Do You Wrap Your Hair In A Towel When You Get Out Of The Shower?
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Everybody wants to possess Instagram droolworthy hair. You know what I’m talking ‘bout, girl. Gorgeous, luscious locks that appear glossy no matter what filter you use. They come with just the right amount of bounce and do not shed. Unfortunately, one can’t just wake up with cover shoot ready hair. In reality, the appearance of our hair is rather proportional to the amount of effort we decide to put in maintaining it.
Life’s hard. We get it.
If you don’t have much time to put in extra effort, at least ensure you don’t make any of those common hair care regimen mistakes that are a serious no-no. What are they, you ask? Well, read on, sister, to discover some of those cardinal hell-to-the-no mistakes you may have been committing:
1. Drying Hair With Your Towel
Towel drying those locks may give you supreme satisfaction, but it just ain’t the way to roll. Tying your hair up in your towel can actually cause damage to your hair follicles. Always avoid roughly or aggressively rubbing your towel on to your hair. This may absorb water quicker, but it will also roughen up the outermost layer of your hair strands (read: cuticles), thereby giving you fluffy or frizzy hair that is the stuff of nightmares (1). Think of Anne Hathway’s hair in The Princess Diaries, and by that, we mean before her princess makeover. If you really need to dry your hair quickly, opt for drying with a soft cotton tee you may have lying around instead.
2. Shampooing Way Too Frequently
We all hate lank, greasy hair. However, shampooing your hair just about every day is a major hair care mistake. You may be aiming for ultra shiny, clean, and fragrant hair, but the endeavor will only wash out the natural oils from your roots, leaving you with a dry and rather irritated scalp. If you posses delicate, thin hair, experts discourage frequent shampooing of your locks. Washing your hair twice a week should suffice. If you have thick or curly hair, it is recommended you shampoo just once per week.
3. Not Cleansing That Raggedy Brush
Are you guilty of possessing a dirty, grimy hairball entangled hairbrush by any chance? Tsk, tsk. Dusty, unclean hair brushes are the worst things for your hair. You only serve to transfer all the accumulated dust, build-up, and oils onto your scalp each time you brush your tresses. Always ensure that you rinse your hairbrush in warm water and a few drops of shampoo once each week.
4. Applying Product In Much Too Wet Hair
Yes, the instructions do ask you to apply the styling product on damp hair. The key word, however, is damp. If you hastily waste precious product on wet hair, you only serve to dilute its concentration, thereby rendering it ineffective. You must ensure that your hair has reached that almost dry yet not perfectly dried stage when you’re applying any hair serum or detangling, leave-in conditioners after your shower. This will prevent the product from wastefully running through your hair and instead give you more control while styling.
5. Being Lazy When Rinsing Out Shampoo
If you’re one of those folks who usually partake in dash-in and dash-out showers, you’re probably doing more damage than you realize while trying to save those precious few minutes. Shampoo serves to absorb all the grime and dirt collected in your hair (2). And if you neglect rinsing it properly, you risk trapping that shampoo in your scalp. This will leave you with sticky, grimy hair that will continue to attract unwanted dirt.
6. Washing Hair Without A Pre-Shower Untangling
Combing your hair before you head for a shower is an absolute cardinal rule. Not only does this prevent any unnecessary breakage, but it also makes your brushing experience post shower oh-so easy. Wet hair is more vulnerable to damage and shedding. Hence, getting rid of any tangles beforehand is the smartest way to go.
7. Rinsing Hair With Hot Water
So, you enjoy hot showers. Unfortunately, your hair won’t. The heat from hot showers can potentially strip your hair of color while simultaneously activating your oil-secreting glands. Instead, compromise with lukewarm showers that get rid of the grime and improve blood circulation in the scalp.
10. Falling Asleep With Wet Hair
As mentioned earlier, hair is at its weakest when it’s wet. Hence, snoozing off with wet hair is a cardinal no-no. The next morning will only give you frizzy bed hair that bears an uncanny resemblance to a cave woman. Save yourself the tears and angry #badhairday tweets and blow-dry as a part of your night routine.
They say a woman’s crowning glory is her hair. Hence, don’t neglect the crown you so proudly wear. Stay fabulous!
