8 Habits That Are Damaging Your Hair

Hair is highly prone to damage as it is constantly exposed to the environment. In addition, repetitive chemical treatments such as dyeing the hair, use of heat tools, avoiding haircuts, and ignoring split ends are some common reasons behind hair damage.

Also, some internal factors as well as daily hair-related beauty habits can make the hair fragile, leading to frizziness, dullness, roughness, breakage, and thinning.

Therefore, it is essential to know what is good for your hair and what can damage it. Improving your daily hair care habits can go a long way in revitalizing your hair health, giving your hair the strength and shine that enhance your appearance.

# Improper brushing

It is common for people to brush their hair from the top and work their way to the bottom.

However, starting at the roots and moving to the tips only pushes all the tangles to the end of the hair, which can eventually form one big and difficult knot. Pulling at this knot to detangle the hair eventually leads to excessive hair breakage.

# Tying your hair tightly

Wearing your hair in a tight hairstyle, such as a ponytail or a bun, that pulls on your hair can result in hair damage. Such tight ponytails create stress and tension in your hair, often leading to breakage, especially at the hairline.

In some cases, constant use of tight hairstyles can subsequently cause traction alopecia.

# Use of chemical products

Using hair products that contain chemicals such as hydrogen peroxide, sodium peroxide, silicones, bleach, perms, parabens, and alcohols can often lead to hair damage. These chemicals are common reasons behind scalp irritation, infection, hair thinning, and hair fall.

# Improper hair washing routine

The number of times you need to wash your hair in a week depends on your hair texture and type. Washing your hair every day can strip it of its natural oils, resulting in dry, dull hair.

On the other hand, not washing your hair for a long period can lead to the accumulation of dirt, dust, dead skin cells, and oil on your scalp, which clogs the hair follicles, resulting in hair loss and impaired hair growth.

# Wrong use of conditioners and shampoos

When washing your hair, you must make sure to apply the shampoo to your scalp. Shampoos are meant to clear the dirt and excessive oil off your scalp. When you lather your hair length with shampoo, it strips off the protective oil layer, making it prone to damage.

Conditioners, on the other hand, are meant to be used on the hair strands rather than the scalp. The hair length closer to your scalp is well hydrated and doesn’t require conditioning, as opposed to the dry hair shaft toward the ends.

# Washing your hair with hot water

People tend to use hot water during bathing and taking a shower, especially in winters. While a hot water bath can be relaxing and refreshing, it does not bode well for your hair.

The heat from the hot water can dry out your scalp and hair, resulting in increased sebum production. Moreover, it damages the hair proteins, leading to dullness, dryness, and frizziness.

# Frequent use of blow-dryers and heat styling tools

The heat from hairstyling tools, similar to hot water, can affect the keratin proteins that make up your hair. Moreover, it strips the hair of its natural oils, leading to hair breakage, dryness, and damage.

Hairstyling tools work by breaking the hydrogen bonds in the hair to achieve the style you want, be it straight, sleek, or curly. This can weaken the hair shafts and damage the hair follicles, resulting in hair brittleness.

# Exposure to sunlight

The UVA and UVB rays of the sun can damage the hair cuticle, resulting in hair discoloration, split ends, hair thinning, dryness, and frizziness. This causes dry and damaged hair, which is often difficult to manage.

The UV rays target the hair protein and increase free radical damage, making the hair weak and prone to hair loss. Your hair may be more prone to sun damage if it is colored, bleached, straightened, or permed.