{"id":114921,"date":"2026-08-21T07:30:06","date_gmt":"2026-08-21T07:30:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/?post_type=articles&p=114921"},"modified":"2026-08-20T08:37:30","modified_gmt":"2026-08-20T08:37:30","slug":"your-ponytail-could-be-causing-permanent-hair-loss-dermatologists-reveal-the-mistakes-almost-everyone-makes-25497","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/articles\/your-ponytail-could-be-causing-permanent-hair-loss-dermatologists-reveal-the-mistakes-almost-everyone-makes-25497\/","title":{"rendered":"Your Ponytail Could Be Causing Permanent Hair Loss: Dermatologists Reveal the Mistakes Almost Everyone Makes"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"iStock-813358142\"
Your Ponytail Could Be Causing Permanent Hair Loss: Dermatologists Reveal the Mistakes Almost Everyone Makes<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

You have probably done it a thousand times without thinking twice. Grab a hair tie from your wrist, pull everything back, twist, loop, done. It takes about ten seconds. It looks polished, keeps hair off your face during a workout or a long day at the office, and requires zero skill. So how could something so effortless possibly be hurting you? The uncomfortable truth is that the way most of us secure our hair on a daily basis may be quietly setting the stage for breakage, thinning, and – in some cases – permanent hair loss. The good news: a few small adjustments can let you keep the style you love without paying a steep price.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Why your go-to updo might be working against you<\/b><\/h2>\n

When you regularly wear a tight ponytail or braid over a long period of time, the recurring pressure and stress<\/a><\/strong> at the root of the hair can lead to an increased loss of healthy strands. The damage tends to show up first in the most vulnerable areas – around the temples and forehead, where hair is naturally finer and more fragile. But those are not the only warning signs. Telltale thinning at the crown, broken frizzy bits poking out at ear and chin level, and shorter strands at the nape of the neck that look shredded or wispy are all red flags worth paying attention to.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dermatologists have a clinical name for hair loss specifically caused by repeated tension: traction alopecia. Beyond the visible thinning near the hairline, other signs include persistent scalp pain and follicular cysts, which are small bumps that develop on the scalp. Of course, hair loss is not always a styling issue – diseases, genetics, stress, lack of sleep, and poor diet can all play a role. But when the culprit is mechanical tension, the pattern is usually unmistakable.<\/span><\/p>\n

In mild cases, traction alopecia can be treated with topical solutions like minoxidil or oral medications like finasteride. Still, the most important step is also the simplest: stop putting excessive pressure on the scalp whenever you can.<\/span><\/p>\n

The everyday habits that accelerate the damage<\/b><\/h2>\n

One of the sneakiest mistakes is tying hair up in the exact same spot day after day. Hair is a fiber, and repeatedly placing tension at the same point weakens it over time. The result? Broken strands that stick out and look frizzy whenever you finally wear your hair down. The fix is surprisingly easy – vary the height and position of your ponytail or braid slightly each time, and try to wear your hair loose from time to time rather than pulled back every single day.<\/span><\/p>\n

Another habit that does more harm than most of us realize is securing hair while it is still wet. Wet hair is significantly more fragile than dry hair, so wrapping an elastic around damp strands dramatically raises the risk of snapping them. The safest approach is to always let hair dry completely before reaching for any kind of elastic or rubber hair tie. For extra protection, gently detangle first, apply a leave-in conditioner and heat protectant, and avoid brushing or excessively handling your hair until it is fully dry.<\/span><\/p>\n

Choosing the right tools – and a smarter technique<\/b><\/h2>\n

Not all hair ties are created equal, and the wrong one can undo even the gentlest styling routine. Narrow elastics and clear ones may look sleek, but both can exert enormous pressure on strands and easily cause breakage. Hair ties with any kind of metal component are even worse – they can literally shave off hair. Silk scrunchies are a far gentler alternative. They may not scream minimalism, but they are now available in a range of colors you can match to your hair, as well as barely-visible mini sizes. If you absolutely must use a classic hair tie, skip the uncovered rubber type and always choose the thickest option available.<\/span><\/p>\n

