Okay, your hair isn’t technically alive. It is attached to your living noggin, but it is made up of dead cells. On the positive side, the things you do to your hair won’t have much of an effect on the rest of your body. On the down side, hair has no defenses against the things we do to it!
- Overshampooing. Most of the shampoos on the market are gentle enough for daily use. But they also can pull away natural protective oils when they scrub away dirt.
- Brushing wet hair. Wet hair stretches out to almost twice its length. If you brush your hair when it is wet, you can snap the thin, stretched hair easily.
- Yanking dry hair. Even when your hair is dry, it can stretch and snap. Be gentle when you brush or comb your hair.
- Blow drying. Sometimes it’s a necessity, but making your hair TOO dry can rob your scalp of natural oils. Try to leave your hair a little bit damp and let it dry the rest of the way naturally.
- Wind exposure. Just like blow drying can dry out your hair, so can heavy wind.
- Sun exposure. The sun can be damaging to your hair as well as your skin. Protect your locks with a hat or scarf if you’re going to be in the sun for a long period of time.
- Air pollution. You can’t do much about this one, really. Junk in the air can make your hair feel REALLY dirty.
- Hair dyes and other treatments. Permanents, bleaches, and dyes can damage your hair. Try to pick products made (at least partially) with natural ingredients. Clairol’s Herbal Essences is a favorite of mine. And be sure to use a conditioner if you do dye or bleach your hair, to help keep things from getting frizzy up top.
- Chlorine. The stuff that keeps your pool nice and clean is on par with bleach to your hair. If you can’t wear a bathing cap, be sure to rinse your hair with clean unchlorinated water when you get out of the pool or hot tub!