Top 5 Most Damaging Styling Habits

Your hair is your crown, and one of the most fun parts of getting ready for a night out, or sometimes for your week, is finding a new fun style to try out on your hair. While high-textured hair is versatile, sometimes getting your hair to look the way you want it to can take a toll on the overall health of your strands. Harsh styling habits can cause long term hair damage, and can even lead to hair loss. Avoiding these common damaging styling practices can help prevent hair loss and keep your hair healthy and strong.

Styling too tight While sometimes feeling that tight feeling of a new protective style can give you a boost of self-esteem and make you feel fresh, styles that are too tight or pull on the roots can lead to follicle damage. Weakened or damaged hair follicles can lead to hair thinning, weaker or thinner new growth, and can lead to Traction Alopecia, which is a form of hair loss caused from high-tension styles. Tip: Braids, cornrows, weaves, crochets, or rubber bands should not cause any scalp sensitivity when installed. Firm but not tight is your best bet!

Using too much heat Heat damage is a very real threat to the integrity of your hair, and can potentially lead to hair loss. High-heat tools like flat irons and hot combs work to straighten or smooth the follicle, but can easily cause burning or singeing to the hair shaft or even the scalp. Frequent heat styling like blow-drying or straightening daily also compromises your natural hair texture, and the smoke or steam produced from hair products on the hair can easily burn the scalp, potentially scarring follicles. Tip: It is advised to avoid using any heat hotter than 400 degrees on your hair to prevent hair damage.

Wearing the same style too long When you find a style that works, sometimes changing it up can feel unnecessary. Maybe it’s the easiest style for you, like a top knot or tight bun, or a protective style that can last for weeks. The problem is, if you’re styling your hair in the same way each day or leaving your hair in the same style for too long, you may be creating repetitive tension on the same hair follicles, which can weaken your roots and potentially lead to hair damage or loss. Traction Alopecia is caused when the same hair strands are pulled repeatedly, weakening the follicles. Look for widening parts, receding edges, or bald spots near ponytails or braids. Tip: switch up your style often and give your hair a break between long-wear protective styles

Washing too often Especially for people who are active or prefer a fresh-feeling scalp, it’s normal to think that daily or frequent shampooing is necessary to keep your hair clean. Overusing shampoo can strip your hair of its natural oils, leaving it dry, brittle, and fragile. For coarser textures, wash days should only be around once per week to keep hair manageable, moisturized, and growing healthy and full. Stripping the hair of its natural moisture can also lead to oiliness or greasiness which can make you feel like you need to shampoo more often. Tapering off on wash days will help create a balance of oil and moisture in the hair and scalp to prevent damage and hair loss. se a clarifying shampoo and deep conditioner once per week, then rinse the hair with conditioner after workouts or to revive curls between washes.

Clips, bands, and snags Clip-in extensions, rubber bands, and metal clips and pins help keep your styles in place, but these tight pins and clips can cause serious stress to your hair. Metal clips can bend, snag, and snap hair when used too often or left in for long periods of time. Also, old fashioned hair elastics with metal clasps can snag hair or quickly tangle, causing pulling or damage to the hair follicle. Using clip-in extensions in the same places can snap the hair shaft, leading to breakage and hair thinning. Tip: Avoid any metal styling clips or pins, and take extra care when removing hair elastics and rubber bands to avoid pulling or snagging.