Are You Guilty of These Bad Hair Habits?

With great hair, comes great responsibility. During all the washing, snipping, combing, and styling, it’s easy to mistreat your crowning glory.

Your hair makes or breaks an entire look because it frames your face, which does most of the verbal and non-verbal talking. Because it’s so important, we’ve compiled a list of bad hair habits we’re all guilty of from time to time. Here’s to keeping your hair game strong!

How frequently you trim your hair depends on your hair length, type, and health. As a general rule of thumb, long hairs don’t require trims too frequently (once every 2 – 3 months) while short and pixie cuts should be trimmed monthly. Meanwhile, the in-between bobs, lobs, and heavily layered hair should be trimmed every 1.5 months.

Hair length aside, curly hair should not be cut too frequently as the length and weight help tame the curls, so a trim every 3 months would do. The opposite rule applies for fine hair as this hair type gets limp and weighed down when it’s too long, so get a trim every 1 – 1.5 months. If you have damaged hair from regular colouring and heat-styling, trim your hair monthly. This snips off the damaged ends, preventing further breakage up the hair shaft.

Always pay attention to your scalp health as it’s in charge of keeping your hair healthy and strong. Make sure to massage your scalp when shampooing to thoroughly cleanse it of grease and dirt. Once a week, use shampoos that have deep cleansing components to remove product and pollutant buildup that will give you dull, unhealthy hair. When washing, make sure to avoid using water that’s too hot as it dries out your scalp and hair.

When straightening or curling your hair using an electrical device, make sure it’s set to a temperature that’s hot enough to do the job once (without repeat curling or straightening), and not too hot that it damages your hair.

The recommended temperature for most hair types is 180°C, but use a lower temperature if you have very fine hair and a higher temperature if you have very thick hair. As using too much heat causes damage, split ends, breakage, and hair loss; get into the habit of applying a heat protectant spray before any heat application.

Your hair is most receptive to hair products when it’s slightly damp. When applying hair serums or leave-in conditioners, make sure to do it when your hair is semi-dry. If your hair is already thoroughly dry after a shower, spritz some water before applying product.  You can either use a comb or your clean fingers to comb and spread the products through your hair.

When styling your hair, it’s easy to get carried away with products that help keep it in place. Be prudent when using wax, mousse, gel, and hairspray as they can damage your hair. They can cause excess oil production or dry out your hair, depending on the product. Use sparingly and try to alternate usage days to give your hair rest periods.

Using rubber bands and tying your hair up too tight may cause breakage, especially when it’s wet (and brittle). When your hair is strained and tugged back, it may loosen from the roots and break while it’s being tugged or if it snags between the rubber band. Put your hair up loosely or use wider rubber bands for lesser hair tension.