You know those tiny baby hairs around your forehead that are the bane of your existence? Those could be the result of regrowth after your hair has shed (in which case, bring them on!), but can also be a sign that your hair is breaking off along the hairline. And if that last issue is to blame, you probably want to hear a few good solutions for how to keep that from happening.
According to celebrity hair stylist Chris Appleton, there are five mistakes all women make with their hair that “break” the hairline, can strip your strands of essential oils, and may even lead to hair loss. If these mistakes sound familiar, you’re not alone. They’re also not difficult to correct — most don’t even require purchasing a single product. Here are the mistakes to avoid for healthier hair.
1. Tying Hair Too Tight
Tying your hair into ponytails and buns tightly with elastic bands can pull at the strands on your scalp, leading to stress. This pulling can weaken the hair and cause fallout and breakage around the crown, as well. When you pull your hair back or up, use soft elastic bands to secure it into a looser style that doesn’t pull at the roots.
2. Using Heat Styling Tools Without Protection
Every time you take a blow dryer, diffuser, curling iron, or any other hot styling tool to your hair, you should first protect it with a heat protectant spray. There are so many sprays from which to choose, in a variety of prices, but the one you select will ideally protect hair from temperatures of 425°F or above and contain nourishing and hydrating ingredients to smoothen hair.
3. Never Trimming Your Hair
It doesn’t matter if your goal is to grow your hair past your waist — regular trims are crucial for healthy hair. If you go too long without trimming your hair, it becomes more vulnerable to split ends and damage. Eventually you may find yourself needing to cut even more hair than you intended just to make it healthy again.
4. Over-Washing and Under-Washing Hair
The definition of “over-washing” and “under-washing” your hair will depend on your hair type and individual needs. But if you are going so long between washes that your roots are getting oily or showing signs of dandruff, or you are washing your hair every day, you are probably causing it unnecessary stress and damage. Find the healthy middle ground that makes your hair happy and stick to that routine.
5. Choosing the Wrong Products for Your Hair Type
Once you figure out your hair type — oily, dry, damaged, fine, course — it becomes so much easier to select hair products that will make it sing. If you’re constantly using the wrong product for your hair, it will eventually show. Dry hair may look even drier; oily scalps may suffer from dandruff. Analyze your hair, figure out what it needs, and feed it products that suit its type for even more gorgeous hair.
