We put our hair through a lot to get it to curl, straighten or change colors how we'd like it. The routines become so second-nature that we keep on styling our hair right over the damage.
In the video above, NewBeauty editor Anna Jimenez explains three bad hair habits most women do every day that are hurting their hair. Here are the telltale signs you're harming your hair, plus tips on how to break the cycle:
1. Manhandling wet hair. When your hair is soaking wet, it is weaker, fragile and more susceptible to breakage. Try not to rough-dry hair with a towel, and instead gently press the water out. Also, do not brush your hair while it is wet. Use a wide-tooth comb, working from the ends of your hair on up. Allow your locks to air-dry 80 percent of the way before cranking up the hair dryer.
2. Using a dirty brush. Filthy hair brushes that are covered in hair, oil and product build-up are breeding grounds for bacteria. Clean them at least once a month with a mixture of baking soda and lukewarm water. A toothbrush will help you to get into all those tiny bristles.
3. Overdrying your hair. Using heat-styling tools like a blow dryer and flat iron on color or chemical-treated hair furthers any damage. Unless you're replenishing lost moisture with regular oil treatments, then you're doing more harm than good. Practice better styling habits by turning down the heat on your tools and using extra virgin coconut oil as an overnight hair conditioner and shampooing hair in the morning.
The more you know...
50 Beauty Tips
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