Top 14 Common Hair Care Habits That Could Actually Damage Your Hair
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Every woman wants beautiful hair, but it takes work to get it. We often ignore things that could damage our hair, and our forgetfulness often leads to a bad look. If you want to avoid ending up with thinning hair, frizzy hair, or even split ends, consider switching some of these habits for a healthy, shiny head of hair!
You'll be amazed at how many daily things you do that could damage your hair. That being the case, let's look at a few common hair care habits that could be doing your lovely locks more harm than good!
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Unhealthy Hair Habits To STOP Doing ASAP
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01) Rubbing Shampoo Into Hair Shaft
One big mistake you can make, which so many of us do, is to rub our favorite shampoo into the lengths of our hair when washing. There's a reason you don't see stylists in top salons like the Elan Hair Salon doing this - it can cause significant damage because your hair is super-fragile when wet, and the motion of doing so can cause it to snap. Instead, we recommend lathering the shampoo on the scalp and letting it naturally flow down through your locks as you rinse it out.
02) Blow-Drying Your Hair Too Often
We know that blow drying helps us get ready quickly in the morning, but if you do it too often, you risk damaging your hair over time because hot air dries out strands and opens up the cuticle even more than hot water would do so on its own. Instead, try using heat protectants before blow-drying so that less damage occurs during this process; once or twice a week should be fine.
03) Using Products That Contain Sulfates or Silicones
These ingredients strip away natural oils from our hair and leave us with dull locks that look like they need more conditioning than ever before! Stay away from shampoos and conditioners that contain these ingredients. Instead, try looking for products free from sulfates and silicones (as well as parabens).
04) Using Hot Water to Shower
Hot water can be really damaging to hair, especially if you use it every day. The high temperatures cause the hair shaft's cuticle to open, which means that moisture escapes from your hair. The result? Dry and brittle locks.
05) Towel Drying
Rubbing wet hair with a towel is a similar bad habit because it is likely to break your hair and make it frizzier than necessary. It is much safer to pat your hair dry with an old cotton t-shirt gently. Even better, wrap it in a microfiber turban until most of the moisture is out and let it air dry.
06) Washing Your Hair Too Much
The first thing that you need to do is to stop over-washing your hair. When we wash our hair too often, it gets stripped of its natural oils, making it dry and brittle. Your hair might feel greasy if you don't wash it often enough, but this is because it has a buildup of products and dirt on it. It is recommended that you should wash your hair once or twice every week at most.
07) Not Using Leave-in Conditioner
Your scalp needs moisture just as much as the rest of your body, and if you don't give it what it needs, your hair will suffer! While you shouldn't clean your hair every day, we highly recommend applying a leave-in conditioner or serum each time you wash so that your scalp gets nourished too! This will help keep frizz at bay, boost shine and even make styling easier.
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08) Always Wearing a Super Tight Ponytail
The ponytail might be a classic hairstyle that is really simple when you are on the go, but if you are going to wear one, be sure that you do not pull your hair back too tightly. If you do this, although your hair might look nice and sleek, the pressure on it might be too much, and this could cause hair to be pulled out, resulting in thinning hair or even bald spots over time. Tie it loosely, and it will be fine.
09) Using Heat Styling Products
We all love our hairdryers, straighteners, and curling irons, and it is acceptable to use them from time to time, but if you overdo it, your hair will become dry and more breakable. If you must use them, try doing so on the lowest possible setting and use a heat-protectant product first. When all is said and done, air drying your hair and finding no-heat alternatives for styling really is the best thing for your hair.
10) Brushing Wet Hair
Brushing wet hair might seem like a wonderful idea at the time, and it will certainly help to make styling easier, but your hair is very elastic when wet, so brushing it with a regular brush or comb could cause it to snap. Dry or damp hair is best for brushing, and if you must brush wet, a tangle teaser is usually your safest option.
11) Applying Pressure While Brushing
When you brush or comb your hair when it's wet or damp, the water makes it more fragile and prone to breakage. To avoid this, always brush your hair after using a towel to dry it thoroughly.
12) Not Using A Deep Conditioner Regularly
If you want healthy hair that looks great and feels soft and smooth, deep conditioning is one of the best ways. Deep conditioning involves applying a moisturizing product to your hair that penetrates its cuticle layer and strengthens the shaft from within by restoring its natural oils.
13) Using the Wrong Products
Using hair products like mousse and gels that contain alcohol can be bad for your hair because alcohol dries out the scalp and makes it more susceptible to bacteria growth. It's best to use products that don't contain alcohol, such as conditioners and shampoos explicitly made for curly or straight hair types.
14) Sleeping with Wet Hair
You're not alone if you like to sleep with your hair wet, but this habit could actually make it harder for your hair to dry and lead to breakage.
How does this happen? When you wash your hair, you essentially strip it of its natural oils (known as sebum). And since your hair needs these oils to stay healthy, it will start to look dry and brittle if you don't let them come back into play. If your hair is already dry & damaged, sleeping with it wet can worsen it by causing tangles and knots that can lead to breakage. The best thing to do is towel-drying before bed so that the excess water can evaporate overnight.
If you can avoid these unhealthy habits, your hair will be shinier, stronger, and more beautiful than ever - doesn't that sound good?
