Headache? Maybe it’s your ponytail’s fault!

Updated article, published December 16, 2019

The ponytail is one of those versatile hairstyles that adapt to various situations: sporting activity, a trip to the local supermarket or even an elegant evening, it adapts to all our daily needs and, unlike other styles such as braids or chignon, its realization it does not require special skills. Yes, it would be really perfect if it didn’t tend to trigger headaches … We’ll explain.

Because the ponytail gives you a headache

Denise E. Chou, a neurologist, explains this fun cause and effect relationship to the magazine SHE American:

When you do a tight chignon or ponytail, or choose textures or extensions, it pulls the nerves in the scalp, which can lead to headaches or signal the onset of a migraine.

Most of the time, people who experience headaches when wearing a ponytail are already prone to migraines. ” People aren’t necessarily aware, because it’s underdiagnosed, but about 12% of the population is worried “, Adds the specialist. This disorder leads to a sensory hypersensitivity which makes the nerves around the face and scalp super sensitiveand this can increase if the hair is pulled continuously.

But migraine sufferers aren’t the only ones affected! For Deena Kuruvilla, professor of neurology at Yale University, USA, the pain associated with wearing a ponytail (or another tight style, ed) is common “, Says al Huffpost. ” It is often seen in dancers, gymnasts and cheerleaders due to the very tight regulatory hairstyles, as well as in swimmers, due to the pressure exerted by the headphones. “

There ” ponytail bread “, which could be translated as” ponytail pain “in French, is one example cutaneous allodynia : The brain sends a pain message in response to a normally painless stimulus. Hair brushing such as face shaving can also fall into this category.

How to avoid headaches when wearing a ponytail?

While some experts recommend taking pain relievers to relieve headaches, Dr. Chou’s advice is simpler: opt for less stiff hairstyles and avoid ballerina buns, ponytails, headbands and anything that could compress the scalp. ” Personally, I prefer a wider hairstyle. I hate this feeling of oppression, it distracts me. I like fuzzy sandwiches “, He confides to the magazine SHE.

Loosening your hair from time to time and changing the position of the parting can also help relieve discomfort.

Front page photo credit: Jupiterimages