Pulling your hair back too tightly
Many of us are guilty of pulling our hair back too tightly for a slicked-back bun look or even to get similar effects to a ponytail facelift. However, when we pull it back too tightly, there’s excessive tension on the hair and scalp, which is not ideal, says hairstylist Traci Sakosits. To remedy this, she recommends brushing or combing the—dry or partially wet, never soaking wet—hair back with a cushion brush, which skims the surface and doesn’t put too much tension on the scalp while still providing a smooth finish.
Sakosits says how the hair is secured is just as important when it comes to tension on the hair and scalp. She knows hair elastics are often the easiest thing to grab, but she advises against using them. The rubber bands that have a coating, like the more traditional hair elastics, can be damaging. “Pro tip: when we do fashion week or runway shows or photoshoots when we pull hair back, we tend to use wideband elastic,” which helps control the tension.
