The title of this article tells the whole story, namely, what has been dubbed "hot comb alopecia" and "follicular degeneration syndrome" simply is alopecia consequent to the effects of longstanding, vigorous traction. That reality has implications that transcend the realms of dermatology and pathology; mothers of very young African-American girls should refrain scrupulously from attempting to straighten the hair of those children by methods that employ traction. The result of that misguided endeavor is permanent alopecia that even may make itself apparent in childhood.