These Habits Are Hurting Your Hair Health
Although genetics and health-related challenges can negatively impact the health of your hair, it’s also possible that some of your daily actions may be unintentionally causing damage to your tresses. The good news is that once you know how you may be harming your hair, you can put a stop to it. To find out more, here are seven habits that are hurting your hair’s health.
Allowing Stress To Overtake You
Chronic stress can have negative effects on virtually every sphere of your life — from your physical well-being to your emotional well-being. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that a study by the American Academy of Dermatology revealed that stress may trigger certain dermatological challenges, including hair loss. To keep chronic stress away, try engaging in stress-busting routines, including meditation and deep breathing.
Using Chemical-Laden Hair Products
Potent chemicals, such as ammonia and hydrogen peroxide, which are commonly found in hair dyes, can result in the thinning of the hair alongside hair loss. On a similar note, hair relaxers are usually formulated with sodium hydroxide, which has the potential to weaken the hair as well as cause scalp infection. If you want to ensure that your hair remains healthy, always strive to avoid chemical-based products. Rather, opt for products that are herbal in nature or hair dyes that are developed using natural ingredients.
Overshampooing
While this is likely to be tempting, excessive shampooing has the potential to suck out natural moisture from your hair and dry it out, resulting in breakage. Washing your hair no more than three times per week is a good idea for most people. However, if you’re sweating a lot, have excessively oily hair or using numerous products, hair should be washed after every two days. When washing the hair, it is always crucial to ensure that appropriate shampoo is used for the hair texture and type. This will aid in moisturizing and beautifying your hair.
Exposing Your Hair to Pool Water
While swimming is a great way to get exercise and relieve stress, chlorinated water can cause hair discoloration and damage. The best course of action is to always wear a swim cap when you swim, which will keep your hair from being exposed to the harsh chemicals in the pool. If you can’t wear a swim cap, always shower and shampoo your hair immediately after using the pool. Never allow the pool water to dry in your hair.
Taking Showers That Are Too Hot
If the water you use on your hair is too hot, it can strip away the hair's natural oils. Over time, and combined with other harmful hair habits, your hair may become more prone to breakage and falling if you always wash it with hot water. Instead of an extra-hot shower, shower in lukewarm water for no more than 15 minutes. For the ultimate hair-protecting rinse, use cold water to help lock the moisture in place. Cold-water rinses can also make your hair shine.
Brushing Your Hair While Still Wet
When wet, hair strands are more elastic and highly susceptible to breakage, so it’s important to take care. After washing, the hair should be blotted with the use of a soft towel before combing gently with a wide-tooth comb (not a brush) that will glide through wet strands instead of snagging them.
Eating a Poor Diet
For you to have healthy hair, you should always strive to eat a healthy diet that's rich in proteins and vitamins. Also make sure that your diet entails food rich in trace minerals, such as copper. Surviving on junk food or following restrictive fad diets has the potential to lead to nutrient deficiencies that may, in the long run, result in hair loss, thinning and dull, brittle hair.
Do Better for Your Hair
Hair damage is not good, but sometimes it’s unintentional. Now that you know about some of the habits you may have that are hurting your hair’s health, you can stop them. Know better, do better. It’s a good way to go through life.