All good things seem to come with their own set of downsides, and braids are no different. They can be damaging to your hair, especially if they're worn too tightly and for too long. While in extreme cases you can develop temporary to permanent traction alopecia (which is basically a form of hair loss caused by wearing hairstyles that stress on your scalp and tresses), having your hair in tight braids can pull on your hair follicles in the best of circumstances. "The stress on the follicle can weaken it and sometimes cause hair loss," Ouidad's artistic educator and stylist Jessica O'Brien shared with Byrdie.
When you stop wearing braids, you give your scalp room to breathe and your hair follicles a chance to escape persistent tugging. A lot goes into keeping braids looking the way they do. You have to moisturize regularly, have a dedicated haircare routine, and wash your braids to maintain a clean scalp and tresses. If you don't pay attention to hygiene, having braids can actually lead to sweat and dirt buildup, which can then cause skin irritation.
Wearing braids, especially styles like box braids, can get in the way of simple lifestyle habits like sleeping, using the washroom, and getting dressed too, according to YouTube content creator Janae.
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