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If you want healthy, gorgeous hair - and really who doesn’t? - then you should pay attention to how you treat it. From the way you wash it to how dry it to how you style it.
We often put our hair through a lot to get it to be how we’d like it - whether it’s to straighten it, curl it or even colour it, often not realising the damage we might be causing.
So if you love your hair, look out for these 4 things you might be doing. And stop doing them:
1. Intense towel drying
You probably know this already, but towel drying can damage your hair. And did I mention that wet hair is more susceptible to damage?
According to Shampoo Truth, rubbing your hair with a towel can rough up the outer layer of the hair and worsen the split ends, which eventually weakens the tresses.
Solution: Instead of rubbing your hair, blot it. Also, the type of towel that you use matters. It should be clean and soft and there should be no texture that might damage the hair when you press down. Rule of thumb - if it feels rough against your skin it will be rough against your hair too.
Read more: How Ibuprofen and dish soap might save your hair
2. Over-washing your hair
This is one of the most common sources of hair damage. You should try not to wash your hair every day since this strips it from essential, protective oils.
Solution: According to Huffington Post, the healthiest thing for your hair is to wash it every two to three days.
3. Using hot irons on damp hair
Hair should always be completely dry before heat styling. Wet hair and hot tools don’t go together - hot ironing wet hair leads to frizzy hair as it burns the follicles of damp strands.
Read more: 5 hair products to help you achieve your #hairgoals
Solution: There are, however, some precautions you can take to minimise the damage that hot irons cause. Firstly, like I said, you should wait until your hair is completely dry. Then, use a heat protectant and only then you can go ahead and straighten your hair.
4. Wet brushing
Your mother probably told you this, and guess what, she was right. Your hair becomes weak and fragile when it's wet, therefore it is advisable that you don’t brush your hair during its damp state.
Solution: Brush your hair before you step into the shower. That way it will comb out much easier afterwards. Then use a wide-tooth brush and gently press the water out of it or blot with a towel. Allow it to dry at least 80% before using a dryer.
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