You’ve tried it all – shampooing right, using gentle hair products, following a healthy diet, and what not, but your hair still seems to break a lot. Certainly, something else is to blame – perhaps your unhealthy hair habits? If you’ve never thought about this, here are five common hair breakage causes and what you can do to stop hair damage right now!
Towel drying
While your towel is soft, it’s still damaging to your hair. And vigorously rubbing your scalp and hair with your towel will only lead to breakage! Switch to blotting or squeezing your hair dry gently with a microfibre towel or a T-shirt instead. Choose these alternatives even when wrapping your hair turban style.
Brushing or combing
Brushing or combing hair too aggressively puts stress on the hair fiber, causing the cuticle or outer layer to flake away. The problem is aggravated when the hair is wet, so avoid brushing or combing hair right after stepping out of the shower.
Furthermore, brushes with plastic bristles are more likely to snap your hair strands into two, so choose one with widely-spaced bristles and steer clear of metal pronged brushes. Alternatively, opt for boar-bristle brushes as they are gentle on your hair and can distribute natural oils evenly. If your hair is tangled, ease knots with a wide-toothed comb, starting from the ends. And remember to clean your brushes and combs regularly!
Heat styling
Applying heat to hair can cause dryness, surface burns, and other types of damage. When hair is already dry, heat styling can strip hair of its natural moisture, causing the cuticle to snap off, making hair weak and brittle. Reduce damage by using heat-protectant products before styling your hair with hot rollers and flat or curling irons. Also, lower the temperature when using these appliances and try to take a break from heat styling every now and then!
Tight styling
Pulling your hair back into a bun or ponytail causes tension at the roots, which can weaken your hair over time, especially if you style your hair, in the same way, every day. The same happens when you tie cornrows or braids too close to the scalp. What’s more, pulling your hair into a ponytail also causes the hair tie to cut into the hair shaft! If you must tie up your hair, ditch elastic bands for fabric-coated ones and avoid wearing hair accessories such that they tug on your hair.
Sleeping
Yes, you read that right! As you toss and turn in your sleep, you create friction between your hair and the pillow, leading to hair breakage. The solution to hair care, while you’re getting your beauty sleep, is to use a satin or silk pillowcase; the soft surface will create less friction and breakage. Do tie up your hair loosely before hitting the sack to avoid tangles.
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