Why are ponytails bad?

[carabean]

I've noticed that most of you long timers with gorgeous hair do not include ponytails in your style rotations.

Why is that?

Before coming here I was a ponytail addict, but I've been trying to use English braids as a substitute, especially when I work out.

Thanks, friends!

[Madora]

Ponytails put too much stress on the delicate hairs.

There is stress on the delicate front hairs (and roots) from drawing the hair back into the ponytail..there's pulling on the hair as the ponytail bounces around as you go thru the day.

The longer the hair, the greater the stress.

Also, if you ponytail in the same general area day after day, the hair in that area will show breakage in time..and before you know it, your scalp will begin showing thru.

Think of a farmer, going thru his field by the same route every day. Over a period of months, the grass is worn down, then worn away, leaving a bare path. Same thing with ponytails used so often.

Ponytails have their place..but only if sectioned to form a bun. They are very good for that! I "ponytail" but only to the extent that the hair is drawn up in the tail. I then divide the ponytail into 2 sections, and form my bun that way. I'm not much on ponytail holders, of any kind, unless they are ouchless barrettes.

[Milui Elenath]

For myself (although I'm not a long time LHC-er) it's mainly that ponytails tangle so much more than a bun or braid. And tangles mean breakage generally IMO.

My hair is TB so even when it's in a high ponytail it is still basically down. It's for this reason that I very occasionally do wear high pony tails (when I go out to dinner or the like) - so that it is out but still out of the way So short term in a wind free environment.

[Babyfine]

I was told by a former stylist I had basically the same thing Madora said.
She also cautioned me not to "tighten" the ponytail(pull the hair to tighten the band or scrunchi) as this would cause friction and breakage over time.
I do wear low pony's from time to time-once in a while is OK.

[JamieLeigh]

Agreeing with what you guys have all said. Even if you use the "ouchless" elastics that don't have the metal bar, you're still at risk of breakage. With my current lifestyle (active mom of five young kids) I consider my hair to be too long to leave loose every day without getting in my way, and I'm really only losing about 4" of that length when I wear a ponytail...and barely any at all when it's a ponytail at the nape of the neck.

[Wavelin]

I'm at APL, and have my hair in ponytails way to often. But I haven't managed the braid yet, nor any good buns. In your opinion, would a plastic claw clips be better than a ponytail?

[MaiCarInMtl]

Now I'm left wondering what I'm going to do when I go to the gym. I can't have anything at the back of m head because I won't be able to lie on the benches and I can't have anything piled too high up on my head because I might bump my head while getting into position for certain moves. An English braid always ends up letting my layers slips out and anything lower on the head (going down the neck) ends up squished under the olympic bar... I can't crown braid for peanuts so that's not an option for now either. ... Help!

[heatherovka]

There are so many pretty buns and braids to learn, I rarely choose a ponytail, but I don't think they are that bad once in a while. I am only at BSL though, I can imagine that at longer lengths it would be less practical and more damaging. I also use the ouchless no metal elastics and I'm careful with them. I never get hair tangled in them, absolutely no ripping when taking them out. I try not to use them often, or in the same place a lot to minimize possible damage.

[Firefly]

Now I'm left wondering what I'm going to do when I go to the gym. I can't have anything at the back of m head because I won't be able to lie on the benches and I can't have anything piled too high up on my head because I might bump my head while getting into position for certain moves. An English braid always ends up letting my layers slips out and anything lower on the head (going down the neck) ends up squished under the olympic bar... I can't crown braid for peanuts so that's not an option for now either. ... Help!

I don't know if this will work for you, but I do hot yoga once a week and wear my hair in a simple knot (bun) waaaay low at the base of my neck. I can still lie on my back and even do poses like shoulder stand without the bun being in the way. I've tried every other way to contain my hair while doing yoga and so far this is the only one that works.

[In2wishin]

I will occasionally wear a ponytail but I don't pull the hair tight. I don't think a pony now and then will cause the breakage and shedding that wearing one daily will do, so an hour a couple of days a week while at the gym should be OK.