Experts estimate that the global hair care industry will be worth over $200 billion by 2025.
There are good reasons for this. Having healthy, beautiful hair takes a bit of investment, whether it's on grooming products or your regular hairdressing appointment.
However, there are many important things you can do for your hair that don't cost anything at all. Damaged hair can often result from careless practices that you can easily avoid.
Read on as we look at the ten most important things you can do to avoid damaged hair.
1. Don't Brush Too Much
For most people with longer hair, regular brushing is a necessity to avoid your head looking like a birds' nest. However, overdoing it can have very bad consequences.
Brush until your hair looks respectable, then stop. Don't give in to the temptation to give it an extra few strokes "just in case."
Also, try to avoid brushing your hair while it's wet.
2. Mix Up Your Style
Certain hairstyles take more of a toll than others on your hair. If you often wear your hair in a tight ponytail or braids, this will eventually cause damage.
If you do like these hairstyles, try to avoid using them for too many days in a row. Even giving your hair a short break can have a positive impact on damage reduction.
3. Eat Well
It can be tempting to think of your hair as an isolated entity. However, it's a part of your body, and its health depends on your bodily health more generally.
As we all know, a balanced diet is one of the most important things when it comes to your health. This applies equally to your hair.
There are a variety of nutrients that your hair needs to be at its best. These include vitamin A, vitamin C, and protein. If you're not getting enough of these from your diet, consider supplementation.
4. Dry Your Hair Carefully
If you have longer hair, drying is probably something of an ordeal for you. You don't want to damage your hair by overusing the dryer, but you can't afford to spend several hours a day waiting for your hair to dry naturally.
The bad news is that it's not only the blow dryer that can cause damage. Excessive towel use is also bad for your hair.
To minimize its impact, try to dry with a blotting motion, rather than rubbing your hair too hard.
5. Use an Appropriate Amount of Shampoo
No matter how much time and money you invest in finding quality shampoo, you still can't afford to overuse it. While it is essential to keep your hair clean, shampoo can also cause a lot of damage.
Learn exactly how much you need to form a good lather in your hair, then squirt only that much into your hand when you're washing.
6. Clean Your Scalp Regularly
Everyone knows someone who's a dedicated user of dry shampoo. The magic powder can be the ideal solution when you just don't have time to wash and dry your hair every day.
While there's nothing wrong with dry shampoo when used responsibly, it isn't really a substitute for the real thing. Make sure to wash your hair with real shampoo at least every couple of days.
7. Use Curlers & Straighteners Wisely
This one won't come as a surprise to many people. The dangers of too much heat for your hair are well-documented.
However, since it remains such a great problem, it's worth mentioning here. While curlers and straighteners are useful tools for styling, they will damage your hair if you use them too much.
Consider only curling or straightening before events or nights out, rather than every day.
8. Get Regular Cuts
If you're trying to grow your hair out, this might be the last piece of advice you want to hear. However, trimming your hair regularly will do a lot to keep it looking fresh and healthy.
You don't need to take much off; just trimming the ends will do. This removes the dead, split ends from your hair, keeping it looking sharp.
9. Manage Your Stress Levels Properly
Stress is one of the greatest challenges facing our society today. Our failure to properly manage the difficulties that come with modern life is having significant ramifications for our health, both mental and physical.
While it might seem like it would be safe from this particular danger, hair is actually badly affected by stress. The hormone cortisol, which is released when we are too stressed, can affect our follicles in such a way as to cause hair thinning, and even shedding.
10. Sleep on a Soft Pillowcase
The fabric you sleep on might not be the first thing you think of when it comes to avoiding hair damage, but it is an important factor. If you sleep on rough fabric, your hair will suffer for it.
With this in mind, try to sleep on a soft fabric. If you're in the market for a new pillowcase, check out our satin option.
Kiss Damaged Hair Goodbye in 2020
Avoiding damaged hair can sometimes be easier said than done. There are many different things that can have a negative effect on your locks, and you'll never be able to avoid all of them.
However, if you try your best to follow all the advice we've set out above, you should be well on your way to keeping damaged hair at bay.
Having the right hair care equipment is crucial to the avoidance of hair damage. If you'd like to learn more about how our products might be of benefit to you, contact us today.