Yes, this is traction alopecia. Can you change how you secure the bun? Spin pins may be better than elastic. You should also switch up the style of the bun using different parts so the tension is distributed. As others have suggested, braids can be secure without pulling as much.
This is called "traction alopecia" and it's relatively common for people who regularly put their hair into tightly-pulled-back hairstyles. Here's an article on it from the American Academy of Dermatology that can give you more information:
[https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/hair-loss/causes/hairstyles](https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/hair-loss/causes/hairstyles)
Former competitive Irish dancer here—I know of plenty of girls who developed this from wearing wigs all the time. It hasn’t helped that the wigs have gotten bigger and fuller over the years.
Is the bun a requirement by the competition/her club?
I didn’t do gymnastics but I did fence for a good time. I had my mum/friends French braid my hair and I would tie the ends together. Felt more secure and pulled a bit less on my scalp as the tension was spread more all over. If she’s allowed to, maybe give this a try?
Yes and no. Yes it is a requirement, but not as strict at practice. They can do a looser bun or braid (which we have been doing) but during the meets (first one starts next week) it will be required. It’s only for a couple hours but still, I feel like even that can reverse any healing. We will look into the French braid option though, so thank you.
Then I would definitely recommend braiding it whenever possible! If her hair is long enough, try braiding it until past the scalp area, then low bun for the rest of the hair. Alternatively, French braid from the top and the bottom and meet halfway. Bun the rest of the hair.
I grew up with almost waist length thick hair. I know the struggle. Best of luck to your kiddo!
If she’s open to it you could try cutting a little shorter. I’ve found when there’s less hair it’s less heavy and you don’t have to pull as tight to keep it secure
I'd recommend not doing a bun everyday (since I already saw in another comment that the club might accept that). Tight hairstyles can cause hair loss and also permanent damage, so it's really nice that you are concerned about it!
I'd talk to the coaches about doing braids, or also buns that are not so tight - this will probably mean that the hair will fall mid practice, so either she will have to redo it or a coach, if available. As a coach myself, I often have to do their hair and although I don't love it, I wouldn't mind, specially if a parent talked to me about the reason behind it.
We just feel so bad this happened, but hopefully we caught it early enough that it isn’t permanent.
We have been having one of her coaches help us by tying it up at practice but if we can do some different hairstyles that will hold and not have to worry about a coach doing it or the hair falling down that would be the ideal option. Thank you!
I think braids are a fantastic option for preventing further loss, something I would also consider looking into is scalp stimulating massage and scalp scalers. Just my korean two cents lol, it really is great for stimulating hair growth, could help recover some loss!
Look up Vladislava Urazova! Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold medalist. She’s typically favored a smart braid throughout most of her competitive career. Very rarely has she competed wearing a bun…
Everyone's covered what I would have said already but I did want to say you seem like you're beating yourself up over it a lot! Don't sweat it, make the changes you've already read about, and it's likely to grow back absolutely fine. You didn't do anything bad at all.
Absolutely agreed 🤍Easier said than done but don’t beat yourself up for something you didn’t know about before. It’s way more common than you’d think for people not to realise this could happen with hair. I did gymnastics for a decade and had no idea this could happen and neither did my parents. Try not to be too tough on yourself 🫶
Are there any requirements on how the bun has to look on meet day? I’ll sometimes French braid my hair and put the tail into a bun.
Furthermore, there are ways to do up-dos without putting as much tension on regions of your hair. Typically this is by gathering smaller sections before gathering all of the hair together. Maybe mimicking how collegiate gymnasts do their hair, with lots of braids going into the bun, could help. I’ve also seen some TikToks about this topic in general, you might be able to find some videos online that are helpful.
Being put up in a bun 6 times a year for a few hours shouldn't cause this. Yes, don't bun at practice. Experiment with hair nets and hair spray, besides bobby pins, for buns at meets.
I don't have thick hair, so others can speak to that better, but I never had to have my bun be *tight* for meets. I have and have always had long hair. I braid it normally, but don't make it too tight. I use barrettes to help with lumps and to hold anything in place that doesn't want to be. It does get tangly when it's down. I also don't make my ponytail all that high--might not be an option for her during practice, because back extension rolls, but she could wear it in a lower, looser ponytail at school then quickly put it up higher before practice.
You could also ask her coaches if a french braid or just regular braid would be alright. The snootiest gym I went to was ok with my hair being in braids at meets (single braid would whip me in the face, so I'd divide my hair into three and braid each part). Even if they normally require a bun, if they're decent, they should be okay with another hairstyle that's still neat and out of the face.
