What Exactly Is Hair Damage?
Hair damage happens when aggressors (such as friction, heat, and harsh chemical treatments) damage your hair’s protective outer layer (the cuticle), causing fissures on its surface. When the cuticle is broken, it lifts (or opens up), causing your hair to seem dull, dry, frizzy, or brittle, as well as making it more prone to damage and breaking. A prolonged version of this process may seem like an endless hair nightmare. While you may not be able to restore damaged hair entirely, there are lots of effective hair products that you can use to help prevent it from happening again.
Cold weather, dry air, and strong winds may damage your hair, especially if you already have dry hair. While you cannot stop the damage that is bound to happen due to extreme weather conditions, there are many things you may not be noticing that are causing harm. While some are obvious, others may surprise you. Here are some habits that you do everyday but are causing hair damage without you knowing it:
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Washing Frequently
Yes, shampooing your hair more than is required can prove to be a terrible idea. Even having your hair wet for more prolonged periods might cause further breakage. When hair becomes wet, the shaft expands, making it more elastic and prone to breakage. Furthermore, shampoos might occasionally work too effectively, eliminating the oils that your hair naturally generates, resulting in lifeless hair.
Suggestion: Wash your hair less frequently. Herbal hair shampoos are a fantastic alternative for spot treatment. If you must wash your hair every day, use a gentle herbal hair shampoo (avoid products advertised as deep cleaning or clarifying) and concentrate on the roots, where hair is greasy and has more product accumulation.
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Wet Hair Brushing
Wet hair, as previously said, is more prone to damage than dry hair. It is more elastic and prone to breaking. Excessive brushing of dry hair is also harmful since brushes and combs can snap or damage hair.
Suggestion: Use caution while working with wet hair. Remove knots with your fingers or a wide-tooth comb.
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Drying of Towels
Towels can harm your hair. Even wiping hair with a towel may cause the cuticle (outside layer of the hair) to become rough, causing it to seem frizzy or fluffy and potentially leading to greater breaking.
Suggestion: To eliminate moisture, blot your hair with a towel rather than rubbing it. Also, if you have thick hair, investing in a super-absorbent towel may be a wise option.
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Blowing Drying
It should come as no shock that heat causes harm. Blow drying produces a “flash drying” effect, which eliminates surface moisture and water attached to the hair, known as the water of hydration. The cuticles become dry, hard, and brittle due to this sudden drying. In addition, the cuticles fracture as the hair flexes due to the strain. Combining hair with this much cuticle cracking creates a lot of damage.
Suggestion: Avoid blow-drying your hair if possible. Of course, this is not a viable choice for many women. To help offset some damage, apply a heat protector spray or leave-in conditioner containing glycerine and propylene glycol, which prevent water evaporation. To further reduce damage, utilise the low heat setting on your dryer.
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Curling Irons/Flat Irons
These kinds of gadgets, unlike blow dryers, can cause harm to your hair. Ironing can produce two damages depending on whether the hair is ironed dry or wet. Dry hair is prone to splitting around the cuticle margins, leading to chipping. The moisture bursts out in little steam explosions when damp hair is ironed. This causes the cuticle to bubble and buck, resulting in breakage and split ends.
Suggestion: Iron damage can be minimised by applying conditioners containing substances such as cetrimonium chloride. Heat exposure in the presence of such a conditioning ingredient can improve hair strength, making it more difficult to break. Using Lotus Herbals beauty products, particularly for heat protection, is a smart choice. Of course, avoiding the use of iron is the ideal approach.
Finally, while it is practically difficult to avoid all sorts of hair damage, there are a few basic methods that can keep your hair looking and feel healthier without surrendering your favourite blow dryer!
