6 Tips for Wearing a High Puff Without the Pain

Have you seen this meme floating around on the interwebs…?

While this IS hilarious and #truth, we’ve got to stop this, ladies! We love to joke about the cost of beauty and the things we put ourselves through to look good but we shouldn’t need a bottle of aspirin just to get through the day because of a tight headband. Believe it or not, you CAN achieve a cute high puff without the pain and the damage to our natural hair that may come with it.

What’s The Danger?

As if the mother of all headaches isn’t enough, ignoring a tight headband all day for the sake of a cute puff can put you at risk for traction alopecia. Let’s just say I know a thing or two about this topic! As the headband squeezes your noggin, it’s actually s-l-o-w-l-y sliding its way upward, pulling your hair along with it. You risk losing hair from those pressure points, namely the very front of your head, the temple region and the points a few inches behind your ears.

Try this:

1. Soak your headband in oil.

The oil will help loosen the elastic bonds a bit. Afterwards, pre-stretch the band before you begin wearing it. Wrap it around a chair back or something wide enough to give a good stretch so that by the time you wear it, it won’t be as snug as when it was fresh out the box. I got this tip from Toni Daley a while back and she breaks it down nicely in this video!

2. Use a long, thin silk or satin scarf.

You’re better able to control how tight your hair will be as you tie the scarf to form your puff. And, as you may already know, the benefits of using these materials as opposed to cotton accessories is that they won’t suck the moisture from your hair.

3. Use a shoelace.

Just like scarves, you can tie a simple shoelace just right so it’s not too tight. Most shoelaces are long enough to allow room to “give” and then whatever excess you have left hanging, just tuck ’em in and no one will be the wiser! This video may be helpful…

4. Use pantyhose.

It works! Pantyhose are nice and stretchy. Cut the foot and top of one side of an old pair lengthwise so you have a piece long enough to wrap around your head at least once. Like the shoelace, just tuck the excess in or use a couple bobby pins to secure the ends in place. Here’s a helpful demo from Hazel Goddess.

5. Keep your hair well-moisturized.

Even though you take all the precautions necessary with the type of accessory you use, you can still be at risk for breakage if you wear an accessory like a headband or scarf on hair that is in need of moisture. These thirsty strands are more prone to breakage so you have to be careful.

Be sure to properly moisturize your hair with water or a water-based product then seal with a butter or light oil, (according to your what you use for your texture). This will help create somewhat of a protective barrier and slip in the event that your accessory begins to move. That way, instead of creating the friction that causes breakage, it should comfortably slide into a spot where it’ll stay put.

6. Take a break.

A puff can be a great go-to style because it’s quick and easy. But repeatedly wearing the same accessory in the same spot can also cause unwanted wear and tear to your hair. Try taking a break from puffs by alternating your high puff days with the days you’ll wear your hair loose. Also, it’s a good idea to take your puff down before going to sleep so your hair/head can breathe and so your headband doesn’t move around causing unwanted friction and breakage while you sleep.

Hopefully these tips can help you on your way to puff perfection without sacrificing comfort or damage!

What do YOU do to achieve your best high puff without the pain & headaches?

*updated October 2019