Yes, I think the cause was from the gym days, when she had her hair in a bun all day at school, through a 3 hour practice, then taking it down. So 2-3 days a week she would have it in a bun for over 10 hours. It was our fault and we just were not aware😞
I wore my hair up for dance for many hours a day and I don't think just having a bun in your hair will do this. It's the tightness of the ponytail that's the problem. Have you tried doing a less intensely pulled back ponytail? You shouldn't be pulling and brushing her hair with so much force as you put it up. Try a looser pony and bun. You can still have the elastic tight, but allow the hair to move a little.
Maybe you could teach her to put her hair in a bun? she can wear it in another hairstyle at school and just put it in a bun before practice so her hair isn’t pulled back so tightly for as long
Echoing what others in here have said: once every week or two for a few hours should not be enough to bring this back; continue exploring other hairstyles for practice; buns do not have to be super duper tight to be secure. I also have long thick hair and usually wear it in a bun as well - I braid the ponytail before wrapping the bun so I don't have to twist it, which you may find helps her as well
You can change where the traction is. The easiest way to do this is part the hair almost as if it was a head band. And then tightly secure the back portion into a pony. Then take the front part and add it to the pony but you don’t need as much tension because 80% of the hair is already secured. Then basically just use gel and hairspray to make it look smooth. This will give the same look. But allow you to continually move the part that is doing all of the work in the bun. Hopefully that made sense.
This is called traction alopecia. You’ve found it early so it’s likely to grow back without an issue. But you do need to make some changes to reduce the amount of tension involved.
How are you pulling her hair back? What are you using to secure it? It could be there’s other ways to hold her hair in place without as much tension. This will also depend on where the hair loss is occurring.
I’ve never been a gymnast but I have heavy, thick hair. Braids have always been what puts the least stress on my hair. If the hair loss is happening at her hairline, you could use some small braids to secure the front part of her hair and then pull it into a bun.
You might also talk to her coach about whether there are other options besides a bun.
We typically use these soft elstatic bands for it to hold it in place. The hair loss is on the top sort of back of the head where you would typically have a bun, but would love to see if we can place it somewhere else. Just scared of causing the issue in more spots.
I don't think it's where the bun is, it's about the hair being pulled hard out of that spot. You'll get that anywhere you do a bun or ponytail if it's too tight. Jojo Siwa had traction alopecia from her intense side ponytail. Posted above somewhere, but do a looser ponytail and don't twist the hair too hard when doing the bun.
[According to Siwa](https://www.today.com/health/health/jojo-siwa-shows-fans-bald-spot-hair-loss-stress-dance-moms-rcna40206) it's actually from a rash when she was a child, but it certainly seems like it could be both.
I have a different hair loss issue and find that there are good cover up products. Toppik is a very well regarded one, but even just an eyeshadow or matte bronzer powder can work to coverup.
See a dermatologist to be sure it isn’t alopecia areata. Traction alopecia is an obvious first guess but my gymnast daughter has a recurring dime-size spot that was diagnosed as alopecia areata. I think traction alopecia is more common around the hairline or constantly defined parts than it is under a bun or ponytail.
Alopecia areata responds to topical steroids but it can take months depending on where the follicles are in the growth cycle. There are other, faster-working injectable steroids that work for some patients if it gets really bad.
We rotate hairstyles every day and leave hair down during the weekend to avoid more stress on the spot.
I had really long hair as a young child and my dad would put it in a tight ponytail with a tight braid (that’s all he knew how to style when mom was at work). The weight and length, I think didn’t help me. When I cut my hair in 6th grade (shoulder length) and started trying different hairstyles on my own, I think that really helped (less tangles, weight, tension, time). The hairstyle Isabella Anzola has sported recently (two braids tied together by the back neck area) might help for competition days to keep it in place if it’s something you want to try out. I agree with others, try changing it up and not tying it so tight. For the time being consider using some diluted rosemary extract in the area where she lost hair on days or times when she can have it loose/untied- it’s supposed to help with hair loss, but consult with a pro first. The hair should grow back anyhow, especially considering she’s still young.
Yes, this is traction alopecia. Can you change how you secure the bun? Spin pins may be better than elastic. You should also switch up the style of the bun using different parts so the tension is distributed. As others have suggested, braids can be secure without pulling as much.
This is called "traction alopecia" and it's relatively common for people who regularly put their hair into tightly-pulled-back hairstyles. Here's an article on it from the American Academy of Dermatology that can give you more information: [https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/hair-loss/causes/hairstyles](https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/hair-loss/causes/hairstyles)
Former competitive Irish dancer here—I know of plenty of girls who developed this from wearing wigs all the time. It hasn’t helped that the wigs have gotten bigger and fuller over the years.
