Stop Following These 8 Habits Right Now If You Want To Protect Your Hair

Written by Jyotsana Rao, BE  • 

You brush your hair, wash it, blow dry it, curl it, tie it, and try a number of hairstyles and products on your hair. There’s no denying that your tresses have to go through all these every day. After a point, your hair can’t take it anymore! These habits cause excessive damage to your tresses.

In the quest for beautiful hair, we often end up doing things that are harmful to our hair. And since damaged hair strands are so fragile, they tend to break easily, eventually leading to dry, dull, frizzy, and thin locks.

Do you want your hair to suffer in your pursuit of sporting perfectly styled hair? If no, mentioned below are a few common practices you must stop following right now and protect your hair from further damage.

1. Whenever You Wash Your Hair, You Rub The Shampoo To The Length Of Your Hair.

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Most of us shampoo our hair the wrong way. We try to rub the shampoo vigorously on the scalp and the lengths of hair. Shampooing is not all about lathering to get foam. Its purpose is to clean your scalp and hair of dirt and oil. The best way to use it is to massage the shampoo on your scalp gently for a minute or two and then let it rinse through the length of your hair. I know it’s hard, especially in the beginning, to resist the temptation to rub the shampoo into your hair.

If you are a regular swimmer, rinse your hair immediately with shampoo and follow it up with a deep-conditioning treatment soon after you’re done. This is because the chlorinated water can cause serious damage to your hair.

2. You Dry Your Hair By Rubbing It Harshly With Towel.

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When your hair is wet, the protective cuticle is slightly raised and thus, it becomes more fragile and prone to breakage. Aggressive towel drying can create the perfect storm for snapping a few strands off. So, instead of rubbing, blot your hair with a soft towel, or wrap it in a towel and leave it like that for 5-10 minutes. The entire water will be absorbed by then. Let it air dry as it is the best way to prevent damage.

3. You Use A Blow Dryer And Other Hair Styling Products.

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There is no doubt that the feeling of stepping out of the salon or a session with your hairstylist with perfect, soft, and bouncy hair after a blow dry is purely exhilarating. But, at the same time, the scorching temperatures can damage the cuticles and the proteins that promote healthy hair. Also, when the cuticles get damaged, the moisture balance is also disrupted, making your hair more prone to breakage.

So, limit the usage of heat styling products. And whenever you use them, make sure you apply a heat protectant serum or spray. It will act as a barrier to the heat.

4. You Wear Tie Your Hair In Tight Ponytails Or Tight Buns.

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If you prefer wearing tight ponytails, braids, or buns, it is high time you stop doing this. Sporting tight hairstyles creates excessive tension on the hair follicles, and when done on a daily basis, the follicles get damaged completely. This may lead to traction alopecia and bald patches on your scalp.

This is why you must loosen up your hair and sport loosely pulled back hairstyles.

5. You Apply Long-Lasting Hold Styling Products.

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The purpose of these gels is to make your hair harder so that it holds on to your hairstyle. Though they serve the purpose well, these products contain a high amount of alcohol that can make your hair dry and brittle. You must avoid all those products that make your hair sticky or stiff. There are a few moisturizing formulas available in the market that serve the same purpose and keep the moisture intact. Opt for such products.

6. You Take Steamy Showers, And For A Long Time.

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Spending a long time in a hot or steamy shower is not good for both your hair and skin. It dehydrates the hair, making it dry and brittle. And this is why your hair becomes more prone to breakage or hair fall. It also strips off the essential oils from your hair and scalp. So, opt for warm and quick showers rather than spending too much time in the shower.

7. You Brush Your Wet Hair.

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Brushing your hair while it is wet is not a good idea at all as it leads to more breakage when compared to brushing normal and dry hair. If you have straight hair, let it dry naturally, and then gently comb your hair using a wide-toothed comb. But if you have curly hair, you can comb your hair when it is damp. You need not wait until it dries completely because curly hair is more prone to tangles when dry. This eventually leads to hair breakage.

Even when you comb through your tresses, do not pull back your hair very tightly as that can lead to a receding hairline. Also, avoid pulling and tugging on your hair while combing. If there are too many tangles, use a moisturizing conditioner and then remove the tangles gently.

8. You Do Not Protect Your Hair From Sun Damage.

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The harmful UV rays can increase the dryness of your hair strands and give you more horrors by turning them gray. So, whenever you go out in the sun, cover your hair with a scarf or a hat. You can even try spritzing a spray containg SPF. It not only protects your hair from sun damage but also makes it soft and shiny.

Even if your hair is damaged, the good part is you can reverse the damage by ditching all these bad habits. Stop committing these mistakes and start taking proper care of your hair from today.

We hope you enjoyed reading the article. Share your views in the comments section below.

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