Curly & Afro-Textured Hair Loss

Hair Loss in Women vs. Men   |   Treatment Options   |   Dr. Frank’s Experience

African American hair tends to be the curliest type of hair, as it’s tightly coiled and coarse. However, all curly hair is subject to similar concerns that contribute to hair loss.

Most importantly, afro-textured hair is physically more fragile, meaning that it’s more easily damaged during coloring, relaxing, and/or in the application of hair extensions and hair weaves.

Aggressive styling and straightening measures can also permanently damage hair follicles, leading to hair loss conditions like Traction Alopecia, Follicular Degeneration Syndrome, or Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia (CCCA).

While it’s true that certain hair treatments can be more damaging to curly or African American hair, any action that injures the hair follicle can cause it to die and fall out.

Likewise, known diseases of the hair follicle or genetic pre-conditions (such as male pattern baldness) will also cause hair loss independent of the type of hair one has.

Hair Loss in Men

Compared to women, Afro-Textured hair loss in men usually causes fewer problems. However, that is not to say that these men do not have hair loss and styling issues unique to tightly curled hair.

Men with curly or Afro-Textured hair also experience genetic and other hair loss problems commonly experienced by men.

Treating Afro-Textured Hair Loss 

Dr. Frank has treated many African American people with various hair conditions. In all cases, the hair follicles are depleted and must be replaced.

Because hair loss functions the same at the follicle level regardless of race, this means that existing hair loss treatments are equally effective for black and non-black hair.

For those seeking treatment for the first time, we will try to heal the underlying condition before pursuing surgical measures. These may include the FDA approved medications such as Propecia & Minoxidil.

If non-surgical solutions aren’t effective, the good news is that surgical replacement of curly hair follicles has some of the best results of any hair loss category. So while some types of hair loss respond well to medications and other techniques, African American and other curly-haired individuals with hair loss consistently see great results with Afro-Textured Hair Transplants. 

Dr John E Frank MD is a Board Certified Alopecia and Hair Follicle Surgeon. After practicing hair loss medicine and surgery for over 15 years in New York and California, he opened John Frank MD Hair Clinics in Manhattan, NY and Columbus, OH. Dr. Frank has treated thousands of people suffering from hair loss, and has a strong interest in Afro Textured Hair Loss and reconstruction.