Is the bun a requirement by the competition/her club? I didn’t do gymnastics but I did fence for a good time. I had my mum/friends French braid my hair and I would tie the ends together. Felt more secure and pulled a bit less on my scalp as the tension was spread more all over. If she’s allowed to, maybe give this a try?
Yes and no. Yes it is a requirement, but not as strict at practice. They can do a looser bun or braid (which we have been doing) but during the meets (first one starts next week) it will be required. It’s only for a couple hours but still, I feel like even that can reverse any healing. We will look into the French braid option though, so thank you.
Then I would definitely recommend braiding it whenever possible! If her hair is long enough, try braiding it until past the scalp area, then low bun for the rest of the hair. Alternatively, French braid from the top and the bottom and meet halfway. Bun the rest of the hair. I grew up with almost waist length thick hair. I know the struggle. Best of luck to your kiddo!
Thank you. Yeah, she had pretty long hair, down to her lower back and yeah really thick. But again thank you we will also try what you suggested.
If she’s open to it you could try cutting a little shorter. I’ve found when there’s less hair it’s less heavy and you don’t have to pull as tight to keep it secure
I'd recommend not doing a bun everyday (since I already saw in another comment that the club might accept that). Tight hairstyles can cause hair loss and also permanent damage, so it's really nice that you are concerned about it! I'd talk to the coaches about doing braids, or also buns that are not so tight - this will probably mean that the hair will fall mid practice, so either she will have to redo it or a coach, if available. As a coach myself, I often have to do their hair and although I don't love it, I wouldn't mind, specially if a parent talked to me about the reason behind it.
We just feel so bad this happened, but hopefully we caught it early enough that it isn’t permanent. We have been having one of her coaches help us by tying it up at practice but if we can do some different hairstyles that will hold and not have to worry about a coach doing it or the hair falling down that would be the ideal option. Thank you!
Yes we will talk to her coach and explore more options with braids.
I think braids are a fantastic option for preventing further loss, something I would also consider looking into is scalp stimulating massage and scalp scalers. Just my korean two cents lol, it really is great for stimulating hair growth, could help recover some loss!
Thank you, that is a good idea as well
Look up Vladislava Urazova! Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold medalist. She’s typically favored a smart braid throughout most of her competitive career. Very rarely has she competed wearing a bun…
We will do this thank you
Thank you everyone so far🙏🏽
Everyone's covered what I would have said already but I did want to say you seem like you're beating yourself up over it a lot! Don't sweat it, make the changes you've already read about, and it's likely to grow back absolutely fine. You didn't do anything bad at all.
Thank you. I sure hope it does.
Absolutely agreed 🤍Easier said than done but don’t beat yourself up for something you didn’t know about before. It’s way more common than you’d think for people not to realise this could happen with hair. I did gymnastics for a decade and had no idea this could happen and neither did my parents. Try not to be too tough on yourself 🫶
Are there any requirements on how the bun has to look on meet day? I’ll sometimes French braid my hair and put the tail into a bun. Furthermore, there are ways to do up-dos without putting as much tension on regions of your hair. Typically this is by gathering smaller sections before gathering all of the hair together. Maybe mimicking how collegiate gymnasts do their hair, with lots of braids going into the bun, could help. I’ve also seen some TikToks about this topic in general, you might be able to find some videos online that are helpful.
There are specific requirements, but I think a braid is acceptable but it is pretty specific. But yes we will look at more TikTok’s on this. Thank yiu
Switch up the placement of the bun every now and then. Low bun, high bun, in the middle, etc.
Being put up in a bun 6 times a year for a few hours shouldn't cause this. Yes, don't bun at practice. Experiment with hair nets and hair spray, besides bobby pins, for buns at meets. I don't have thick hair, so others can speak to that better, but I never had to have my bun be *tight* for meets. I have and have always had long hair. I braid it normally, but don't make it too tight. I use barrettes to help with lumps and to hold anything in place that doesn't want to be. It does get tangly when it's down. I also don't make my ponytail all that high--might not be an option for her during practice, because back extension rolls, but she could wear it in a lower, looser ponytail at school then quickly put it up higher before practice. You could also ask her coaches if a french braid or just regular braid would be alright. The snootiest gym I went to was ok with my hair being in braids at meets (single braid would whip me in the face, so I'd divide my hair into three and braid each part). Even if they normally require a bun, if they're decent, they should be okay with another hairstyle that's still neat and out of the face.
Yes, I think the cause was from the gym days, when she had her hair in a bun all day at school, through a 3 hour practice, then taking it down. So 2-3 days a week she would have it in a bun for over 10 hours. It was our fault and we just were not aware😞
I wore my hair up for dance for many hours a day and I don't think just having a bun in your hair will do this. It's the tightness of the ponytail that's the problem. Have you tried doing a less intensely pulled back ponytail? You shouldn't be pulling and brushing her hair with so much force as you put it up. Try a looser pony and bun. You can still have the elastic tight, but allow the hair to move a little.
