Braids, Beauty & the Hidden Risk of Traction Alopecia

For as long as I can remember, braiding has been part of my life. The hours sitting between my mother's knees as a child, the quiet comfort of having my hair cared for, the way a fresh braid pattern made me feel like myself again. Our hair is never just hair - it carries memory, identity and community.

But a few years ago I started noticing tenderness around my hairline, then thinning I couldn't explain. Like many women I know, I brushed it off as stress or tiredness. It was only when a friend - a fellow braider - mentioned traction alopecia that I started asking questions. What I've learned since has changed how I care for my hair, and it's a conversation I wish more of us were having out loud.