The ponytail: a protective style? Or a cause of breakage?
- Thread starter kaytorry
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keepithealthy
Well-Known Member
bumping for ya
naturalTAN
New Member
it depends.
tiffjust2002
New Member
I am natural so maybe I shouldn't comment lol but I would say it would depend on what you are using to make the ponytail, like an ochless pony-o or a banana clip? Also how tight are you making the ponytail would factor in as well. I try to keep mine fairly loose maybe 2 times around with the pony-o or just use a banana clip 
Renewed1
Well-Known Member
I used a phony pony as a PS. I would slick my hair back, moisturized MY hair and seal, and baggy, then I would used a textured pony and style that in a messy bun.
Using your hair overtime may cause breakage. It's almost like anything in life you never really want to overdo it...
Using your hair overtime may cause breakage. It's almost like anything in life you never really want to overdo it...
greenandchic
Well-Known Member
It really depends. I use a Goody ouchless band (not metal) and only never wrap it around my hair more than the one time to put it on. It could be the thickness of my hair, but I would not be able to twist it, especially on dry hair.
My ponytails, buns, puffs, etc are never tight. If I want to hold my edges back more, I use raw shea butter or a light gel to keep them in place and/or maybe a headband instead of tightening my hair.
My ponytails, buns, puffs, etc are never tight. If I want to hold my edges back more, I use raw shea butter or a light gel to keep them in place and/or maybe a headband instead of tightening my hair.
CurlsBazillion
Well-Known Member
I think breakage comes from doing the ponytail or bun in the same place day in and day out. If you alternate from low ponytail, mid, to high ponytail you can avoid breakage. imo
Lovelylocs
Well-Known Member
a ticket to breakage IMO.
greenandchic
Well-Known Member
Geeze, I never knew that. I do alternate from low to high (thankfully I have that option), but didn't know that was a requirement to avoid breakage.
Sometimes I do dip my ponytail holders in oil to avoid snags and that does help with that issue....
tiffers
Whisper "bleep boop" to yourself when you're sad.
A protective style is a style that protects your ends. Unless you're wearing a phony pony over your real hair, a ponytail is not a protective style. 
But you CAN wear ponytails and not suffer from breakage because of it. It all depends on the products you use and what you choose to tie your hair back with.
But you CAN wear ponytails and not suffer from breakage because of it. It all depends on the products you use and what you choose to tie your hair back with.
greenandchic
Well-Known Member
A protective style is a style that protects your ends. Unless you're wearing a phony pony over your real hair, a ponytail is not a protective style.
But you CAN wear ponytails and not suffer from breakage because of it. It all depends on the products you use and what you choose to tie your hair back with.
It depends.
A high ponytail keeps my hair off my shoulders, clothing, seatbelts, purse straps, car head rest, etc so it can be a semi PS. But yes, my ends are still showing so I wear buns most of the time.
winterinatl
All natural!
Most likely you will get breakage whenever you do a style repeatedly. Especially a ponytail. You could mitigate that by changing it's position on your head and using gentle tools to achieve the style. If you wear banana clips everyday, you will have bre akage. If it's a ponytail everyday w elastic that will do it too. I wear ptails all the tome, and have to te myself to switch it up. I try to alternate them with clipped up styles, and buns w pins.
Sent from my Fancy iPhone using LHCF. Please excuse the typos.
Sent from my Fancy iPhone using LHCF. Please excuse the typos.
summerof1990
Well-Known Member
Going to try that!
whiteoleander91
stay at your best ♥
Almost my entire transition (a good 9 months of it, I transitioned for a year) I wore my hair in a bun lol My hair looked stupid when I would try anything else and I was just soooooooo frustrated and was considering going back to relaxers. Saw a youtube vid of someone who transitioned wearing a bun and I just went for it. I deep conditioned once a week (alternating between moisturizing dc and protien treatments), moisturized and used shea butter to seal every day. Didn't pin it up too tight and used ouchless hair ties. My hair was fine, didn't notice any excessive shedding around the area I would tie my hair. My transition was pretty easy actually. I was pleasantly surprised haha
halee_J
Don't worry be happy
I have been bunning almost daily for the last year, and have had no sign breakage around the area of the ponytail holder. In fact the top part of my hair was damaged and short and its growing out very nicely. I use the elastic band of wig caps and knee highs to make my ponytail holders, just cut it off and you're ready to roll. ZERO snags
ETA: I'm also transitioning, 10 months post.
ETA: I'm also transitioning, 10 months post.
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An_gell
Well-Known Member
I have fine hair, and I wear ponytails all the time because I bun all the time, except on the weekends. I have not noticed any excessive breakage from constantly doing this and I have to admit I have been bunning like crazy for a year and a couple months. If anything my hair has grown a lot and every week I am amazed at the length of my ponytail compared to when I first started bunning because its getting longer and longer, but I do take good care of my hair too.
I think it depends on the tightness and tension you maybe putting on that area. I think too much tension can lead to breakage over time.
I think it depends on the tightness and tension you maybe putting on that area. I think too much tension can lead to breakage over time.
All I have ever worn was ponytails from middle school on to where I am now. The only time I ever got breakage was this one time I bought some new ponytail holders. They did not have the metal piece on it but it was soooo new and unstretched that it was around my hair so tightly. I never paid any attention but ouchless bands come on that cardboard that kinda stretches them out a little. This one did not so its elasticity was nonexistent. 
From my experience 
the band used and how tight it is around the hair is what will cause breakage, not the placement of the bun.
I only like my bun placement in one spot on my head and since I've stopped pinning a phony bun to my head my hair is recovering fine from the breakage I had last year.
I use a cut off stocking to hold my bun, twist the hair around and put a scrunchie around the outside to hold it in place. I do want to get a pair of real silk stockings though.
the band used and how tight it is around the hair is what will cause breakage, not the placement of the bun. I only like my bun placement in one spot on my head and since I've stopped pinning a phony bun to my head my hair is recovering fine from the breakage I had last year.
I use a cut off stocking to hold my bun, twist the hair around and put a scrunchie around the outside to hold it in place. I do want to get a pair of real silk stockings though.
greenandchic
Well-Known Member
Do you know where I can get those? I've never seen it in the stores. I have used satin scarves to tie my hair up though.
@greenandchic, I do this too I keep a ziplock bag with oil and put all of my ponytail holders in the bag.
Great idea!
