Tension
How tightly hair is pulled in a braid, ponytail or weave, which affects comfort and the hairline.
Also: tight styles
Tension is the pull on the hair in a style. Some tension keeps braids neat and ponytails secure, but very tight styles held for weeks can strain the roots, especially at the edges and temples, and cause lasting thinning there. Signs of too much tension are soreness, small bumps at the roots and a style that pulls the skin. Braiders reduce it with looser hairlines, knotless and feed-in methods, and by changing parting positions.