Bella Hadid’s favorite ‘clean girl’ bun could cost you hair

Don’t brush off this warning.

Experts say the popular slicked-back “clean girl” bun, the go-to hairstyle donned by celebrities such as Bella Hadid, Hailey Bieber and Selena Gomez in 2022, could cause alopecia.

Traction alopecia is a type of hair loss that’s caused by repeatedly pulling on the hair, causing tension in the hair follicle itself. If the follicle is damaged enough, it will scar, and could eventually stop growing.

According to Healthline, individuals can develop the condition over time if they wear their hair in styles that pull tightly on the scalp — such as a tight ponytail, bun or braids — or, the “clean girl” slicked-back bun.

The look has gained popularity among celebrities and social media users alike and the #cleangirl hashtag has 3.5 billion views on TikTok.

The slicked-back bun involves brushing hair back tight and securing it at the back of the head.

The condition is exacerbated if chemicals or heat is used on the hair repeatedly too.

According to experts, the damage can be permanent, and there’s a risk that the hair may not grow back once it falls out.

The American Academy of Dermatology Association recommends mixing up the hairstyle with looser styles — especially around the hairline — to avoid developing traction alopecia.

According to the AADA, signs your hairstyle could be causing hair loss include:

• Pain from tightly pulled hair
• Stinging on your scalp
• Crusts on your scalp
• Tenting (sections of your scalp are being pulled up like a tent)