Hair damage at BBB

[crazydaisy00]

Sorry to hear this, Thats sad for any child to loose their hair in a spot! So glad we passed on BBB! My DD8 thought about doing this until we watched a few girls getting theirs done, no way! It looked like it hurt when the one lady was just brushing the little girls hair over and over for such a long time. We decided to buy a Disney Tiara and had a few other things with us, pulled a ponytail on top of her head half way through and fanned it into a bun sprayed it good with hairspray, put the tiara in and she had so many people ask her if she went to the BBB! Im no hairstylist but it looked just as good! Im sure the girls loved being pampered but this didnt look like any fun to us! Did anyone by chance call and tell BBB what happens so they are aware not to pull the up do's so tight? Just wondering if they were told about any of the mentioned problems.

 

[Eljay]

This hair loss is a condition called Traction Alopecia.
It literally means hair loss caused by a tight hairstyle.

When the stylists apply the rubber band, then split the pony tail and pull the 2 halves apart, it literally pulls the hair out by the roots in some cases. Particularly when it's left in place for an extended time.

If the hair is gelled properly, there's no need to crank the ponytail down so tightly.

I would definitely request that your FGIT not make the pony so tight.

 

[sharona]

So sorry that these little princesses had a bad reaction to the up dos. The poor things! I tried to interest DD in this but she will barely let me brush her hair so no way would she let them do all that. We looked at a few videos and pics before she said "no thanks" and it seems like they maybe changed the hairstyle a few years ago? The older pictures do not look so tight and uncomfortable as the newer pics. Maybe the BBB was getting a lot of "returns" to fix buns that were falling out so they went with a tighter style???

 

[LockShockBarrel]

This hair loss is a condition called Traction Alopecia.
It literally means hair loss caused by a tight hairstyle.

When the stylists apply the rubber band, then split the pony tail and pull the 2 halves apart, it literally pulls the hair out by the roots in some cases. Particularly when it's left in place for an extended time.

If the hair is gelled properly, there's no need to crank the ponytail down so tightly.

I would definitely request that your FGIT not make the pony so tight.

When I went to cosmetology we learned about this. In the course of normal hair dressing, you don't see it often...at least that's my understand of it (I'm not a stylist, just what I remember learning). It does happen to people who wear cornrows, you just don't really see it until you take them out because the braid is essentially holding the hair in place. Think of how much force it takes to pull a hair out, it's not that much, tight hairstyles easily can put that much force on the hair and pull it right out. The hair could be breaking so close to the scalp it looks like there's nothing left, or it could be pulled out by the root. I'd say if the kids are saying it didn't hurt, the shaft was probably just breaking very close to the head. I know the BBB is a lot of money and you want to leave those styles in as long as you can, but it's really not a great idea.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

My DD has sensory issues. I'd read about the hairstyles at BBB being tight and uncomfortable. So when DD went there, I mentioned her sensory issues at checkin and again to the FGIT. They used a ton of gel but didn't pull the hair quite so tight. DD didn't have any discomfort from the hairstyle. We had no problems with loss of hair, but we also took the hairstyle out that night because DD wanted to go swimming.

If you are worried about hair loss from the hair being pulled too tight, ask the FGIT to style it a little looser.

 

[luvthemouse71]

Sorry to hear this, Thats sad for any child to loose their hair in a spot! So glad we passed on BBB! My DD8 thought about doing this until we watched a few girls getting theirs done, no way! It looked like it hurt when the one lady was just brushing the little girls hair over and over for such a long time. We decided to buy a Disney Tiara and had a few other things with us, pulled a ponytail on top of her head half way through and fanned it into a bun sprayed it good with hairspray, put the tiara in and she had so many people ask her if she went to the BBB! Im no hairstylist but it looked just as good! Im sure the girls loved being pampered but this didnt look like any fun to us! Did anyone by chance call and tell BBB what happens so they are aware not to pull the up do's so tight? Just wondering if they were told about any of the mentioned problems.

The thing is, the FGIT aren't really hairstylists either..they only can do a few styles. Maybe if they had licensed cosmetologists in there, it would be better? Probably even more expensive though!

Really, there's nothing they do at BBB that any mom couldn't do.

 

[disfan07]

It can definitely happen. I have always been told not to leave my hair up in a ponytail for and entire day except when I used to use the thick soft scrunchies because it didn't do the same damage.

It doesn't surprise me too much that after 6-7 days of a tight hairstyle that this happened.

You're probably okay if you don't leave it in for that long.

 

[PalmPomDisneyMom]

OMG. So sorry for your daughter! I mentioned going to BBB in June to mine for their birthdays and they both were excited- but both have long hair and HATE it being pulled too tight! They complain when I do a too-tight pony and I am very gentle & don't even make it that tight!

Is it possible to request a not-too-tight style in BBB?

Thanks for the heads up

 

[Kayleebug]

I am so sorry that that happened to your daughter! I hope her hair grows back very quickly! We took DD to BBB a few years ago, and she was BEGGING to get her hair washed just a few hours after it she had her hairstyle. It was WAY too tight. We decided to go to the Main Street Barbershop the next trip. It was much cheaper and no tightness.

