11 Silent Killers That Are Damaging Your Hair
indrani karmakarBA Hons Experience: 2.5 yearsIndrani is a writer and artist who likes to add a dash of humor to everything she does. She has two years of experience in writing articles across beauty, health, and lifestyle genres. After graduatin... more
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Be honest when you answer this, did you fantasize about having long, thick hair that bounces with a camera ready effect each time you walk? There is nothing to be embarrassed about because it’s a common dream we all share. But getting hair that is both beautiful and healthy isn’t as simple as we’d like to believe. Unfortunately, we’re continually exposed to factors like stress and pollution that damage our hair. And the list doesn’t end just there; more elements have subtle but damaging effects on our hair. Read on to know all the things we use to pamper our hair but are not as helpful as we think.
In This Article
1. You Need To Co-Wash Your Hair Depending On Its Texture
Co-washing refers to using a hair conditioner as a shampoo. It seems counterintuitive, but some conditioners are designed specifically for this purpose and won’t harm your hair or make it feel weighed down. However, this method is not appropriate for all hair textures. It works best on thick, coarse, dried, or curly hair.
2. You Never Change The Way You Part Your Hair
It’s more convenient to separate our hair the way we always have, yet doing so might induce thinning and eventual baldness. Constantly putting pressure on the hair, in the same way, might lead to damage. Altering your style regularly makes you seem fresh and conceals those pesky new hairs.
3. You Tend To Repeat Your Hairstyle
If you wear your hair in a ponytail or braid daily, you may have hair loss around the hairline. You might also get headaches and neck pain. That’s why mixing things up every once in a while is good.
4. You Never Wear A Swimming Cap In The Pool
An essential benefit of wearing a swim cap is that it shields your hair from the damaging effects of chlorine, which makes the pool more pleasant for everyone. Of course, swim hats don’t really keep your hair dry, but they protect your scalp and hide it from the damaging consequences of chlorine and other pool chemicals.
5. Combing Your Hair In The Shower
Brushing your hair, wet or dry, is a personal preference. Curly hair may be protected from frizz by being combed out before drying. However, the opposite happens with straight hair. Stroking damp hair can lead to unwanted split ends.
6. You Use A Regular Old Towel For Your Hair
As their primary function implies, towels are great at soaking up water, but they may not be too effective at their job if you care about your hair. They can produce frizz by soaking up too much moisture and causing friction. Swap your regular towels with microfiber ones, or use a head wrap.
7. You Put Coconut Oil On Your Fine Hair
The cosmetics industry appears to be fixated on coconut products, but this is not as ubiquitous as it may seem. For example, coconut oil adds gloss to thin hair but that is not all we need from hair oil. In addition, because of the oil’s heaviness, your hair may become limp or weighed down. Still, coconuts contain several hair-beneficial substances, so products containing these components are worth considering.
8. You Don’t Use Any Sort Of Sun Protection On Your Hair
It’s common knowledge that sun exposure can cause skin damage. Therefore, we should constantly protect ourselves with high SPF sunscreen. Hair, too, must be shielded from the sun’s rays to prevent damage. Leave-in conditioner should be used every other day if you spend a long time in the sun. Wearing a sunscreen-infused heat protector is also recommended.
9. The Hair Is Impacted By Static
Static charge in your hair might be an issue when your hair is thin. The initial shock is uncomfortable, and the constant buzzing is plain obnoxious. Keep your hair well-hydrated; if that doesn’t help, try switching to a metal brush. Use a static guard, which may be found in laundry aids or purchased separately and is another simple fix.
10. When You Sport A Few Gray Hairs, You Immediately Color Your Entire Head Of Hai
Just because you’ve seen a few gray hairs here and there doesn’t mean you must rush out and cover them all with color. Thin hair and scalp issues are direct results of excess chemical usage. Instead, you can undergo a demi-permanent treatment at the salon, wherein just specific parts will be dyed.
11. Use Of Excess Castor Oil In Your Hair
While certain oils might help your hair, others can do more harm than good. For example, castor oil is recommended for eyebrows and eyelashes. However, the thick nature of the oil attracts more dust and dirt and results in sediments on your scalp. This may make certain hair types and textures more frizzy and tangled. Therefore it’s not an ideal hair oil choice despite the common notions.
Taking care of your hair is no joke; and no matter how much you try, bad hair days are inevitable. However, the most important thing to note about hair care is that there is no one size fits all formula. Every hair texture and type differs from person to person and needs to be supplemented with the right products and ingredients. So, what hair care routine works perfectly for your hair texture? Let us know in the comments section.
