Do you wear headphones for a long time as a passion or profession? You must have heard people saying “wearing headphones will dent your head”.
Just recently, it happened to me. I wear headphones for 5-6 hours a day. One of my neighbors warned me that headphones will create a dent in your head.
I laughed at this joke. But, later on, some people told me their personal stories of getting dents. This compelled me to think seriously about this issue.
Therefore, I decided to find out whether it is a myth or reality. After thorough research and practical experience, I reached a conclusion.
Wearing headphones for too long can cause dents in your hair and can pressurize your skin. But, this is not a permanent dent in your skull. You can recover from these dents in a few moments or hours.
Headphone dents are just like impressions on your nose caused by wearing glasses.
There can be other accompanying conditions that indent the skull. A dent can be a warning sign indicating some medical problem. We will discuss it in detail later on.
In this guide, I will explain whether the headphones cause dents or not. I will share tips to avoid indentation. Further, this guide will tell you what other things can dent your head.
Have You Really Got a Dent?
Headbands put pressure on your skull where they sit. They are of various types. Some are heavily padded and cushioned while others are only metal straps.
So, when you remove headphones, you notice pressed hair. This is called headphone hair and spoils your hairstyle. If you are comfortable with the headband, the dent is only in the hair.
However, if the band presses too hard on your skull, it can dent the skull skin a little. You have to differentiate between these two conditions.
Is Your Head Deformed?
You may have suddenly noticed that your skull looks deformed at the place where the headband sits. But, it is not the case sometimes.
You may laugh at this fact but your head might be deformed by birth. But, now, you have associated it with the headphones.
Normally, we don’t observe our skull structure and its up/downs keenly. Because girls have profound hair and boys seldom got bald to notice such things.
Maybe your head got a dent while passing from the birth canal. Actually, your mother knows your real head shape. So, do not worry, headphones cannot squeeze your skull to a visible extent.
What is Headphone Hair?
This term refers to flattened hair due to wearing headphones. Because the headband exerts pressure on your hair and lays them down as compared to the rest of the hair.
It looks like that particular part of your skull is squeezed. It is relatable to the glasses marks around your eyes and nose.
When you wear eyeglasses for a whole day, your skin looks dented. However, the marks disappear after some time. The same is the case with headphones indentations.
Do You Wear Headphones the Whole Day?
Call operators, radio anchors, gamers, music mixers, etc. have to wear headphones for long hours. Some people are habitual of wearing headphones during a walk or exercise.
They feel heaviness and pressure on the skull even after removing the headphones. It feels like something is pressing and penetrating your skull.
So, it leads to the feeling that you have got a pit on your skull. But, it is not the case. Your skull bone cannot be deformed by wearing a headset.
8 Effective Tips to Prevent Dents
Generally, headphones hurt you if they are too tight. They clench your head too strongly thus making you uncomfortable. Some headphones have a metal band.
It is heavy and exerts pressure on your skull. Hence, you should choose headphones wisely. Here are some effective tips to avoid dents in your head.
1. Change Headphones Wearing Style
Tilt your headphones slightly toward the back of your skull. Do not put them in the middle of the head. This will reduce the unnecessary pressure.
First, place the earcups on your ears. Then, put the headband on the back part of the skull. In this way, you can prevent headphone hair and dents.
2. Wear a Cap or Scarf
Another effective trick is to wear a beanie cap or a scarf on your head underneath the headphones. It acts as a buffer against pressure. Moreover, it will serve as extra padding.
So, the pressure will be distributed evenly on your head. A particular part of your skull will not bear all the pressure. Thus, there will be no more dents in your head.
3. Use Flexible and lightweight Headphones
Most headphones are flexible and adjustable. They are bigger and spacious. You can adjust them to fit perfectly on your skull.
Hence, you should loosen them a little to reduce the clamping force. Do not lose to let them fall.
Avoid buying rigid headphones that clamp your head too strongly. Also, check the weight of the headphones before choosing.
4. Loosen Your Headphones
If you own too tight or rigid headphones, you can loosen them very easily. Just take a sturdy object that is bigger than your head.
Clamp your headphones on this object by stretching it wider. Leave it in the stretched position for 24 hours at least. Now, wear them on your head and the headband will feel comfortable.
In order to tighten your headphones, clamp them on an object that is narrower than your head.
5. Replace the Hurting Headphones
Too tight headphones keep you uncomfortable all the time. Although they cannot dent your skull yet they can cause a constant headache.
Hence, you should replace your hurting or bulky headphones with comfortable ones. It is better to choose a headset having a plastic or heavily padded headband.
6. Increase Padding
You can avoid head dents by increasing the padding on the headband. Some headphones come with little or no padding. They might hurt your head a lot.
Comfortable padding will exert less pressure on your skull. The headband will not clamp your head too tight. Hence, no dents will appear. You can make DIY padding at home.
Use foam, socks, or leather cushions. Alternately, you can purchase cushion pads online. I found TXEsign headband pads very useful.
