What causes hair damage? No one likes when their hair gets damaged. And most of us don't set out to push the limits of what our hair can handle. But unless we know what ordinary things cause damage, we won't know to prevent it. You may be completely surprised at what is damaging your hair. Here are a few things to watch to prevent damage to your beautiful hair.
Swimming. Swimming in a chlorinated pool is a huge culprit of hair damage. Quite frankly, chlorine is very hard on your hair. It causes chemical buildup. Overtime, hair gets brittle and frail if chlorine saturation isn't handled properly. It can also fade hair color, or turn light-colored hair green. Prevent chlorine damage by saturating your hair with tap water and conditioner before going in the pool. Rinse hair with non-pool water upon exiting, and regularly shampoo with a clarifying shampoo.
Sleeping. I'll bet you didn't know that sleeping can damage your hair. Well, it's surprisingly true. If your hair is long and you toss and turn in your sleep, you may be causing unwanted tangles which eventually can result in knots and hair breakage. Prevent this by putting your long hair in a loose braid for sleeping, and always sleep on a satin or silk pillow case to keep your hair from sticking to the sheets.
Ponytails. Ponytails can really cause breakage, right around where the hair elastic sits. Putting wet hair in a ponytail is just asking for hair breakage, so make sure hair is dry before pulling it back. Also, use a quality hair elastic that doesn't pull, and don't make your pony too tight.
Tanning. Tanning is an obvious no-no because it is hard on your skin. But it is also hard on your hair, causing fading and damage to delicate strands. Just don't do it.
Brushing. Did you know that brushing can cause damage? Never brush wet hair, because this causes a considerable amount of damage and breakage. Wet hair stretches easier and becomes thinner than dry hair, so it makes sense that these strands would be more susceptible to damage.
Shampooing. Too vigorous of a shampoo can cause your hair to stretch and break, so be gentle with your strands and use a quality salon shampoo.
Drying. Blow drying your hair in all directions with a blow dryer or scrubbing it dry with a towel can cause more stretching and breakage to your hair. Instead, gently blot hair as dry as possible with a towel. Than use the blow dryer for styling.
Flat ironing. We all know that flat ironing is the biggest culprit of hair damage, yet most of us aren't willing to give it up. So be sure to use a heat protecting spray before flat ironing. Use the lowest setting that works, and never, ever use your flat iron on wet hair. Even if it says so.
Now that you know what might be causing your hair damage, you can try new ways to prevent it from getting worse. Always be gentle with your strands, treat them well, and you'll have the healthiest hair possible for you.
