There are hair care mistakes — like accidentally going a lighter shade of blonde than you intended — and then there are hair care MISTAKES. And the latter are the ones you want to avoid at all costs because they can result in your hair becoming thinner, more frail, and actually breaking and shedding.
Not all hair shedding is caused by genetics, nor does it have to be permanent. If you are neglecting a few crucial hair care styling tips, you could be causing unnecessary damage and destruction to your strands. Stop bad habits before it’s too late — these are four hair mistakes that almost always lead to thinning hair and breakage.
Too Many Heated Tools
We all love a great blowout and bouncy curls, but if you have a committed relationship with your blowdryer, curling iron, straightening iron, or any other tool that delivers high amounts of heat, you could be causing your hair a lot of damage. Intense heat dries and splits the hair’s shaft, and can lead to split ends, frizz, and thinning — or even breakage.
Taking occasional breaks from heated tools is a great approach to save your hair. And those times when you do want to style with heat, make sure you first coat your strands with a heat-protectant spray.
Using Shampoos That Contain Sulfates
Many shampoos contain sulfates because this group of mineral salts is what helps give your cleansers and shampoo the rich lather that we associate with cleanliness. But sulfates can rob your hair and scalp of moisture, making it dry, flaky, and leaving it vulnerable to split ends. Choose shampoos and conditioners that are sulfate-free, and read the ingredients lists of your other hair products, like gels and mousses, to make sure they don’t contain sulfates and parabens.
Wearing Tight Hairstyles
If you’re a fan of tight updos, braids, and high ponytails, be aware that these styles can pull at your scalp and actually cause breakage. Have you noticed tiny baby hairs around the front of your scalp? These could be a sign of regrowth caused by shedding from wearing tight hairstyles too often. The best way to correct this mistake is to take breaks when possible from tight ‘dos and change things up to let your scalp rest.
Never Getting Trims
If your motto when it comes to your hair is “the longer the better,” we salute your commitment — but that doesn’t mean you should never trim your hair. Neglecting haircuts means split ends, and split ends can’t be repaired with products — they require cutting them off. The longer you wait to trim your hair, the longer the hair splits and the more you’ll need to cut off for your hair to be healthy.
In other words: a trim every six to eight weeks can actually help keep your hair super healthy so that it can grow long and healthy — and strong.
