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Maybe you’ve just returned from the salon with freshly-colored hair-only to notice after a few days that your hair seems thinner than usual.
It’s normal to lose anywhere from 50-100 strands of hair a day, but hair loss or excessive shedding can be caused by external factors like nutrient deficiencies, hormones and stress. If your hair is falling out, it may be a sign of poor health, or it could be caused by simple haircare mistakes you likely don’t even realize you’re making.
With color-treated hair, it’s especially important to take measures that restore and protect your locks. That’s because harsh chemicals for bleaching and straightening, along with excess heat, can damage and kill hair follicles. So in the interest of good hair health, what’s one of the common mistakes people with color-treated hair make?
Overwashing
According to celebrity stylist Tarryn Feldman, those with color-treated hair tend to overwash their locks, which "causes more harm than good." Experts agree that everyday washing causes problems like dryness and irritation-in fact, too much time spent under the faucet can even lead to hair loss!
Not to mention, many shampoos contain harsh chemicals like sulphates that are used to create lather, and don't do you any favors in the long run. Beyond fallout, overwashing triggers other problems too.
"Frequent contact with hot water and shampoo will make your scalp drier than it should be, leading to dandruff," professional hairstylist and founder of MyStraightener, Monica Davis, warns. "Besides, an over dried scalp may start overproducing sebum to compensate for the normal layer removed by frequent washing. Reduce the number of weekly washes to bring sebum production back to normal."
Yikes! Given the dangers of overwashing, is there a way to mitigate damage (especially for those with color-treated hair)?
In addition to limiting shampoo/conditioner sessions to about 2-3 times a week, Tarryn recommends taking stock of our hair tools to ensure we're treating our tresses with care. "Use softer brushes with natural bristles and slow down on the amount of heat you use on your hair," she tells us. Furthermore it can be a good idea to sleep in braids and/or let your hair air dry.
As someone with very color-treated hair herself, Tarryn is familiar with all the different factors that can negatively affect our hair. "I use good products, wash 2-3 times a week, scalp scrub and massage at least once a month in the shower, do a mask here and there, and put healthy foods in my body," she says.
In fact, diet is often one of the most effective ways to achieve the mermaid hair of your dreams-and consuming biotin-rich foods like almonds and eggs can not only help avoid hair loss, but give your locks a more shiny and healthy appearance.
