products to get to work without any interruptions, pushing you one step closer to achieving your longest, strongest and healthiest hair yet.

What Is Traction Alopecia?

Traction Alopecia refers to a type of hair loss that comes from the consistent pulling of hair from the root and is commonly caused by tight hairstyles, such as slick back ponytails or buns, tight braids, or the constant use of weaves or extensions. It is not necessarily permanent, and if it is caught and dealt with in the early stages, you can encourage the hair to grow back. Early signs of Traction Alopecia might show up as small bumps along the hair line and, if left untreated, will result in a significant amount of hair loss which typically starts from the hairline.

What Can I Do To Prevent Hair Breakage?

The first thing you should do to avoid breaking or damaging your hair is to avoid putting any unnecessary stress on the scalp or hair follicles. Avoid the use of heat, hair extensions, dreadlocks, weaves or tight hairstyles. Alongside this, you can also try to stimulate growth and nourish the hair to bring it back to life with some of our pro-active UKHAIR products.

Our Shampoo and Conditioner are 97% natural and include ingredients such as Vitamin B5 (Panthenol), Hydrolysed Wheat Protein and Coconut Water, which help to nourish and strengthen your strands, whilst amino acids and Pineapple Extract help to revitalise the scalp and bring it back to full health.

You can also incorporate our recently reformulated Hair Growth Serum into your everyday routine. It is super easy to use. Simply apply three to five drops (or one to two if targeting a specific area) daily to a clean, damp or dry scalp and massage in with your fingertips to stimulate circulation and to help promote healthy hair growth.

We also recommend treating the ends of your hair to a Hair Mask once a week. Ours is packed with natural oils and extracts which deeply condition hair follicles, resulting in shinier and healthier-looking hair that is more resistant to breakage.

Top 5 Hairstyles To Prevent Breakage & To Help Hair Growth

1. Heatless Curls

While you may be accustomed to reaching for your curling tongs or straighteners when you are looking to achieve an effortless curl, these tools can cause your hair unnecessary stress and damage. We know that applying heat of around 180°c or more can dry out and damage the cuticle of the hair, the outer layer of the hair follicle that locks in moisture. To achieve the beautiful curls you are looking for without the damage, we suggest opting for a heatless curl kit instead, which you can buy online or create at home using a pair of clean socks. They are simple to use, usually consisting of foam-based rollers that you roll into your hair and sleep in overnight, allowing you to wake up to beautiful curls that require little to no styling.

2. Bubble Pony

The main element that defines a damaging hairstyle is the tension and stress caused to the hair follicle and root, making the Bubble Pony an unlikely candidate for our healthy hairstyle list given its repeated use of a hair tie. However, if you use hair ties that are softer, such as scrunchies or ties made from satin or silk, you can reduce the friction to the hair and lessen the damage being done. Another way to reduce the damage to your hair is by loosening the style and in turn, minimising the stress inflicted on your hair follicles and scalp.

3. Claw Clip Style

A claw clip is a versatile tool that allows you to style your hair in a variety of ways. Its clever design uses interlocking teeth to sustain grip without causing too much tension on the individual hair follicle or root, making it a great option for those looking to avoid hair damage and support healthy hair growth.

4. Half-Up, Half-Down

As well as being a versatile style that minimises damage to the scalp and hair follicles, the half-up, half-down hairstyle is great for those who have a history of hair thinning and loss as it gives the illusion of having a thicker and fuller head of hair. To achieve the ultimate half-up, half-down hairstyle, split your hair into two sections just above the ear and secure the upper half with a hair tie. To reduce the tension on the upper half of the hair, try opting for a scrunchie or a satin or silk hair tie, and make sure the pony is secured more towards the back of the head rather than the top to avoid gravity pulling down and causing stress on the scalp.

5. Loose Braid

As previously mentioned, consistent tugging and pulling at the hair strands is what can contribute to hair loss and breakage, which makes any hairstyle that allows your hair to be loose and free a healthy one. By creating a slack, three-strand braid which sits close to the nape of your neck, you are allowing your hair to relax without the need to defy gravity and with little to no stress on the scalp or hair follicles.

At UKLASH, we believe in a holistic approach when it comes to caring for your hair. As well as using our proactive UKHAIR products, you should take care in how you style and maintain your locks too. This means ditching the heat tools and hairstyles that cause stress for the scalp and hair follicles, and trying out some of the above options instead, making sure to regularly switch it up to avoid putting any sort of strain on a specific part of the scalp.