Throughout history, hair has represented different things, including social, political or marital status – and different cultures have widely divergent ideas and practices when it comes to our "crowning glory".
Although hair is mostly a fashion statement, it is also an indication of our health status – and the most important thing about your hair is that it stays healthy.
This can, however, be taken for granted in our culture of quick fixes and chemical interventions, and many of the things we do to our hair nowadays seem to be doing more harm than good.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, another problem many people face is hair loss, which can be caused by genetics and diseases like alopecia, lupus, and cancer.
On an everyday level, however, there are a number of things you might be doing that are bad for your overall hair health.
1. Using hairstyling tools
Hairdryers and hair straighteners are our "go-to" when we want to tame our hair or when we feel we are having a bad hair day. But these are damaging to your hair. The heat from a straightener almost literally fries your hair – that sizzling sound should be an indication of the damage being done.
Too much heat strips essential serums and natural oils from your hair, making it look dry and lifeless. This reduces the strength of your hair, promoting hair damage and loss.
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2. Applying chemical products
We often find ourselves at a loss when choosing the correct shampoos and serums to protect our hair – there are just too many options to choose from!
Many of these products also contain chemicals that can damage our hair if not used correctly.
And, apart from damage to our hair, chemicals present in hair dyes raises the risk of breast cancer in women, according to a Health24 article.
Hair dyes contains chemicals such as hydrogen peroxide and ammonia, which may have irreversible effects like weakening and breaking the hair.
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3. Brushing wet hair
People often make the mistake of brushing or combing their hair right after washing it. This may damage and even break your hair as it is at its most fragile when wet.
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4. Washing your hair too often
As mentioned above, your hair is at its most fragile when wet, and chemicals in shampoos and other hair products can cause significant damage.
Washing also strips your hair of its natural oils. Give your hair a break!
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5. Stressing too much
Physical stressors like accidents, flu, or surgery can cause hair loss.
According to a Health24 article, this temporary hair loss usually manifests two to four months after the injury or incident. Growth returns to normal after three to six months.
Stress habits, such as scratching your hair – which breaks it at the root – or tugging on your ponytail in stressful situations can also cause hairs to break off. Aim to de-stress your life, and keep your hands out of your hair.
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Read more:
Four tips for healthy winter hair
You weave or braids could cause hair loss