Everybody wants salon-perfect hair, but of course you can’t go to a salon every single day just to achieve it. The reality is that much of what our hair looks like depends on how we care for it on a daily basis. And because we can’t exactly get a professional to take care of it every day, we should at least know what mistakes to avoid. These are some very simple hair care mistakes that most of us don’t even realize we’re making, but we should consciously make an effort not to do them anymore:
1. Overdoing the shampoo
Different people have different habits, but a lot of people shampoo their hair everyday because it gives them a clean feeling. However, shampooing your hair daily will strip it of its natural oils, and this is a sure way to make it look dull and lackluster. You are of course free to shower daily, but take it easy on the shampoo. Sometimes you’re better off just rinsing with water.
2. Skipping the conditioner
Some people think that using the conditioner is a mere suggestion, but talk to any stylist and you’ll realize that it’s perhaps even more important than the shampoo. Precisely because it’s almost always overlooked, you need to make sure you pay attention to your conditioner. Don’t skip it, because the conditioner is there to give your hair the nourishment that it needs. Your hair will forgive you (and perhaps even thank you) if you skip the shampoo, but don’t ever skip the conditioner.
3. Applying excessive heat
Heat makes styling so much easier, and this is why you have your hair dryer, iron, and hot rollers. But applying too much heat on a daily basis is a guaranteed way to damage your hair faster than you can dry it. Avoid using heat if you can, and make sure you apply a heat protectant to prevent damage.
4. Applying excessive chemicals
There are some really important hair products that can help you take care of your hair, but you need to lay off on the chemicals especially if you’re fond of having your hair treated. For instance, don’t even think of having your hair dyed and getting a perm in one day. Your hair simply needs to breathe in between the chemical treatments.
5. Too tight for comfort
It won’t hurt you to be a little more gentle to your hair, even on normal days when you think you’re just going for a simple ponytail. Whether that’s a ponytail, a braid, or a couple of hair extensions, you need to make sure it’s not too tight because the pressure and tension could cause strain on your follicle and make your hair fall off.
6. Leaving tangles for the shower
Before you step into the shower, make sure you brush your hair. This takes care of all the tangles and ensures that your hair is smooth before you make it wet. Wet hair is more prone to being tangled up, so you want to make sure that you’re not making things work.
7. Losing patience when untangling
It’s normal to get tangled hair, but not all tough tangles need tough love. If you tug at the tangled portion too hard, you could cause major hair breakage. If you can’t untangle your hair with a wide-tooth comb, then apply some de-tangling spray before gently trying again.
8. Too much (or too little) brushing
You may have heard that you need to brush your hair one hundred times a day to achieve the smoothness that you want. But then you may also have heard that too much brushing can cause damage, so you end up just brushing the ends of your hair. The truth is that brushing from the top actually helps massage your scalp and stimulate growth. Brushing from roots to ends will give your hair luster, but you shouldn’t overdo it. Just brush your hair at the beginning of every day, and only when you feel you need to.
9. Brushing your hair while it’s wet
That said, don’t brush your hair while it’s still wet. Your brush will be useful when your hair is all dry and bouncy, but if you’ve just come from the shower you’re better off with a wide-tooth comb to remove the tangles without causing damage.
10. Forgetting to trim your hair
Even if you’re trying to grow your hair long, you should remember that your hair has to be trimmed regularly. If you don’t trim your hair, you’ll end up with split ends and too much hair damage. A regular visit to your hair stylist (at least once every two months) will ensure that your hair gets the tender loving care that it needs. A regular trim will also keep your hair in tip top shape.