in their training. Five respondents (21%) thought hair styling practices do not contribute to hair loss, regardless of whether or not they learned about alopecia in cosmetology school.
DISCUSSION
Comparing responses between stylists who learned about alopecia in cosmetology school and those who did not is illuminating with regards to initial recommendations for clients with hair loss. Stylists not formally educated about alopecia in their training initially recommend their clients obtain dermatologic care, while those who were taught on the subject often first recommend over the counter products such as vitamin supplements and shampoos. This indicates a vital area of intervention dermatologists can make in cosmetology training.
Some hair stylists incorrectly believed hair styling practices could not contribute to hair loss, also representing a potentially rectifiable gap in cosmetology curricula. This finding, coupled with the majority of respondents reporting Black clientele, is particularly troubling in light of prevalent diagnoses such as traction alopecia (TA). TA is a common form of hair loss caused by styling hair with excess tension and mitigated by low-tension hairstyles that is prevalent in all demographics but particularly persons of African descent.6 It is important for stylists to be aware of the connection between hairstyling and hair loss to fully address this problem and improve hair health.
Limitations of this study include lack of generalizability, recall bias, and small sample size.
Some hair stylists incorrectly believed hair styling practices could not contribute to hair loss, also representing a potentially rectifiable gap in cosmetology curricula. This finding, coupled with the majority of respondents reporting Black clientele, is particularly troubling in light of prevalent diagnoses such as traction alopecia (TA). TA is a common form of hair loss caused by styling hair with excess tension and mitigated by low-tension hairstyles that is prevalent in all demographics but particularly persons of African descent.6 It is important for stylists to be aware of the connection between hairstyling and hair loss to fully address this problem and improve hair health.
Limitations of this study include lack of generalizability, recall bias, and small sample size.
