Do you feel like you commit a great deal of time worrying for your hair, but your hair does not reflect that exertion? Do you think you have reviewed everything on the shopping list of hair care, but something is still missing? So many of us feel that we know our hair well and that we are at the peak of our laundry routine. Yet, taking care of your hair is much more than just washing it with an expensive shampoo.
Here are the most basic pitfalls people make in their hair care routine. Keep a checklist, fix it, and you will see a noticeable difference in your hair.
1. Excessively combing and using the wrong form of brush
Brushing helps to spread natural hair oils, but you do not need any more than 8 to 9 strokes of a hairbrush or a comb every day. Too much brushing can break your hair, pull it out and damage the cuticle layer that causes split ends, particularly for someone with dry, colour-treated hair. Over-brushing is also not ideal for oily hair as it activates the hair follicles and thus, raises the number of sebaceous glands (skin oil) in the hair.
Picking the right brush design and barrel size (for your hair) will substantially affect your blowout, says Drybar creator Alli Webb. Only note; the narrower the barrel, its most curl and body you will get. The bigger the brush, the straighter the hair.
Use broad combs for thick curly hair, circular brushes for shaping, paddle brush for hair that is susceptible to tangling and so on. Realize what kind works best for you and stick to it. The shorter your hair, the smaller should be your brush’s length and vice versa. The comb must have right-winged properties. If you use the incorrect type comb, you are going to make your hair worse! Using the correct comb will go a long way to prevent hair damage.
2. Do not avoid oiling
Oiling has to be one of the main components of your hair maintenance routine. This age-old grandma’s trick to having healthy, shiny hair can never lose its significance.
Oiling your scalp is the solution to many of your hair issues. Whether it’s frizzy hair, thin hair, split ends or hair colour damage, regular oiling can combat all of these issues at once.
Oiling before washing helps to form a defensive layer around your hair. It helps to reduce the breakage that occurs during hair washing. This safe oil shield provides brightness, moisture and helps avoid split ends and breakage. Coconut oil and olive oil can minimize protein loss in both healthy and frizzy hair.
Pro tip: Make sure your hair is not left oiled for more than 24 hours as it can do more damage than good.
3. Always tighten your ponytail in just the same place
Since strands appear to be caught and damaged bands, it is a smart decision to change the fastening stage. Celebrity stylist Richard Marin said that it is ideal, to keep moving your ponytail half an inch each day at a time. The use of seamless rubber bands will further mitigate damage.
4. Always wet your hair before entering the pool
Think of a sponge: if it is almost dry, it can soak up a lot more water than if it were already wet. So, we are adding the same idea to your hair. If the hair is already moist, it is not going to soak up as many of the chemicals in the water that causes the greenish tint.
Jill Marcordes, Executive Director of Cosmetology & Nail Technology at the Tricoci University of Beauty Culture, suggests using a plastic container filled with distilled water which can prevent contaminants from entering hair fibre. However, tap water also serves the same purpose.
5. Never sleep with untied hair
It is for individuals with medium to long hair. If you sleep with your hair untied, you may feel relaxed, but believe us, it will only be more of a task as you wake up. Your hair is quite likely to get tangled.
We would suggest that you braid or bind your hair to the top node when you reach the bed. Try a satin bedsheet for silk hair, too. It will help in keeping your hair from being overly tangled and frizzy. Overall, you save a lot of time when you get dressed in the morning.
6. Masking and not trying to treat dandruff
Attempting to remove flakes with hydrating styluses like oils and powders is only a temporary thing: Dandruff is a provocative scalp disease unconnected to drying, says Dr McMichael. Instead, use a shampoo with salicylic acid, zinc, selenium sulphide or tar to remove granules.
You can also try a few home remedies such as:
i. Lemon and yoghurt hair mask
ii. Vinegar and coconut oil hair mask
7. Use of random personalized travel hair products
This practice is prevalent. Many regular travellers avoid carrying their hair care items and just using what is available at the place of stay. You enter the resort, use the shampoo and the conditioner in the small bottles present in the shower room, you visit another one, you use the ones provided there and so on. Frequently switching shampoos and soaps, or using ones that are loaded with chemicals can be harmful to your hair in the long run.
Instead, carry travel-sized bottles or sachets of the brands you use on your trip.
8. Avoiding regular trimming
Extending your haircut will lead to hair serious hair damage such as split ends, dryness and breakage. While it is convenient for users with short hair to recognize improvement, most of them with long hair can’t judge when they need a cut.
It is a fallacy that broken ends can be ‘handled’ at home. It is crucial to have a trim at least once every two months. By chopping off split ends, you keep your hair from breaking up anymore.