Hairstyle to Cover a Scar

Hairstyle to cover scars
Photo: StockLite/Shutterstock
Q: My daughter, now 20, had three brain surgeries around the age of 12. She has a horseshoe shaped scar that starts on one side near the front, goes over to the other side then to the back of the head and across. Her hair is long and straight and tends to part away from the scars making them very visible. She is currently in a Vet Tech program and usually just has her hair in a pony tail to keep it out of the way.
 
She does not spend large amounts of time curling and styling so, even when not in school, her hair usually ends up in a pony tail because it is the easiest way to cover the scars. Unfortunately, she gets a lot of breakage due to the elastic bands and her hair seems even thinner as a result. Can you suggest any easy hairstyles that would help cover her scars?
 
A: Well, for starters, she may want to make sure to use the gentlest possible elastics she can find. There are some that are made with satin-finish covers, and even those made of silicates that are non-pulling. Aside from that, she may want to look for a hairstyle that offers her easy maintenance and a means to camouflage the scars that she is concerned with.
 
Being honest, it is very difficult to make any kind of specific recommendations when I have so little information about her face shape, hair type, etc. However, I can recommend a few things to keep in mind:
 
Curls and volume: Many women find that problem areas can be more easily camouflaged by using curls in the appropriate places. Given what you describe, perhaps a soft perm with a layered cut would give your daughter both the ability to hide her scars and the convenience of an easy to maintain style. Depending on the length, she could easily have a style to keep her hair out of her way, yet still have the volume to hide what she wants hidden and look attractive.
 
If cutting the hair isn't suitable to her, then she should consider a perm with her longer hair. This will still help to hide her scars and can be useful in making the hair easier to keep controlled. Instead of elastics for ponytails, she also might consider using "Alice bands", Combs and other confinement accessories that are less stressful to the hair.
 
The bottom line is that you'll want to talk to a professional for an in-person evaluation, so look for a salon you like and feel comfortable with and talk to the stylists there about your specific needs. (And never hesitate to get a second - or third - opinion if you are unsure about the advice you are getting.)
 
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See also:
 
Is it really not good for your hair to have it up in an elastic band all the time?
 
Is it true that tying your hair in tight ponytails can lead to recession of the hairline?
 
How to put hair in a ponytail
 
Quick fixes for long hair