Traction alopecia is most often associated with which styling practice?

• A. Loose chignons
• B. Tight cornrows
• C. Frequent perms
• D. Heavy conditioner use

Answer: (B)

Traction alopecia comes from ongoing mechanical stress on the hair follicles, where constant pulling on the hair shaft damages the follicles over time. The styling practice that most strongly fits this pattern is tight cornrows, because they grip the hair tightly and keep sustained tension along the scalp for extended periods. That persistent pull around the hairline and other areas where the braids are tight leads to thinning and potential hair loss if the tension isn’t eased. To prevent it, avoid very tight styles, give the hair breaks between braided styles, loosen braids, and choose options that spread tension more evenly. Other practices like looser updos, chemical damage from perms, or heavy conditioning don’t involve the same continuous mechanical pull, so they’re less associated with traction alopecia.