Who doesn’t like having soft and smooth hair? Hardly anybody, probably.
Both men and women go to great lengths to keep their crowning glory looking great. But in the process, they can develop some habits that could potentially damage it.
To prevent this from happening to you, here are seven bad habits you should steer clear of or change to keep your hair healthy and damage-free:
Bad Habits That Can Damage Your Hair
Rubbing Shampoo on the Entire Length of Your Hair
While it may seem like an innocent practice, rubbing shampoo on the entire length of your hair is one of the most common mistakes that could lead to hair damage.
Shampoo is excellent in cleaning hair and getting rid of product residue, but it has a downside – it can also strip off the natural oils that keep your mane smooth and silky. This is why, aside from using this hair care product less frequently, experts also advise against applying it from the hair’s roots to tips.
Because the oils from your hair follicles don’t usually reach the end of the hair strands, it would be better to massage the shampoo onto the scalp. That’s where most of the dirt and product residues are, anyway.
Don’t worry; your hair will still get cleaned. You just have to let the shampoo flow through the length of your locks as you rinse it off but avoid rubbing it into your hair.
Not Applying Hair Conditioner
Hair conditioner replenishes lost oils from shampooing, so you must never forget to use it when you shower. Hydrating conditioners also work excellently in fixing any damage from over-shampooing because they are specifically made to bring back your hair and scalp’s moisture.
Misusing Hair Care Products
Buying genuine Kérastase products online is not the only thing you need to be diligent about; you must also exercise care when using these hair care products.
According to a review of hair cosmetics published in the International Journal of Trichology, the primary cause of hair damage after using hair treatment products is not the substance itself. Instead, evidence suggests that it is the misuse of the product that compromises hair integrity.
No matter how great and effective a hair care product is, you won’t get your expected results unless you use it correctly.
That said, all good quality hair care products come with instructions on their proper use.
Some may even include a note on who is qualified to use them. This means that if the label says, “for professional use only,” don’t attempt to DIY. Instead, bring the product you purchased from a haircare shop to your favorite hair salon and let the experts work their magic.
Showering with Hot Water
While hot water feels great on your skin after a stressful day, it has a different effect on your hair.
Hot water opens the outermost layer of the hair, called the cuticle. When this happens, moisture escapes from the hair, causing it to dry out and get damaged. Hot showers also cause artificial hair colors to fade out faster and make your hair more prone to frizz.
To avoid this, wash your hair using lukewarm water. Colder water also helps close hair cuticles and enhances your mane’s shine.
Using Cotton Pillowcases
You probably didn’t think that the material you’re bedding is made from can affect your hair in any way. But the truth is, it does.
There’s nothing wrong with cotton per se; it’s just that the material is not friendly to the hair, especially curly or coarse types. In fact, it is known to roughen up the hair strands, leading to knots, frizz, and flyaway hair.
If you don’t want your hair messed up in the mornings, consider switching to silk pillowcases. Because of its smoothness, there is less friction between the material and your hair, which means you will have shinier and smoother locks in the morning.
Tight Hairstyles and Tying Wet Hair
Almost all women with long hair love to put their hair in the ponytail, but did you know that extra tight ones can lead to damage?
Tight ponytails can put a lot of tension and stress on the hair that can cause breakage, especially along the hairline. When worse comes to worst, it can even lead to a type of hair loss known as “traction alopecia.”
Of course, avoiding ponytails forever is not realistic. So instead of trying the impossible, you can use an alternate style that doesn’t pull on your hair too tightly, like a low braid. This will keep your hair looking neat without the risk of damage.
You can also swap your standard hair elastic with one that won’t create as much tension. As a bonus, you won’t have to suffer from nasty creases or dents after pulling it off from your locks.
Also, remember to avoid tying your hair while it’s still wet, regardless of the style. Hair is most fragile when it is wet because of the temporary change in its chemical bonds. This is also why you’ll find more strands falling off when you comb after a shower compared to when your hair is dry.
Improper Brushing
Brushing is not necessarily a bad practice – it’s how you do it that could lead to damage.
If you brush your hair from the roots to the tips, you may need to rethink your brushing technique. You see, combing hair straight down pushes the tangles towards the ends of the hair, making them harder to untangle.
Besides, the tips of your hair are already most prone to breakage. Brushing top to bottom will only make things worse.
Want to avoid breakage? Here’s the correct method of hair brushing, according to experts:
- Hold your hair along the midsection. Support it as you brush the tips of the strands.
- Move upward while doing this until you can run the comb through your hair without hitting any snag.
- If you encounter hard-to-untangle knots, don’t use force to deal with them. Instead, spritz the area with a hair detangler before brushing again.
Care for Your Hair the Right Way
Correcting bad habits in hair care is the first step towards getting healthier and smoother hair. Take note of the items listed here to care for your hair the right way.
