How to Treat and Prevent It

Braids are among the most popular protective styles. Beloved for their versatility and longevity, they are a great choice for naturals who want to give their curls and coils a break from daily manipulation. While giving your hair a little PTO may sound great, you could begin to notice a little tingling in your scalp—the dreaded braid itch.

If you’ve ever had an itchy scalp or neck while wearing braids and wondered what was causing it, you’re far from alone. To get to the bottom of that question, we consulted hairstylists Angela C. Stevens and Ona Diaz-Santin along with board-certified dermatologist Jessie Cheung, MD. Read on for everything you need to know about braid itch, including how to treat and prevent it.

What Is Braiding Hair?

“Braiding hair is hair used to extend the length or fullness of braided and twisted hairstyles,” says Stevens. “It can come in many forms, such as human hair, synthetic hair, or a blend of both.”

Synthetic hair is made from artificial fibers that mimic the look of natural hair. “It’s cheaper, comes in various colors and styles, and holds braids well; however, it can look shinier and tangle more easily,” explains Diaz-Santin.

Human hair is made from real human hair, which gives it a more natural look and feel. It can be styled and treated the same way you would your own hair and it blends more seamlessly. Diaz-Santin notes that while human hair is more expensive than synthetic hair, it lasts longer with proper care. But there are some factors you should consider before making a decision: “Budget, desired look, and maintenance are just some of the things you should think about before choosing braiding hair,” she adds.

What Makes Braiding Hair Itchy?

According to Stevens, the fibers used to make braiding hair lead to that well-known itch. “In particular, those with sensitive skin may experience discomfort while wearing synthetic braiding hair,” she explains. “Some harsh ingredients coated onto synthetic hair include pesticides, plastics, acrylic, and heavy metals.” Braiding hair can also make it tougher to cleanse the scalp. “An itchy scalp can be caused by a buildup of dead skin cells, oils, styling products, and even chemicals from synthetic hair,” Cheung says.

Due to the harsh ingredients used to make synthetic hair, Stevens recommends cleaning it before use to help reduce your odds of irritation. While Diaz-Santin recommends opting for braiding hair made of natural fibers, “If you are going to use synthetic hair, go for breathable synthetic options,” she says. “Synthetic braiding hair [can] lack breathability, leading to heat and moisture buildup on the scalp, which can cause irritation and discomfort,” she adds.

Braiding Hair and Scalp Health

While braids offer many benefits—such as promoting hair growth and minimizing manipulation—there can be downsides. “Braiding hair has the same drawbacks as hair extensions, including hair loss, which is usually traction alopecia and breakage from the weight of the hair, and dermatitis and folliculitis from the buildup of dead skin cells, oils, and even chemicals from synthetic hair,” Cheung explains.

Ask your stylist if they can redo any braids that look tight or feel heavy. “Tight or heavy braids can cause tension on the scalp, leading to discomfort, hair breakage, and even traction alopecia,” says Diaz-Santin.

Braids should also be well maintained to minimize potential damage and promote good scalp and hair health. To do this, you’ll need to keep your hair moisturized with the help of an oil, cream, or serum of your choice while wearing your braids. “Braiding hair absorbs moisture and can leave natural hair dry after use,” Stevens says.

Addressing Irritation Caused by Braiding Hair

The best way to address irritation caused by braiding hair is to prevent it from happening in the first place—by maintaining your braids regularly. If your braids do get itchy, give them a wash before oiling your scalp.

Along with keeping up with your maintenance routine, Diaz-Santin recommends loosening tight braids, avoiding scratching, taking breaks between styles, and having steam treatments. If you prefer synthetic braids, note that the most common fibers are made from plastic polymers, which Cheung says are believed to cause dermatitis. “If you’re concerned about how safe your braiding hair may be, then you might want to consider switching to plant-based synthetic braids,” she says. “Not only are they earth-friendly, but they’re better for your skin, too.”

The Final Takeaway

Depending on what it’s made of, braiding hair can leave you feeling itchy. For this reason, building and maintaining a routine that helps prevent and reduce irritation is imperative. Whether you choose human or synthetic braiding hair, if you have any concerns about your scalp and hair health, it’s worth researching before you book an appointment.