9 Things You Do That Seriously Damage Your Hair

10 February 2015 02:46 pm

Little mistakes in your routine could be messing up your style

 By Shabnam Farook

1 Not using your hair dryer the right way

Always use a nozzle or diffuser when blow drying and hold the blow dryer away from the hair - otherwise the dryer can get too close and burn hair very quickly. If there is no nozzle, make sure to hold the blow dryer at least 5 inches away from the hair. Don’t forget to clean out the filter in the back of your dryer from time to time. Too much debris can weaken the air flow, meaning you’ll spend more time exposing your hair to damaging heat.

2 Prepping your hair the wrong way

A major mistake most women make when using hot tools is to spray the section with hairspray before putting the hot tool on it. Hairspray contains alcohol, and when you apply heat over a layer of hairspray, it dries the hair out even more and can create static as well as causing your curls to drop. Stick to alcohol-free products designed to prep hair for heat-styling.

3 Wearing up dos all the time

Wearing your hair up every day strains the hair at the root and can actually cause hair loss. Let your hair down and let your scalp breathe

4 Towel-drying your curls

When you use a towel to dry curly hair, the strands tend to catch on the cloth and cause split ends. It’s always better to use a microfiber towel or a even T-shirt. The fabric is less abrasive so it won’t rough up your hair as much.

5 Using heating tools too early

For those in a rush, a common mistake is using a flat iron or curling iron before the hair is completely dry, which breaks the hair and requires you to flat-iron the same strand over and over again, causing more damage. It is important to completely dry the hair before using any heat tool, since that will smooth and seal the cuticle and facilitate easier styling.

6 Styling damp hair

It can be tempting to save time by pulling hair into a ponytail or up do while it’s still wet, but an elastic band is wet hair’s worst enemy. This stresses the hair and can cause breakage, especially with chemically processed hair that is already stressed. it’s always better to use a clip and loosely pull your hair  back.

7 Skipping the conditioner

Conditioner is essential to maintaining the health of your hair. It is similar to not using moisturizer on your face, which results in flaky, dry skin. If your conditioner seems to be weighing you down, look for a light formula, concentrate on the ends, and rinse thoroughly so the conditioner doesn’t leave a heavy residue.

8 Overdoing it with the styling products

A styling paste can create a cool structured look, but too much weighs hair down and leaves it greasy. You might have to wash more often than you should to get it all out. Start with a small amount of product, warm it with your fingers, and smooth it into your hair - you can always add more if you need extra hold.

9 Using the wrong products

To keep hair healthy and moisturized, pick a shampoo that doesn’t contain sulfates,the detergents that can dry hair out and avoid over-shampooing.Focus on the scalp where natural oils collect, and don’t lather a second time unless your hair is truly filthy. Images Courtesy Internet