Are You Damaging Your Hair After Every Wash? Avoid These 10 Common Mistakes

For many people, hair washing is something done routinely daily without much thought, since they assume that a wash equals healthy hair. Yet, the procedures you use in a hair wash can cause more damage to your hair than any other factor because wet hair is the weakest and most vulnerable form of hair. Simple things you do to your wet hair can raise the cuticles and create a lot of friction. The result is hair breakage and, consequently, split ends, frizz and even a dry/oily scalp.

10 Common Mistakes You Should Avoid After Every Wash

Steer clear of these 10 common mistakes to keep your locks strong and resilient:

1. Washing Your Hair with Scalding Hot Water

High heat can make you relaxed while cleansing, but it is very harsh and can strip away all your natural oils. Always wash your hair with warm or cool water to ensure that the hair cuticles are sealed properly.

2. Applying Shampoo Directly to Your Hair Lengths

The reason why we have shampoos in the first place is to cleanse the scalp where there is dirt accumulation. When the ends are rubbed with this shampoo, they get dry and result in split ends. So keep it confined only to the roots of the hair.

3. Scrubbing the Scalp Vigorously with Nails

Scratching your scalp using your nails will lead to abrasions on your scalp, thus causing irritation and weakening of your hair follicles. Remember to apply light pressure when rubbing your scalp cleaner into your scalp.

4. Skipping Conditioner or Applying It to the Roots

Not using a conditioner means that the hair cuticle will be open and vulnerable to friction, while conditioning the hair roots leads to blocking of hair follicles, resulting in immediate greasiness. The water should be removed, and conditioner applied only to the ends.

ALSO READ- 5 Signs That Your Scalp Needs Extra Care During Rainy Season

5. Rough Towel Drying

Aggressive rubbing of a normal bath towel on wet hair will break down the cuticle layer, resulting in immediate frizzing and hair breakage. Blot or press out any excess water using either a microfiber towel or a cotton T-shirt.

6. Aggressive Brushing While Wet

When you brush your wet hair, it will stretch and break much faster; combing your wet hair from roots to top can create a lot of hairfall. Always apply leave-in conditioner and use a comb or even brush for wet hair from ends to top.

7. Skipping Heat Protectant Before Blow-Drying

This process is responsible for the boiling of the leftover water in the strand. This should never be done without first spraying thermal protectants on the wet hair using a blow-dryer or straightener.

8. Incomplete Rinsing of Products

The accumulation of shampoo and conditioner will cause your hair to be dirtier than before and will also look very lifeless. Spend another minute and rinse your hair thoroughly with water to make sure that you get rid of all residues.

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9. Overloading on Heavy Leave-In Styling Oils

Coating hair with an excessive amount of thick oil results in a waxy layer which retains grime and needs rigorous cleaning later. Apply not more than a small coin-sized amount of light oil or serum, appropriate to your particular level of porosity.

10. Tying Wet Hair Into a Tight Bun or Ponytail

The binding of weak and damp hair by rubber bands results in stretching the hair shafts and pulling on the roots to cause the hair strands to snap. You should either air dry your hair or loosely braid it in a silk scrunchie.

Image credits: Freepik

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