We all know the feeling of a great hair day.
But did you know you might be ruining your chances of nailing your look, with the exact
methods you use to achieve it?
From mixing brands to bringing the heat, here are the ways we're destroying our hair.
Scrubbing too hard
While you likely love a good professional scalp massage, it's not something you should
D.I.Y. at home.
"Everyone in favor of winning?"
Dove celebrity stylist Cynthia Alvarez explained why, telling Glamour,
"Wet hair is weak and more prone to breaking…
Stroke your scalp from forehead to nape, on the sides, and along the hairline rather than
rubbing aggressively."
This also goes for oily hair, since your scalp will overproduce oil if scrubbed too hard.
Swear off the vicious cycle and leave scalp massages to the experts.
Mixing brands
It's easy to rationalize splurging on a top-of-the-line shampoo, especially if you plan to make up
the difference by buying a super cheap off-brand conditioner to use with it.
"They've gone wild.
The girls have gone wild."
But Good Housekeeping's beauty lab director, Birnur Aral, says,
"Shampoos and conditioners are developed and tested for efficacy in pairs, which allows
their manufacturers to optimize ingredients for their individual functions."
"This is like my dream and my nightmare all at one time."
She claims that mixing brands might actually make them less effective.
The best bet is to buy your shampoo and conditioner in branded pairs.
Total washout
"Excuse me miss, your hair is completely naked."
"It better be."
Whether you wash your hair three or six times per week, there's really no one-size-fits-all
number when it comes to this subject.
But celebrity hairstylist Tonya Le told Insider,
"… paying attention to the little signs your hair is giving you can help you come
up with the best washing schedule."
If your color fades quickly, even when you're using product made specifically for processed
hair, you could be washing too often.
Same deal if your hair is frizzy, feels dry, or is splitting on the ends.
Le advises,
"A total lack of moisture from stripping oils can also cause a dry, flaky scalp and as your
scalp dries out so does your hair."
But even if you've cut back on how often you wash, there's a right and a wrong way to suds
up.
Pantene celebrity stylist Danilo Dixon told Good Housekeeping that in order to get good
coverage with your shampoo,
"Squeeze it into your palms, then use your fingers to work it from your scalp to the
ends."
And… don't forget to rinse.
Too much towel action
"I don't wanna be critical, but this is very chewy."
"You're eating a hand towel."
When you step out of the shower with drenched hair, it's second nature to grab a towel and
wrap it tightly around your head.
But celeb hairstylist Monae Everett told HuffPost that towel-drying is actually one of the worst
things you can do to your hair.
Even just squeezing your hair with a terry cloth towel is bad news.
Everett says,
"This can worsen split ends and cause small craters along the hair shaft, weakening the
hair."
Instead, Everett recommends switching out your cotton towel for a microfiber towel or
even a T-shirt to gently "blot and squeeze your hair dry."
Too hot to handle
You definitely don't want to scorch your strands.
But it turns out there's a way to safely heat-style your hair, according to experts.
Before you hit the blow-dryer, celeb hairstylist Charles Baker Strahan told Today,
"Put a few drops of oil on wet hair to protect from damage while taming frizz and flyaways."
But the most important step is making sure your hair tools aren't piping hot, no matter
whether your hair is damp or totally dry.
While thicker hair requires higher temps, no one should be using 400 degrees of heat
or more, according to celebrity stylist Jamika Wilson.
She told Today,
"While you think this gets your hair straight and smooth, you are actually damaging the
hair."
Brushing your hair all wrong
"Dang."
"Aw man."
"Gag me."
If you don't brush your hair before you hop in the shower, you're not alone.
However, celeb hairstylist Nunzio Saviano told Shape that shampooing only creates more
knots.
So, give your hair a brush before you wash, especially if your hair tangles easily.
But don't just brush straight from your roots to your ends.
Instead, detangle your hair by brushing near the ends to start, and then moving up your
head, a little at a time.
And this doesn't mean you should forget about your roots.
Stylist Nick Penna told the mag,
"Brushing your roots is crucial for stimulating the scalp and redistributing natural oils
that help condition the hair and keep it healthy."
"Richer.
Check.
More radiant.
Yes.
Shine.
Don't mind if I do."
With these tips, sounds like every day can be a great hair day!