10 Bad Hair Habits to Avoid
The ultimate hair goal? Healthy, luxurious hair of course.
Unfortunately, many of us are stuck in a number of bad hair habits that are stressing our locks out. We need to treat our hair with care and use the right styling and hair care products to ensure that our hair remains hydrated and healthy.
Here are the top 10 bad hair habits to avoid and how to overcome them.
1. Having hot showers
While we all love the way a scalding hot shower makes us feel, our hair does not. Hot water opens the hair cuticle, allowing moisture to escape and causing damage to the hair. Additionally, relying on hot showers can strip the hair of essential oils, lead to frizz and cause colour fading.
Instead, wash your hair in lukewarm water and finish off with a blast of cold water to help close the hair cuticle, enhancing shine and stimulating hair growth.
2. Over shampooing and under conditioning
If you want healthy, shiny hair, you need to get out of the habit of washing your hair every other day. Shampooing too often can dry out your scalp and lead to chemical buildup, leaving your hair prone to damage and breakage.
On the other hand, we all need to get out of the habit of skipping the conditioner. Moisture is the key to maintaining healthy hair and we all should be deep conditioning at least once a month.
3. Towel drying hair
What do you use to dry your hair? If it’s a towel, we have some bad news for you.
Our hair is more fragile when wet and scrubbing it with a rough towel only leads to extra damage and breakage. Instead, use a soft t-shirt to absorb any water before you move on to styling.
4. Brushing your hair whilst wet
As mentioned, our hair is at its most fragile when wet. If you want to avoid unnecessary damage and breakage, wait until your hair is at least 80% dry before using any sort of brush. If you need to detangle knots, use a wide tooth comb instead. To make brushing easier, use a leave-in-conditioner or detangler spray.
5. Using too much heat
While we love the way heat tools like blow-dryers, flat irons and curling wands make our hair look, excessive heat styling can damage your hair strands and follicles. We’re not saying to ditch the heat tools forever, just give them a rest from time to time and NEVER forget the heat protectant. Your hair will thank you for it in the long run.
6. Tying it up to much
Who knew that something as simple as a ponytail could cause damage to our hair?
While tying our hair up may be handy for sleeping or working out, the friction and tugging of tight hairstyles can put tension on the scalp and even lead to hair loss. Try to avoid wearing your hair in tight up-do’s everyday, and instead alternate between wearing your hair up and down. When you do wear your hair up, swap out an elastic band for a more gentle scrunchie.
7. Never getting a trim
When was the last time your hair got a trim? If it’s been more than six weeks, it may be time to visit the hairdresser.
The health of your hair should take priority over the length. As the ends of your hair age, they start to fray. If your split ends are not cut off, they only travel further up the hair shaft, leaving your hair looking even more unhealthy.
8. Sleeping on your hair
If you sleep on a regular cotton pillowcase, chances are that you are damaging your hair. The cotton roughs up your hair as you toss and turn, leading to hair loss, dryness and frizziness.
The best solution to this hair habit is to invest in a silk pillowcase. Your hair will glide easily across a silk pillow while you sleep, leaving your hair smoother and shinier.
9. Damaging hair products
You may be surprised to learn that many of your favourite hair products contain alarming amounts of alcohol, artificial fragrances, sulfates, parabens and other nasty ingredients that damage our hair.
Everyone wants their hair to look good, however damaging styling products aren’t the way to achieve this. Look for hair products that limit the amount of harmful ingredients and, at the very least, choose a sulfate-free shampoo.
10. Blow drying wet hair
If you’re turning on the blow dryer as soon as you step out of the shower, you’re doing it wrong. As we’ve mentioned, too much heat on your hair isn’t a good thing.
Rather than blasting your hair as soon as you are finished showering, let your hair air dry until damp before beginning to blow-dry. This will keep your hair looking and feeling better.
By simply cutting out a few bad hair habits, you can enjoy healthier, softer and more beautiful hair 24/7.