14 Habits That Could Be Damaging Your Hair: Insights from a Trichologist
Brushing Too Aggressively
Over-brushing or using excessive force can cause cuticle damage and breakage, weakening the integrity of your hair strands.
Neglecting Heat Protection
Skipping heat protectants leaves the hair cuticle vulnerable to thermal damage, leading to brittleness and loss of elasticity.
Ignoring Scalp Health
A neglected scalp can result in clogged follicles, inflammation, and an unhealthy environment for hair growth.
Over-Cleansing Your Hair
Frequent shampooing strips essential natural oils, disrupting the scalp’s microbiome and leaving hair dry and fragile.
Brushing Wet Hair
Water weakens your hair, so treat wet hair with care. To tackle tangles after a wash, use gentle strokes with a wide-toothed comb instead of tugging your tresses with a brush.
Flat-Ironing It When It's Damp
When heat hits water in your hair, it can turn to steam and cause “bubble hair.” You’re left with brittle locks that have frizzy ends and break easily. Be sure your hair is dry before you use a hot styling tool. Keep it on the lowest temperature you can, and use a heat protectant spray before you style.
Infusing Hair with Too Many Chemicals
Too many artificial chemicals are bad for any part of your body — and your hair is no exception. Too much coloring, keratin-ing, and relaxing can cause breakage and damage. Make sure you keep the number of chemical processes to a minimum, and consider establishing a routine that involves preemptive care before undergoing chemical treatments, like a scalp mask or an elasticizer — a pre-shampoo protective treatment — a couple of days before visiting the hairdresser, says Dr Leola.
