A good or bad hair day often determines your general mood as you go about your daily activities. Making it look fab is no joke.
The work of having to style your hair every day puts it under a lot of stress. Next thing you know, it has turned into straw. Then comes the vicious cycle of having to style it more to hide that it’s become so damaged, which damages it even more.
While less styling can definitely help your hair get better, this doesn’t mean you have to swear off of it entirely. Sometimes, all it takes is to adopt better practices that are friendlier and healthier for your hair in the long run.
Mistake 1: Using the Wrong Styling Tools
Heat styling breaks down hydrogen bonds in hair to change its form. The act itself dries it, so a good tool is important to prevent damage. But not all styling tools were created equal.
Using low-quality or old irons and wands could fry the strands of your hair beyond repair due to unregulated temperatures. Burned hair feels straw-like to the touch and easily breaks off.
Solution: Use a heat protection spray before ironing or curling your hair. When styling, use tools that have a temperature control setting. A curling wand with a ceramic barrel or ceramic irons will minimize stress on the hair and evenly distribute heat on its strands.
Mistake 2: Excessive Heat Drying
Busy days make blow-drying a quick and convenient method to get ready. The problem with daily styling is that it could significantly weaken your hair strands.
Solution: Your hair deserves a break now and then. When you can, let it air dry instead. Air drying lets your hair retain moisture for a longer time. You can also use gel, spray, or some mousse to replicate the form and volume you would get from blow-drying.
Mistake 3: Using Too Many Products at Once
With an overwhelming assortment of hair care products in the market, it’s enticing to get ones that supposedly target different problem areas. The buildup of all these different elements makes hair look dull and dry and clogs the follicles. These problems can irritate the scalp and hamper hair growth.
Solution: Use clarifying shampoo or rinse your hair with apple cider vinegar mixture to cleanse it. Simplify your hair care routine, too, by only using the essentials, which typically include shampoo, conditioner, and your trusty leave-in product. You can also use a protectant to help when styling your hair.
Mistake 4: Not Treating Your Hair
Minimizing your product use shouldn’t mean never giving your hair the pampering it deserves. A common mistake that people make is to think that at-home or salon hair treatments are unnecessary because of their existing hair routine.
Solution: Get treatments to address specific hair problems. Frequency typically ranges from twice a week to only once a month, depending on how damaged your hair is. Your hair can only absorb so much nourishment, so excessive treatments will do little to no help for it.
Mistake 5: Not Using the Right Hair Dyes
Popular hair dyes use ammonia to deposit color into the hair shaft. This first damages hair by lifting the cuticle to allow the dye to penetrate. Peroxide, which breaks down the normal pigment of the hair, then gives it its dry texture.
Solution: Although there are no completely “natural” hair dyes, there are many brands today that offer friendlier hair coloring solutions. Choose dyes that exclude ammonia and peroxide to prevent chemical damage. There has also been a growing preference for dyes that are “six-free” or those that do not have ammonia, resorcinol, parabens, phthalates, paraphenylenediamine (PPD), and gluten.
Mistake 6: Wearing the Same Hairstyle Too Often
Your hair becomes fragile quickly if you always tie it in a tight ponytail or bun. Parting it the same way all the time can also make it brittler. Excessive pulling on the hair can eventually lead to hair loss or even traction alopecia, becoming a permanent condition when unaddressed.
Solution: Change up your hairstyle periodically! Not only is it more fun, but it is also healthier for your hair. Hairstyle variations give your hair time to recuperate from the stress it gets from your usual do. Getting your hair trimmed every few weeks, especially if it is badly damaged, allows for quicker repair.
In the end, styling your hair safely shouldn’t come at the expense of the excitement of the process. Review your habits and make adjustments to give your hair a better bounce and a new life.
