Traction Alopecia Highlighted in Spoof 'Save My Edges' Campaign

Anyone prone to hair loss will tell you how precious hair can be, particularly for women with afro hair as, due to its texture, is naturally more brittle and open to damage from conditions such as hair breakage and Traction Alopecia.

Now Centric TV, the female-focused branch of international BET - Black Entertainment TV - channel, which shows popular series including the Wendy Williams talk show and Kevin Hart's 'Real Husbands of Hollywood', has used this fear to launch a tongue-in-cheek campaign, 'Save My Edges'.

Save My Edges

It is well-known among the black community that tightly braided traditional hairstyles can cause excessive tension on the hair follicles leading to a condition called Traction Alopecia.

Traction Alopecia mostly causes hair loss around the hairline, particularly at the temples - also known as 'edges' - due to this part of the scalp bearing the brunt of the pressure caused by tight hairstyles or tautly affixed wigs, weaves or hair extensions.

The campaign 'Save My Edges' includes a 'Public Service Announcement' video featuring a number of celebrities including Tatyana Ali and Eva Marcille, spoofing a charity campaign. Continues below video



A common misconception about Traction Alopecia is that it only affects black women. Although it is typically more often found in women with afro hair, Traction Alopecia can affect women of all races and hair types.

As hair extensions have risen in popularity, so too have the numbers of Caucasian women being affected, not just by TA's signature receding hairline, but often also with patches of hairloss where the extensions have been fitted. The current hair trend for tightly braided styles could well lead to a further boom in women noticing thinning hair around their hairline if the plaits are worn too regularly.

It can also affect both sexes but, due to the fact that women tend to be more experimental with their hairstyles, is generally less common in men. Men can still lose their edges, however, but this is more likely due to a receding hairline caused by male pattern baldness.

Treatment for Traction Alopecia

The #SaveMyEdges video urges women to visit the campaign website which explains the different hairstyles that can cause hair loss and 'edge-ucational' features on avoiding and treating Traction Alopecia.

Whilst this includes various useful haircare tips for dealing with the condition of the hair on a cosmetic level - such as wearing the hair natural, using castor oil to soften the hair and silk pillowcases or headscarves to protect it - it does not address treatment for Traction Alopecia.

Topical applications of high strength minoxidil are often recommended on an individual basis as part of a personalised treatment course by Belgravia's hair loss specialist nurses. This can be combined with various boosters including clinical therapy sessions featuring scalp and hair treatments tailored to each client's needs and hair type, which can further help the hair to reach its full potential.

Despite the hairline being the most stubborn area of the scalp to treat, this approach has produced significant regrowth results for many of our TA clients. Numerous examples featuring clients photographed before and after starting their bespoke treatment plans can be seen in our Traction Alopecia Success Stories gallery. So if you really want to 'save your edges', get in touch.