model mirror ponytail
Model Flip Driver poses for photographers with a mirror after having makeup applied using historical Egyptian beauty items and toiletries at The Science Museum in London April 26, 2010.
REUTERS/Toby Melville

  • Sleeping with your hair in a ponytail can cause hair loss.
  • When the hair is constantly pulled it can be damaged.
  • Breakage can occur when you sleep with a ponytail in.
  • Hair loss may be reversed by keeping your hair down.

When I was a kid, a classmate of mine had perfectly straight hair that I was infinitely jealous of. Not understanding that it was how her hair naturally fell, I asked her what she did to get perfectly straight hair. She told me that every night she slept with her hair in a ponytail and that if I wanted straight hair I should too.

Well after years of trying, I finally concluded that sleeping with your hair in a ponytail does not, in fact, make your hair straight. Shocking, I know. But sleeping in a ponytail could have another affect on your hair, and it's not very positive.

Sleeping with your hair in a ponytail can cause damage.

The practice actually does change the look of your hair, just not in the way a younger me hoped. Quite the opposite actually. The truth is, you should never sleep with your hair in a ponytail as it can cause serious damage and breakage.

Speaking to Allure, Francesca J. Fusco, a New York City-based dermatologist specializing in hair loss said, "If someone wore their hair tightly pulled back every night for years, traction alopecia could could occur along the hairline."

While the term alopecia refers to hair loss, Healthline reports that traction alopecia occurs when a person loses hair due to the hair being repeatedly pulled. Pulling your hair back every night to sleep may lead to traction alopecia in the long run.

Fortunately, If you notice symptoms of alopecia, it can be easily reversed by immediately stopping sleeping with your hair up. If you let it go, the hair loss has the potential to be permanent.

It's important to note that pulling your hair back whn you sleep is one of multiple ways you may be causing hair loss. Putting your hair into a bun, wearing tight headbands, and tight braids all have the potential to damage your hair.

Be sure, even when you're not sleeping, to be mindful of tight hairstyles.

Basically, if it hurts your head, it's probably harming your hair and you should loosen up your hairstyle a bit to prevent damage.

If you hate the feeling of your hair in your face when you're sleeping, there are ways you can keep it back without breakage. Allure recommended looser-fitting scrunchies or silk headwraps. You can also pop on a loose-fitting headband or braid it loosely.

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