For those who love the polished look of a taut, sleek ponytail or braid but want to sidestep the risk of a bald spot, hairspray can be a game-changer. Start by brushing the top of your hair flat against your head with a natural bristle brush, then secure the ponytail. After that, mist the style with hairspray. The combination of the brush and hairspray creates that smooth, sculpted finish without requiring you to yank the elastic tighter than it needs to be – sparing your roots from unnecessary tension.<\/span><\/p>\n

What you know now that changes everything<\/b><\/h2>\n

A ponytail is still one of the easiest, most flattering hairstyles<\/a><\/strong> in the world – that part has not changed. What has changed is your awareness of the small, almost invisible missteps that can turn an innocent everyday habit into a source of real damage. Rotating the position of your style, waiting until hair is dry, swapping that thin elastic for a silk scrunchie, and using hairspray instead of brute-force tension are all low-effort swaps that protect your strands and your scalp. You do not have to give up pulled-back hair. You just have to be a little kinder about the way you get there.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":42690,"featured_media":114922,"template":"","format":"standard","categories":[30],"yoast_head":"\nYour Ponytail Could Be Causing Permanent Hair Loss: Dermatologists Reveal the Mistakes Almost Everyone Makes - Grazia USA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/articles\/your-ponytail-could-be-causing-permanent-hair-loss-dermatologists-reveal-the-mistakes-almost-everyone-makes-25497\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Your Ponytail Could Be Causing Permanent Hair Loss: Dermatologists Reveal the Mistakes Almost Everyone Makes\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"You have probably done it a thousand times without thinking twice. Grab a hair tie from your wrist, pull everything back, twist, loop, done. It takes about ten seconds. It looks polished, keeps hair off your face during a workout or a long day at the office, and requires zero skill. So how could something...\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/articles\/your-ponytail-could-be-causing-permanent-hair-loss-dermatologists-reveal-the-mistakes-almost-everyone-makes-25497\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Grazia USA\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-08-20T08:37:30+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2026\/08\/iStock-813358142.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"675\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"NewsArticle\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/articles\/your-ponytail-could-be-causing-permanent-hair-loss-dermatologists-reveal-the-mistakes-almost-everyone-makes-25497\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/articles\/your-ponytail-could-be-causing-permanent-hair-loss-dermatologists-reveal-the-mistakes-almost-everyone-makes-25497\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Grazia Staff\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/#\/schema\/person\/c2ab125d2383d565e92c07f5bfdcfc66\"},\"headline\":\"Your Ponytail Could Be Causing Permanent Hair Loss: Dermatologists Reveal the Mistakes Almost Everyone Makes\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-08-21T07:30:06+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-08-20T08:37:30+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/articles\/your-ponytail-could-be-causing-permanent-hair-loss-dermatologists-reveal-the-mistakes-almost-everyone-makes-25497\/\"},\"wordCount\":886,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/#organization\"},\"articleSection\":[\"Beauty\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/articles\/your-ponytail-could-be-causing-permanent-hair-loss-dermatologists-reveal-the-mistakes-almost-everyone-makes-25497\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/articles\/your-ponytail-could-be-causing-permanent-hair-loss-dermatologists-reveal-the-mistakes-almost-everyone-makes-25497\/\",\"name\":\"Your Ponytail Could Be Causing Permanent Hair Loss: Dermatologists Reveal the Mistakes Almost Everyone Makes - Grazia USA\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2026-08-21T07:30:06+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-08-20T08:37:30+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/articles\/your-ponytail-could-be-causing-permanent-hair-loss-dermatologists-reveal-the-mistakes-almost-everyone-makes-25497\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/articles\/your-ponytail-could-be-causing-permanent-hair-loss-dermatologists-reveal-the-mistakes-almost-everyone-makes-25497\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/articles\/your-ponytail-could-be-causing-permanent-hair-loss-dermatologists-reveal-the-mistakes-almost-everyone-makes-25497\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Your Ponytail Could Be Causing Permanent Hair Loss: Dermatologists Reveal the Mistakes Almost Everyone Makes\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/\",\"name\":\"Grazia USA\",\"description\":\"Driving tastemakers in Fashion, Beauty and Culture\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Grazia USA\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2026\/06\/grazia-usa.