Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41573109›Full record

ArticleHealth science reports2026

Hair Care and Hair-Focused Repetitive Behaviors: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study.

Linda Hollatz, Alexander L Gerlach

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Health science reports, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

2 authors.

Linda HollatzClinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Cologne Cologne Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0005-4468-0399
Alexander L GerlachClinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Cologne Cologne Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6794-5349

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background and Aims: Hair-Focused Repetitive Behavior Disorders (HFRBDs), commonly associated with trichotillomania (TTM), including hair pulling, manipulation, or ingestion, can cause significant emotional, physical, and social distress. This study aimed to (1) identify hair care-related behaviors among individuals with HFRBDs; (2) explore how these practices relate to hair-pulling behaviors; and (3) examine the potential role of hair professionals in supporting affected individuals. Methods: An online survey was conducted with adult participants ( Results: Findings showed that constructive hair care practices often coexisted with hair-pulling behaviors. Participants reported that washing (54.1%) and haircutting (34.1%) helped reduce pulling urges, while styling (8.7%) and combing/brushing (15.4%) had minimal effect. Notably, 27.7% stated that their own touch increased urges, while 9.8% found that another person's touch reduced them. Thematic analysis of 501 open responses revealed categories such as pre-pulling routines, sensory responses to hair texture, and varied experiences with hair salons. Conclusion: The study highlights the complex relationship between hair care and HFRBDs. Tailored hair care strategies may offer meaningful support for individuals with HFRBDs and could be integrated into guidance provided by clinicians, dermatologists, and hair professionals. Personalized interventions may improve overall management of the condition.

Indexed as

hair care practiceshair pulling disordertrichotillomania

Identifiers

PMID41573109
PMCPMC12819159

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.