Many South Africans wear their hair in braids but can this hair style cause any negative side effects?
"Not really," says Cape Town medical doctor, Danie Pauw. "The only problem comes in when braids are pulled too tightly, causing not only discomfort, but possible hair loss as well.
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Pulling braids tightly will not make them last longer. On the contrary, as the discomfort may make the wearer unbraid their hair a lot sooner.
Very tight braids can also give the wearer a headache, as well as damaging their hair."
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"Braided hair must be washed as often as other hair, otherwise scalp infections become a possibility", according to Pauw. "It is important to have braids done by experienced people – an inexperienced person may pull them too tightly, causing you lots of pain and discomfort.
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