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2026\/06\/grazia-usa.png\",\"width\":447,\"height\":447,\"caption\":\"Grazia USA\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/#\/schema\/person\/c2ab125d2383d565e92c07f5bfdcfc66\",\"name\":\"Grazia Staff\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/1cbcdc1e6c9da65d4dd86c3b2c6839c3?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/1cbcdc1e6c9da65d4dd86c3b2c6839c3?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Grazia Staff\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/author\/usergrazia\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Your Ponytail Could Be Causing Permanent Hair Loss: Dermatologists Reveal the Mistakes Almost Everyone Makes - Grazia USA","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/articles\/your-ponytail-could-be-causing-permanent-hair-loss-dermatologists-reveal-the-mistakes-almost-everyone-makes-25497\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Your Ponytail Could Be Causing Permanent Hair Loss: Dermatologists Reveal the Mistakes Almost Everyone Makes","og_description":"You have probably done it a thousand times without thinking twice. Grab a hair tie from your wrist, pull everything back, twist, loop, done. It takes about ten seconds. It looks polished, keeps hair off your face during a workout or a long day at the office, and requires zero skill. So how could something...","og_url":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/articles\/your-ponytail-could-be-causing-permanent-hair-loss-dermatologists-reveal-the-mistakes-almost-everyone-makes-25497\/","og_site_name":"Grazia USA","article_modified_time":"2026-08-20T08:37:30+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1200,"height":675,"url":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2026\/08\/iStock-813358142.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/articles\/your-ponytail-could-be-causing-permanent-hair-loss-dermatologists-reveal-the-mistakes-almost-everyone-makes-25497\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/articles\/your-ponytail-could-be-causing-permanent-hair-loss-dermatologists-reveal-the-mistakes-almost-everyone-makes-25497\/"},"author":{"name":"Grazia Staff","@id":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/#\/schema\/person\/c2ab125d2383d565e92c07f5bfdcfc66"},"headline":"Your Ponytail Could Be Causing Permanent Hair Loss: Dermatologists Reveal the Mistakes Almost Everyone Makes","datePublished":"2026-08-21T07:30:06+00:00","dateModified":"2026-08-20T08:37:30+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/articles\/your-ponytail-could-be-causing-permanent-hair-loss-dermatologists-reveal-the-mistakes-almost-everyone-makes-25497\/"},"wordCount":886,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/#organization"},"articleSection":["Beauty"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/articles\/your-ponytail-could-be-causing-permanent-hair-loss-dermatologists-reveal-the-mistakes-almost-everyone-makes-25497\/","url":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/articles\/your-ponytail-could-be-causing-permanent-hair-loss-dermatologists-reveal-the-mistakes-almost-everyone-makes-25497\/","name":"Your Ponytail Could Be Causing Permanent Hair Loss: Dermatologists Reveal the Mistakes Almost Everyone Makes - Grazia USA","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/#website"},"datePublished":"2026-08-21T07:30:06+00:00","dateModified":"2026-08-20T08:37:30+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/articles\/your-ponytail-could-be-causing-permanent-hair-loss-dermatologists-reveal-the-mistakes-almost-everyone-makes-25497\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/articles\/your-ponytail-could-be-causing-permanent-hair-loss-dermatologists-reveal-the-mistakes-almost-everyone-makes-25497\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/articles\/your-ponytail-could-be-causing-permanent-hair-loss-dermatologists-reveal-the-mistakes-almost-everyone-makes-25497\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Your Ponytail Could Be Causing Permanent Hair Loss: Dermatologists Reveal the Mistakes Almost Everyone Makes"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/#website","url":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/","name":"Grazia USA","description":"Driving tastemakers in Fashion, Beauty and Culture","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/#organization","name":"Grazia USA","url":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2026\/06\/grazia-usa.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2026\/06\/grazia-usa.png","width":447,"height":447,"caption":"Grazia USA"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/#\/schema\/person\/c2ab125d2383d565e92c07f5bfdcfc66","name":"Grazia Staff","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/1cbcdc1e6c9da65d4dd86c3b2c6839c3?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/1cbcdc1e6c9da65d4dd86c3b2c6839c3?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Grazia Staff"},"url":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/author\/usergrazia\/"}]}},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"Grazia USA","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/articles\/114921"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/articles"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/articles"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/42690"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/114922"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=114921"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=114921"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}