Can wearing head coverings frequently lead to hair loss?

I’m not sure about wearing head coverings, but it makes sense. I do know that wearing your hair in a tight bun or ponytail can result in hair loss if you do it regularly.

I wasn’t sure whether people wore hats because they were going bald, or wearing hats caused the balding.
Which came first? The chicken or the egg?
I have 3 brothers and the youngest and the oldest have thick hair. My middle brother was going bald at age 19. I think it’s hereditary mostly.
When he died, the three of us were standing at his casket. An elderly man came up and asked how we knew him. I answered “we are his siblings.”
The man looked at us, then my brother in his casket, then us again and said “Poor guy missed out on the hair gene.”

That’s an old wives’ tale (totally incorrect).

I think not.

There are plenty of bald and balding orthodox Jews who wear yarmulkes. You may have a good theory.

So… I first read this as do do hats cause hearing loss. Which sent me down a rabbit hole on Google.

As @smudges noted a tight pony tail can cause traction alopecia if it is worn regularly over a long period of time. Similarly a very tight fitting hat can also cause traction alopecia if worn regularly so it’s possible but I suspect most people don’t wear hats tight enough for long enough to actually cause it.

@elbanditoroso Ah, but does the yarmulke cause hair loss or is it worn to cover a balding pate?

@janbb age old question – is this cause and effect, or pure coincidence?

In short, no, unless sthe head covering ripped hair out every time you pulled it off.

@kritiper A few years ago I went to a hair restoration clinic to be evaluated for hair follicle implants. I asked the hair expert in charge this same question. The answer was no. I was informed that hair loss in men is mainly genetic and excessive baseball cap use is not a factor.

I decided against hair implants mainly because I’d rather look natural with a bald head than to look weird.

I really doubt it.

My theory has always been the first Jews who decided men should wear head covering were men who had genetic baldness that starts at the back top of the head, which is a typical pattern.

I also think the first Baptists were probably tone deaf and no rhythm and decided no one should be allowed to dance.

Basically, men trying to save themselves from feeling embarrassed.

Also, in the very sunny Middle East and other parts of the world it makes sense to cover your head to protect from burning your head. The Arabs draping the fabric over their head probably helps keep them cool too.

@JLeslie. Have you been to a Baptist church? We sing, dance and eat with the best of them!

@gondwanalon I’ve heard the genetics explanation before. I also heard it was from the mother’s side of the family. Looking at that side, My uncle: bald. My grandfather: bald. His one brother: bald, the other not. Me: head full of hair. My brother: head full of hair. Then I looked at my dad’s side…much skinnier tree. My dad: head full. His dad: head full.

So I thought about the people listed above. My uncle, the one great uncle, and my grandfather on my mom’s side all wore hats all the time and had for years, either for work or style. The one great uncle that had hair never did. My dad never did. His dad never did. I only wore hats when I had too (hard hats sometimes) and my brother never really had to wear hats.

Now this is strictly a small sampling and anecdotal, not a peer reviewed scientific study, but it is one of the things that got me wondering. I’m not discounting genetics…I believe it is a real cause…but I’m wondering if there is another contributor.

@chyna Good point. It depends on the Baptists. They are the only group I know of off the top of my head that don’t allow dancing (they probably aren’t the only ones) and as you said, some Baptists are ok with it.

The dad of an acquaintance of mine in Memphis lectured her about doing zumba class, which is barely dancing, mostly women, and you’re 6 feet away from the next person.

Know why Baptists can’t have sex? Because it’s horizontal dancing

@gondwanalon I agree. I have worn a hat for many years while my older brother has not. Both of us have the same amount of hair loss.