Editing Hairstyle (section)

=== Health ===
Hair, when it is natural and meets certain criteria, is one of the indicators of a person's good or poor health. This is one of the explanations for the significant role that hairstyles play in both sexual and emotional attraction.<ref>Swami, V., Furnham, A., & Joshi, K. (2008). [https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Viren_Swami/publication/5399253_The_Influence_of_Skin_Tone_Hair_Length_and_Hair_Colour_on_Ratings_of_Womens_Physical_Attractiveness_Health_and_Fertility/links/562496bf08ae70315b5dbcc8.pdf The influence of skin tone, hair length, and hair color on ratings of women's physical attractiveness, health, and fertility]. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 49(5), 429–437.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=6 Signs Your Hair is Healthy |url=https://www.southernliving.com/fashion-beauty/hairstyles/healthy-hair-signs |access-date=2023-10-09 |website=Southern Living |language=en}}</ref>

In the past, certain products used for [[hair graying]] (such as lead oxide or lead combs) have been a source of lead poisoning. Hair is sensitive to air pollution, particularly to various metallic pollutants in the environment (such as lead, [[Mercury (element)|mercury]], or [[arsenic]]<ref>Hindmarsh, J. T., Dekerkhove, D., Grime, G., & Powell, J. (1999). ''Hair arsenic as an index of toxicity. Arsenic Exposure and Health Effects'' (Chappell WR, Abernathy CO, Calderon RL, eds). Amsterdam: Elsevier, 41–49.</ref>). These metals can also be absorbed through food and [[beverages]], as hair bioconcentrates and stores them from the bloodstream to the skin.<ref>Pierard, G. E. (1979). ''Toxic effects of metals from the environment on hair growth and structure.'' Journal of cutaneous pathology, 6(4), 237–242.</ref> Additionally, certain medications can lead to [[hair loss]], and this may be worsened by specific hairstyles.<ref>Van Scott, E. J., Reinertson, R. P., & Steinmuller, R. (1957). ''The Growing Hair Roots of the Human Scalp and Morphologic Changes Therein Following Amethopterin Therapy''. Journal of investigative dermatology, 29(3), 197–204.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Caution: 'Acceptable' Black Women's Hairstyles May Harm Health |url=https://www.wbur.org/news/2014/07/14/black-womens-hairstyles-health |access-date=2023-10-09 |website=www.wbur.org |date=14 July 2014 |language=en}}</ref>

According to a study<ref name="Etude2016">Alessandra H & Crystal A (2016) ''All hairstyles are not created equal: What the dermatologist needs to know about black hairstyling practices and the risk of traction alopecia'' (TA); American Academy of Dermatology; Ed: Elsevier; DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2016.02.1162; [http://www.jaad.org/article/S0190-9622%2816%2901398-0/abstract abstract].</ref> published in 2016 by the [[American Academy of Dermatology]] and notably reported by The Root<ref>Breanna Edwards (2016) [http://www.theroot.com/articles/news/2016/04/weaves_braids_extensions_oh_my_why_your_favorite_hairstyles_may_be_contributing.html ''Weaves, Braids, Extensions, Oh My! Why Your Favorite Hairstyles May Be Contributing to Hair Loss''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160501173517/http://www.theroot.com/articles/news/2016/04/weaves_braids_extensions_oh_my_why_your_favorite_hairstyles_may_be_contributing.html |date=1 May 2016 }}; 2016-04-28.</ref> and [[Science Magazine|Science magazine]],<ref>[http://www.sciencemag.org/news/sifter/when-hairstyles-cause-hair-loss ''When hairstyles cause hair loss''], Science Mag, 2016-04-29.</ref> certain tightly braided hairstyles that exert significant and constant tension on the scalp can contribute to a specific form of alopecia known as traction alopecia (TA). This article categorized hairstyling practices into high, moderate, and low-risk categories of induced alopecia, enabling dermatologists and physicians to provide more precise advice to affected patients.<ref name="Etude2016" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=cupido |first=lisa |date=2023-07-24 |title=3 Life-Changing Hairstyles Pros Swear By For Instantly 'Thick And Healthy' Hair An 'Instant Facelift' |url=https://www.shefinds.com/collections/3-life-changing-hairstyles-thick-healthy/ |access-date=2023-10-09 |website=SheFinds |language=en-US}}</ref>

This is the case with common hairstyles among [[African-American women]], including extensions, braids, and [[dreadlocks]]. This may explain why approximately one-third of black women suffer from [[hair loss]]. Hair damage can be further exacerbated by the use of chemical products used for chemical straightening. The study's findings support recommendations to wear looser hairstyles and avoid keeping braids and extensions for more than a few months.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-05-11 |title=4 Styling Mistakes That Could Actually Make Your Hair Fall Out |url=https://www.womenshealthmag.com/beauty/a19993088/hairstyles-that-damage-hair/ |access-date=2023-10-09 |website=Women's Health |language=en-US}}</ref>

Certain products ([[hair dyes]], [[Hair spray|hairsprays]], bleaches, etc.) may contain allergenic ingredients. Several studies suggest that certain hairstyles or the use of bleaching or dyeing products may increase the risk of certain cancers (melanomas, as well as [[carcinomas]]<ref name="risqueCancerus1983">Scotto J, Fears T.R. & Fraumeni J.F. (1983) [http://www.ciesin.org/gsasearch/search?q=cache:pwoADrqeFE4J:www.ciesin.columbia.edu/docs/001-526/001-526.html+is&site=CIESIN&client=default_web&access=p&ie=UTF-8&output=xml_no_dtd&proxystylesheet=default_web&oe=ISO-8859-1 ''Incidence of nonmelanoma skin cancer in the United States''].</ref>); thus, long and dark hair that shades the skin and protects it from excessive ultraviolet exposure could be a protective factor against certain skin cancers (such as ear cancers).<ref name="risqueCancerus1983" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Laforgue |first=Jules |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oy-rn0Y0i9YC&dq=%22coiffure+%C3%A0+la+Titus%22+++talma&pg=PA223 |title=Oeuvres complètes |date=1986 |publisher=L'Age D'Homme |isbn=978-2-8251-0590-0 |language=fr}}</ref>