Hair breakage is one of the most prevalent problems in the beauty industry. Yet, many experts do not understand what causes hair breakage or why it happens. This has led to a lot of misinformation, as well as ineffective and expensive solutions to fix it.
Here are the 6 most common mistakes I see people make that cause hair breakage:
1.) You wash (and blow dry) your hair too often. Washing your hair every day strips away natural oils from the scalp and dries out the hair follicle. This makes your hair weak and brittle. Once a week is enough for most people. If you have oily hair, try washing every other day instead of daily.
2.) You’re using the wrong shampoo for your type of hair. Not all shampoos are created equal. Some may be too harsh for thin/damaged/dry/curly/colored/etc types of hair which can cause it to break off faster than before.
3.) Brushing wet hair can cause split ends and breakage because water opens up the cuticle and makes the strands more susceptible to damage. Wait until your hair is completely dry before brushing or combing it.
4.) You’re brushing it too roughly. Treat your hair with care. Pulling, combing, or brushing hair too roughly will cause breakage. Rough handling of the hair can cause it to become weak and brittle. Use gentle strokes when brushing your hair and use a wide tooth comb to avoid pinching the strands of your hair between the teeth of the comb.
5.) Working with hairstyling tools too often. Using flat irons, curling irons and other styling tools frequently can make your hair weak and brittle over time. Limit yourself to one or two times per week — less if you have fine or thinning hair — for best results.
6.) Relying on dry shampoo too much. Dry shampoos are an excellent way to extend the life of a hairstyle, but overusing them can be hard on your hair. Be sure to wash and condition your hair regularly in order to give it proper moisture and nutrients.
