We’re all in search of luscious locks and frizz-free hair, but sometimes we’re our own worst enemy and it’s our very own bad habits that damage our hair. Find out which of the 6 Habits you’re probably doing that are damaging your hair, and how to combat them.
These 6 habits could be the reason why your hair is damaged:
1. Having extra hot showers. We get that no one wants to have a cold shower, but hot water and your hair are not the best of combinations. The hot water can strip your hair of its natural oils, leaving it dry, brittle and frizzy. We’re not going to suggest you stop showering in warm water, but when it comes to washing and rinsing your hair, perhaps turn down the heat for a couple of seconds?
2. All those heat tools! Speaking of hot, your hair dryer, straightener and curling iron might leave you with a fabulous style for the day, but they’re certainly not good for your hair in the long run. You need to invest in high-quality products to minimise the damage they cause to your hair and keep the heat setting lower rather than higher – even if this means styling takes a couple more minutes. Never style your hair when it is wet: always blow dry it first as your heat tools will burn your hair, and always use a heat protection product – they really do work!
SEE ALSO: 6 Mistakes you probably make when blow-drying your hair
3. Washing your hair every day. Now, you may think that you need to wash your hair every day because it gets really greasy, but the truth is that your hair is probably getting super greasy because you wash it every day. The more regularly you wash your hair, the more you strip away those necessary natural oils, which means they work harder to replenish themselves, ultimately leading to oilier hair.
4. Rubbing your hair dry with a towel. We’re all guilty of this one… getting out of the shower and immediately vigorously rubbing a towel over our wet hair before wrapping it up. Your wet hair is incredibly fragile (which is why you should only comb it with a wide-toothed comb), so the friction from rubbing it and then tightly wrapping it will cause breakage and frizz. Rather dab your hair dry, and if you need to wrap it up, use a microfiber towel to do so.
SEE ALSO: 7 Mistakes you’re probably making when washing your hair
5. Pulling your hair back. That tight ponytail, top knot and pretty bun look fabulous, but they give your hair a hard time. Pulling your hair back tightly literally pulls on your hair, and the pulling can actually lead to hair loss. Give your hair a break between those tight up styles to allow some recovery time.
6. Sweating the small stuff. We know that stress affects pretty much every aspect of our life, and even your hair can take a knock from it. Studies have shown that stress can cause hair loss, and we know you don’t want to end up with random bald patches from too much stress. We know life is hectic, but take a minute to exercise, do some breathing exercises or meditate, as these are just a few ways to bring down those stress levels.
This post first appeared on All4Women.