 

[pdxJolene]

I had a similar thing happen to me when I was 9 or so. I was an all-star cheerleader and my team was at a 2 day national championship competition in hawaii. We wore our hair 1/2 up hair down with TONS of small spiral curls. My mom put my curlers in on Thursday night and I wore them (and the 1/2 pony tail) until before we competed on Saturday morning... Afterwards we had to put each curl BACK into the rollers over night because we competed again Sunday! When I washed my hair Sunday night chucks were falling out! I started bawling and screamed for my mom... Luckily the damage wasn't TOO bad, it had fallen out pretty evenly and I have a lot of hair anyway. I wasn't the only one either... It happened to almost half of our gym! Needless to say, that was the last year of that hair style.

IMO the buns from BBB don't really look that good... I'm not a fan of super slicked back hair and it really does look like it HURTS!! Disney should come up with another cute hairstyle that isn't so painful!

 

[ars0525]

I don't have kids, but have seen lots of girls at Disney that were at BBB.

Not too surprised this happens seeing as the majority of the hairstyles look pulled super tight, schlacked down with tons of gel & glitter dumped on. I imagine adding sweat & some sun burn probably irritates the scalp more.

Sorry for the girls coming home from vacay losing hair--that would be a little distressing.

 

[mom2rtk]

I'm guessing this wouldn't be an issue if you take it down that night when you get back to the hotel. It has never been an issue for us since my daughter always wants it out that night or first thing the next morning. For those wanting to get the most wear out of it, I do understand. But my theory has been that it's more about the "experience" of having a makeover in the castle. So get it done, take TONS of pictures, then take it out that night. And I bet you'll be fine. If you want to put back your own looser bun the next morning, then she can put on some of the makeup they send home and wear the sash too if she wants.

 

[Eljay]

The thing is, the FGIT aren't really hairstylists either..they only can do a few styles. Maybe if they had licensed cosmetologists in there, it would be better? Probably even more expensive though!

Really, there's nothing they do at BBB that any mom couldn't do.

A licensed stylist would know better than to send a child out with their hair pulled so tight that it causes traction alopecia.
I think some new policies and more training is in order for the FGIT. I'm just sayin'.

...Is it possible to request a not-too-tight style in BBB?

Of course, just ask.

 

[MelissathePooh]

IMO the buns from BBB don't really look that good... I'm not a fan of super slicked back hair and it really does look like it HURTS!! Disney should come up with another cute hairstyle that isn't so painful!

I've never understood what is supposed to be elegant or princess about those "dos". The extensions look ridiculous. The fact that every girl comes out looking the same is just weird too. I actually dislike them quite a bit. DD3 will be out of luck - fortunately she'd rather have a Boba Fett helmut than that freakishly tight bun.

 

[jking6]

This scares me my granddaughter just got this done yesterday. she is 5 only good thing is she hated it and loves her long hair. it was taken out 1/2 way through the day.

 

[ktlm]

You just made me really glad that at DD's request I was undoing everything and pulling her hair down and attempting to brush the gook out in the middle of MK less than 2 hours after we left BBB.

 

[Mary T in PA]

When my DDs both had it done, we got it early in the day so that evening we could pull it out and wash their hair good. I couldn't imagine trying to sleep in that hairstyle because of all the gel and glitter.

Sorry to hear of the girls that had trouble. NOthing worse than a sore scalp.

 

[NaLisa]

BBB followed by Princess Lunch at Akershus was our big splurge for this trip. DDs aren't normally girly-girls but they enjoyed being pampered and being called princess all day. Not something we'd probably do again (they'll be too old next time), but it was just a fun indulgence for us and them. Thankfully, they wanted to wash out the hair goo when we returned to the condo that evening.

I have noticed that DD7's hair seems frizzy, even after three-four washings. Maybe the teasing split some of her hairs?

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

OP - I'm so sorry to hear about your daughter! Chalk it up to another life lesson.

When I was younger, I wore my hair very tight and got bald spots. Since then, I'm concerned about even wearing a ponytail and if I need my hair up, I use a loose hair clip instead. I also don't like my daughter to wear ponytails too often - braids are fine, but not ponies.

Given this, I have been shocked by the hairstyles coming out of BBB. I think they look extremely tight and not attractive at all. There is NO Disney princess with a hairstyle that tight or severe. When I first heard about BBB, I thought, how cute! Then I saw the styles and vowed never to take my daughter there. I'll do her hair myself and let her pick out her own costume. And save her fragile hair!

 

[LockShockBarrel]

The FGIT are not fully licensed cosmetologists.

Every little girl dreams of being a Disney Princess. Fairy Godmothers-in-Training at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique can make their dream come true.

Hostesses at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique transform our young Walt Disney World® Resort Guests into Disney Princesses by applying facial makeup, painting nails and styling hair in simple up-do looks. They must exhibit a positive, friendly, helpful attitude and respond to Guests’ special requests. Hostesses are also responsible for greeting Guests, answering questions, light cleaning and stocking supplies.

For performance theming, applicants for this role must be female and the minimum age requirement is 18 years of age. Applicants may also be required to attend a Company-paid training class with the State of Florida for hair braiding.

I copied that from the Disney hiring page. So you might get a FGIT that maybe went to cosmetology but they do NOT have to have a license to do the BBB. I'd imagine during the course of their training they're taught to at least look for scalp conditions and lice and all that. I'm very doubtful anyone ever tells them that such a thing as traction alopecia exists and it's all about the long lasting-ness (oh that's so not a word..)