Washing your hair too often
The scalp produces sebum, a natural oil that helps moisturize and protect hair.
However, washing your hair too often, especially with products that contain harsh chemicals like sulfates, can strip away essential natural oils. This leaves your hair dry, brittle, and more prone to breakage.
Experts from the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommend against daily shampooing, especially for those with dry hair or sensitive scalps. They also emphasize that keeping a sufficient amount of natural oils will help maintain healthy hair and scalp.
Using the wrong product
Many popular hair care products contain sulfates and parabens. Sulfates are powerful cleansers, but they can strip hair of its natural oils, leaving it dry and brittle.
Meanwhile, parabens are used as preservatives but can irritate the scalp, creating conditions for bacteria to grow, weakening hair follicles.
According to research from the European Public Health Organization, using products that do not contain sulfates or parabens can reduce the risk of weak hair and scalp problems.
Experts recommend choosing gentle, naturally extracted products to better protect hair.
Drying hair at too high a temperature
Blow drying your hair at high temperatures is one of the leading causes of weak, brittle hair. High temperatures dehydrate the hair, leaving it dry, brittle, and prone to breakage.
Furthermore, the protective cuticle layer on the outside of the hair strand can be damaged, leaving the hair vulnerable to environmental factors.
The International Hair Care Society (IHS) recommends using a low or medium heat setting when blow-drying your hair, and combining it with a heat protectant product to minimize damage.
Advice from the experts
Experts advise that to have healthy hair, you should:
Wash your hair 2-3 times a week, using warm water instead of hot water.
Choose products that are free of harmful chemicals like sulfates or parabens.
Limit the use of heat tools such as hair dryers and straighteners; always protect hair with heat protection products.
Let your hair dry naturally as much as possible, and make sure you eat a balanced diet to nourish your hair from within.
Small changes to your hair care routine can make a big difference in keeping your hair strong, healthy and shiny.
