An Australian hair colourist has issued an urgent "hairline SOS" warning, highlighting a significant increase in bald spots and hair damage directly linked to a popular hairstyle. Marlie, a hair colourist and mother from Tahmoor, Australia, took to social media to caution women against the widely adopted 'slick back' look, including slick back buns and ponytails, which she states are causing more cases of tension alopecia than ever before in her career.

The slick back hairstyle, a viral trend embraced by numerous celebrities such as Hailey Bieber, Maya Jama, and Molly-Mae Hague, has become a staple on red carpets and in fashion. While admired for its sleek appearance, often achieved with generous amounts of hairspray, gel, or mousse, Marlie explains that the constant, tight pulling required for this style is detrimental. She warns that daily wear of slick back styles can lead to hair being pulled out from around the hairline, severely impacting both hair and scalp health.

Marlie's advice to mitigate this damage is to opt for less restrictive alternatives. She recommends using a scrunchie or a claw clip, which apply significantly less tension to the hair and scalp. Her strong message, "Stop with the slick backs...Give it up," resonated deeply with her audience, leading to her TikTok clip racking up over 164,400 views and a flurry of comments from beauty fans. Many users shared their experiences, confirming that prolonged wear of tight ponytails and buns had indeed caused thinning patches and damage to their hairlines, with some expressing gratitude for the practical advice that included viable alternatives.

Even for individuals in professions like hospitality who frequently need to tie their hair back, Marlie assured that it is still possible to do so without applying "heaps of tension," reinforcing the message that the key is to avoid excessive tightness to protect hairline and scalp health.