Ways you could be damaging your hair without even knowing it!

If you think you have your hair routine down pact, you may want to think again. Have you ever consistently used a product or products with no problem and then all of a sudden, you notice split ends and dryness? There could be things that you are doing every day to your hair that you don’t even realize are damaging it. But don’t worry, it’s extremely common.

Believe it or not, one of your culprits could be your dry shampoo. We’re not arguing against the purpose of daily shampoo. It’s perfect for when you’re on the move. But, using it regularly could be causing you some damage to your hair. What if you put your makeup on everyday and then just never took it off or washed your face, your face would feel terrible and not look it’s best. The same logic goes for your hair and dry shampoo. Overuse of dry shampoo can lead to flaky skin, sore skin, blocked pores, scaling, and in extreme cases can cause seborrheic dermatitis. Use your dry shampoo when you really need it!
Unless you’re born with the locks of God and perfect beautiful waves and texture to your hair, you’re probably going to need to use a blow dryer or a straightening/curling iron on your hair. We all want to look our best. We all know that isn’t good for the hair but we need to do it to look presentable to our peers.
Doing all these things to your hair can lead to dryness, split ends, breakage, and an abundance of other woes that make it look like it’s in need of dire help. If you do choose to style your hair with heat, be sure to use a good heat protectant and avoid using these products on their highest setting.
Nobody really teaches us the “right” way to towel dry our hair. It doesn’t really seem like something that would have a “right” and “wrong” way to do it but to no avail, there is a correct way to towel dry your hair. If you think that towel drying your hair is better than blow drying, you’re technically correct. But, it turns out this still isn’t the most ideal way to get excess water out of your hair. Vigorously rubbing your hair with this type of material can rough up the cuticle, causing frizz and long-term damage to your hair.
Instead of roughly drying it with the towel, blot your hair gently with the towel to minimize friction. You can also try switching to a microfiber towel or using a cotton t-shirt to ring your hair out.
I know it’s impossible to not sit out in the sun on a nice spring/summer day. Surprise surprise! Not only your skin needs something like an SPF. Prolonged exposure to the sun’s UVA and UVB rays can cause damage to your hair’s structure. It causes it to become brittle, dry, and prone to breakage. You can purchase sprays that are essentially sunscreen for your hair. You can also cover your hair with a wide-brimmed hat. Doing this will also benefit your skin as it will also keep it out of the sun! 2021 was a year of fun fashion and hair trends. One being slicked back and tight ponytails. Please stop doing this. If you love your hair, you won’t do this! Pulling your hair back period, let alone that tight, can not only make your strands more likely to snap, but it can actually lead to a condition called traction alopecia. This is when the tension causes damage to the hair follicle, eventually leading to hair loss. Give your hair a break from braids, buns, and extensions. These all do the same thing.
If you are anything like me and have an oily scalp, you’re wanting to wash your hair everyday. This is not good for your hair! Over washing can be just as bad for your hair as not washing it at all! Over-washing strips out the natural oils that your hair and scalp need and can bring our sensitivity and breakage. Once your hair is wet, don’t brush it to get the tangles out, dampness weakens hair and it makes it more likely to break!