7. Get a Short Hair Cut
This tip is for audiophiles, gamers, and call operators. They have to maintain hair beauty while wearing headphones.
It looks very odd when you remove headphones and your hair is uneven. Getting a short haircut can solve this problem.
8. Adopt A Different Hair Style
Obviously, ladies cannot get a short haircut. But, they can change their hairstyle to prevent hair dents. For example, tie your hair tightly in a bun or ponytail.
It will reduce the chances of headphones hair. Furthermore, you can make front braids. They are less likely to be affected by headbands. Further, they give you a stylish look.
Also read: The Differences between Headset and Headphones
Easy Ways to Remove the Headphone Dent
A headband flattens your hair for a few moments or hours. You can recover by spraying water on the affected area. Just dampen your hair with wet hands and style them again.
Moreover, loosen the headband to reduce the pressure. Combing your hair is an easy way to remove the denting effect in your hair.
Use hair styling products like a hair gel before wearing the headphones. You can use a hair straightener as an instant solution.
Another clever trick is to use your headset as a hair styling band. It will serve a dual purpose and you will no more be worried about dented hair.
What Causes Permanent Dent in Head?
As I mentioned earlier that headphone dents are not permanent. They last for a few minutes or hours and disappear soon. But, if your dent is not disappearing, it is a concern.
Moreover, you may notice a dent on your kid’s head who wears headphones for several hours. In either case, you should seek medical attention.
The dents in the skull are caused by some congenital or genetic diseases. Here is a brief overview;
Craniosynostosis
It is also called congenital skull indentation. Mostly, newborns and fetuses get affected by this disease. Because babies have flexible and fibrous joints or structures.
These structures held the skull bones together which grow with the baby. If the structures close too early, the skull and brain growth in the baby stops. So, the head looks dented.
Phantom Bone Disease
It is also called Gorham’s disease. Bones begin to disappear and vanish without any reason. This occurs due to abnormal proliferation of vascular or lymphatic channels of the bone.
The most affected areas are the skull, pelvis, and shoulder. Its symptoms are pain and bone fracture. But, sometimes, the disease proceeds without any symptoms.
Paget’s Disease
Paget’s disease affects older people who are 50 years or more. In this medical condition, the body of the patient creates new bone tissues to replace the older ones.
The process is faster than normal and causes bone weakness. It affects the legs, skull, pelvis, and spine. Hence, Paget’s disease can be a reason for the dented head if you are an old fellow.
Injury or Trauma
Trauma refers to body injuries. A serious injury can damage the skull or cause dents in the head.
A part of the skull bone squeezes inward to the brain causing further damage. Thus, you need to see a doctor.
Bone Cancer
Cancer is characterized by abnormal cell growth in a particular area of the human body. Bone cancer is caused by uncontrolled cell growth destroying the bone tissues.
This will cause dents in the skull. If you notice a serious dent in your head that does not disappear even after 24 hours, consult a doctor immediately.
FAQs About Headphones Dents
I am including the answers to some of the commonly asked questions. Hopefully, they will help you further.
Does wearing headphones too long de-shape my ears?
Wearing headphones for several hours cannot de-shape your ears. Because your ear are not flexible and their structure cannot be altered. However, you may feel a slight shape change due to continuous headphones usage. But, it is a temporary effect and your ears will come back to their original shape.
What are the harms of wearing headphones?
The obvious harm is hearing loss. People who listen to headphones for several hours, gradually suffer hearing impairment. They hear unusual sounds in their ears. The ear drums can be damaged forever if you continuously listen to headphones at high volumes.
Can wearing headphones cause hair loss or baldness?
No research studies prove that wearing headphones can cause baldness. However, it is not recommended to wear a tight headband. Because it clamps your skull too tightly for several hours. Resultantly, the hair follicles cannot breathe. It can stop hair growth, and weaken or damage your hair.
How to use headphones safely without any hearing loss?
Wearing headphones for the whole day at high volumes can cause hearing loss. Listen at a minimum audible volume. Take listening breaks and reduce listening time. Moreover, use noise-canceling headphones. Instead of using in-ear headphones, you should prefer over-ear headphones.
For how many hours I can wear headphones per day?
Hearing experts suggest a 60%/60 rule. It says you can listen to headphones at 60% volume for 60 minutes a day. Increasing the volume required decreases the listening time. For example, at 80% volume, you can use headphones only for 40 minutes a day.
You may also like: The Best Noise-Cancelling Bluetooth Headsets for Calls
Are Headphones Dent Real?
This article has explained what are the headphones dent and how to avoid them. Now, you understand that they are real but not permanent.
Hair dents are real but skull dents are illusions. Your skull is too hard to be squeezed by a headband. Further, headphones cannot damage your brain.
If you detect a long-standing dent in your skull, it can be a serious disease. Therefore, you should go to a doctor. Do not believe the rumors that headphones cause a physical dent in your head or skull.