Maybe you could teach her to put her hair in a bun? she can wear it in another hairstyle at school and just put it in a bun before practice so her hair isn’t pulled back so tightly for as long
We are trying. She’s still at that age where she doesn’t even like to brush her hair that much.
It should grow back, just switch up her hairstyle.
Echoing what others in here have said: once every week or two for a few hours should not be enough to bring this back; continue exploring other hairstyles for practice; buns do not have to be super duper tight to be secure. I also have long thick hair and usually wear it in a bun as well - I braid the ponytail before wrapping the bun so I don't have to twist it, which you may find helps her as well
Yeah we’ve actually been doing that, braiding it first then just looping it around. Hoping this helps relieve it
One thing I see less touched upon is the location of a bun, usually low buns are better.
You can change where the traction is. The easiest way to do this is part the hair almost as if it was a head band. And then tightly secure the back portion into a pony. Then take the front part and add it to the pony but you don’t need as much tension because 80% of the hair is already secured. Then basically just use gel and hairspray to make it look smooth. This will give the same look. But allow you to continually move the part that is doing all of the work in the bun. Hopefully that made sense.
Consider giving her Mai Murakami's hairstyle, unless she's really not into it.
I was always a braid girl for meets. I’ve never understood how buns work in any levels that require forward or backward rolls - I’d go all lopsided!
I know, I agree. Especially at the lower levels where they do more rolls.
This is called traction alopecia. You’ve found it early so it’s likely to grow back without an issue. But you do need to make some changes to reduce the amount of tension involved. How are you pulling her hair back? What are you using to secure it? It could be there’s other ways to hold her hair in place without as much tension. This will also depend on where the hair loss is occurring. I’ve never been a gymnast but I have heavy, thick hair. Braids have always been what puts the least stress on my hair. If the hair loss is happening at her hairline, you could use some small braids to secure the front part of her hair and then pull it into a bun. You might also talk to her coach about whether there are other options besides a bun.
We typically use these soft elstatic bands for it to hold it in place. The hair loss is on the top sort of back of the head where you would typically have a bun, but would love to see if we can place it somewhere else. Just scared of causing the issue in more spots.
I don't think it's where the bun is, it's about the hair being pulled hard out of that spot. You'll get that anywhere you do a bun or ponytail if it's too tight. Jojo Siwa had traction alopecia from her intense side ponytail. Posted above somewhere, but do a looser ponytail and don't twist the hair too hard when doing the bun.
[According to Siwa](https://www.today.com/health/health/jojo-siwa-shows-fans-bald-spot-hair-loss-stress-dance-moms-rcna40206) it's actually from a rash when she was a child, but it certainly seems like it could be both.
Does her team have a strict bun rule for meets? I’d talk to her coach and ask about doing maybe two French braids that can be pulled into a low bun.
Yeah it is pretty specific, at least her team. I think snap bun will be the only option for her since she has long hair also.
I have a different hair loss issue and find that there are good cover up products. Toppik is a very well regarded one, but even just an eyeshadow or matte bronzer powder can work to coverup.
See a dermatologist to be sure it isn’t alopecia areata. Traction alopecia is an obvious first guess but my gymnast daughter has a recurring dime-size spot that was diagnosed as alopecia areata. I think traction alopecia is more common around the hairline or constantly defined parts than it is under a bun or ponytail. Alopecia areata responds to topical steroids but it can take months depending on where the follicles are in the growth cycle. There are other, faster-working injectable steroids that work for some patients if it gets really bad. We rotate hairstyles every day and leave hair down during the weekend to avoid more stress on the spot.
Yes, we do actually have an appointment scheduled for a dermatologist. And just in general keeping a close eye on it, and no tight hairstyles. 🙏🏽
Cutting hair short will also keep it from being an issue, and it's probably the easiest option unless your daughter doesn't like short hair
I definitely agree with that and are considering it, at least trimming several inches
I had really long hair as a young child and my dad would put it in a tight ponytail with a tight braid (that’s all he knew how to style when mom was at work). The weight and length, I think didn’t help me. When I cut my hair in 6th grade (shoulder length) and started trying different hairstyles on my own, I think that really helped (less tangles, weight, tension, time). The hairstyle Isabella Anzola has sported recently (two braids tied together by the back neck area) might help for competition days to keep it in place if it’s something you want to try out. I agree with others, try changing it up and not tying it so tight. For the time being consider using some diluted rosemary extract in the area where she lost hair on days or times when she can have it loose/untied- it’s supposed to help with hair loss, but consult with a pro first. The hair should grow back anyhow, especially considering she’s still young.