An ex-ballerina, Diva Hollands, is warning others about the effects of tying your hair too tight.

Diva began ballet at a young age and by the age of 13 she began to lose her hair from the tight hairstyles she had to have while dancing. She is warning others of the dangers which can occur as a result of tying your hair too tight, including traction alopecia. She said that because she had her hair tied tightly, from as young as 3 years of age, she began to lose her hair in her teen years which resulted in bullying. She has sought the help from specialist Edward Ball, D.O., at the UK-based Maitland Clinic who has helped to restore her hairline.

Images via Dr Edward Ball via Dailymail.com

She has spoken out about her hair loss in a bid to encourage others not to tie their hair so tight. She spoke with The Daily Mail saying:

"My mum tied my hair up really tight from when I was really little, and looking back at pictures you can see it started having an effect on my hairline. "I was bullied for my hairline in primary school and then into secondary school, but it got really serious when I was about 13.

"Since then I was completely self-conscious about it and did everything I could to hide the area.

"It affected me a lot, especially as I was being picked on.

"I remember the exact words a boy at school said to me; he said I had a forehead the size of a football pitch. It then became such a big thing in my life."

She underwent a Follicular Unit Transplantation in October of last year, which they say, "involves removing a thin strip of hair-bearing skin from the back of the scalp, from where hairs will continue to grow when transplanted into an area of hair loss – typically around the hairline, top of the head or eyebrows."

 

Images via Dr Edward Ball via Dailymail.com

Nearly a year since her procedure she says she's gobsmacked:

"I wasn't nervous – just really excited. I wanted to get it done as soon as possible. I knew I had made the right decision.

"It all went fine and very quickly. I just watched films the whole way through. It was then a week for the full recovery and for the swelling to go down.

"When I saw the results I was absolutely gobsmacked. After only a few months I could see my hairline start to grow back. Every month it just got better.

"It's completely changed my life – dramatically. It's had a huge impact. I couldn't be happier with how it looks."

Dr Edward Ball has commented on Diva's transplant saying, "It's amazing to see how much it boosts people once they've had it done – it's like they've had a new lease of life. You wouldn't believe the effect it can have."