Getting headaches

**FrozenBritannia** · April 11th, 2012, 04:31 PM

I am sure there is a thread in here somewhere on this, but I don't even know what to search for.

My hair is not thick, freshly washed it is barely a ii, on day two or three it is definately i. It is just past APL though, and now when I wear it up in a french twist with a hair stick, I am getting headaches. My hair is kind of layered, so I can't really do many buns yet, but if I am going to start practising some it makes sense to learn how to balance them so I don't get a sore neck or headaches.

Does anyone have any advice or experiences to share? What else could be causing this?

**Amazinggrace** · April 11th, 2012, 04:35 PM

The easiest culprit, I think, would be pulling it to tightly.

The other reason could be that your hair follicles are not used to being manipulted. You may have to get used to having you hair up. If that is the case, I would wear it up for 30-60 minutes, then switch to down. This should give your hair time to get accustomed to styles.

As your hair gets longer weight distribution is important. Everyone has, go to styles, that suit them best. You may want to try a crown braid, it distributes weight very evenly.

Good Luck

**longcurlygirl<3** · April 11th, 2012, 04:39 PM

Happens to me too, my scalp was so sore I had to take my single BRAID down during the night because it hurt bad as I slept. But today I washed my hair and basically massaged my scalp for like 5 minutes CO-WASHING, usually I only massage for 2 minutes to get a clean feeling. My headaches are gone. Maybe do a braid and then bun. Use pomade for the layers

**auburntressed** · April 11th, 2012, 04:56 PM

I have noticed that if anything touches my scalp directly other than my hair, I'll get a lot of pain from it. So... hairpins, hairsticks, clips... I have to be very careful that they are stuck in the hair without brushing my scalp. If your hair is on the thin side, it might be harder to avoid allowing a stick or pin to make contact with your scalp. I don't know if you're sensitive to that, but you might experiment to see.

**racrane** · April 11th, 2012, 05:01 PM

I used to get headaches, too. I figured out I was pulling my hair too tightly. I found a balance that worked well, but it took trial and error. I hope your headache goes away!

**FrozenBritannia** · April 11th, 2012, 05:32 PM

Hmm, some things to think about!

The stick does touch my scalp, and the hair is pulled tight, because that is the only way I can get it to stay right now.

I will have to figure out another way I guess!

I have tried braiding my hair and then bunning it, but it doesn't work so good yet, that is my plan when it gets longer though!

**Kelikea** · April 11th, 2012, 06:14 PM

Try sectioning it differently each day and wearing it up for a shorter amount of time, gradually increasing as you get used to it. I used to wear my hair in the same braided ponytail, almost everyday, and I would get headaches to the point of wanting to be able to just take my hair off, like a wig. I eventually cut it. But that was going from TB, no layers. As I near TB again, I worry about getting the headaches, but so far, so good. I change my updo's regularly and don't pull it too tight.

**Anje** · April 11th, 2012, 06:28 PM

What's the angle of your hairstick? I know I get some serious scalp-pulling with vertical and near-vertical sticks. They're much better for me as they approach horizontal.

BTW, are you talking about actual headaches or scalp/follicle aches? I think it's important to distinguish whether your follicles are complaining about direction/tension/whatever POs a follicle or if the position and weight of your hair is causing tension headaches.

**Hollyfire3** · April 11th, 2012, 06:31 PM

Originally Posted by Anje

What's the angle of your hairstick? I know I get some serious scalp-pulling with vertical and near-vertical sticks. They're much better for me as they approach horizontal.

BTW, are you talking about actual headaches or scalp/follicle aches? I think it's important to distinguish whether your follicles are complaining about direction/tension/whatever POs a follicle or if the position and weight of your hair is causing tension headaches.

How can you tell the difference in folicle pain or hair heaviness?

**Anje** · April 11th, 2012, 06:37 PM

Originally Posted by Hollyfire3

How can you tell the difference in folicle pain or hair heaviness?

For me, follicle pain is right on the surface. The scalp feels all achy and strange if you massage it with your fingers or change the hair direction a little. A tension headache is a headache -- it echos through your whole head, like your brain hurts.