1. Styling your hair too tightly
"I can tell just by seeing short, spiky strands at the crown or nape that a client frequently yanks out one style for another—like a top knot for a pony," says James Corbett, color director for Clairol. He also advised that if an elastic feels so tight that it may snap, so could your hair.
Remedy: Gently detangle before restyling, and try using a hair oil or leave-in conditioner to fix that friction, is the advice from Nathan Rosenkranz, an expert for Alterna Haircare.
2. Under-Conditioning
You need to condition with every wash of your hair. If you don't then expect dry hair and, over time, breakage.
Remedy: It's simple, condition! "It mimics the cuticle's F-layer, the protective coating we're born with that deteriorates," says principal scientist for Pantene, Rolanda Johnson Wilkerson.Â
3. Sleeping with wet hair
"Wet strands are very fragile, as they stretch more easily and can break as you change pillow positions," says Nathaniel Hawkins, a stylist in NYC.
Remedy: Prime those damp strands with a night mask , and sleep on a satin pillowcase to reduce drag, says Rosenkranz.
You wash your hair, you brush it, you may even go as far as using protecting serum on your hair. But even if you think your hair is super healthy, you still need to watch out for these unexpected offenders as they can be a killer when done again and again.
Photos: iStock
