A common complaint we hear from women is that their hair doesn't grow. In most cases, it is growing, it's just breaking as fast as it grows.
If your hair is short it should be because you choose to cut it, not because it keeps falling off! Control your hair length by eliminating these 5 mistakes from your routine.
1. Forgetting to Cover Your Hair at Night
Many of us are guilty of this afro hair error. Covering your hair at night can really save your mane.
Cotton absorbs moisture, which is great when it comes to clothing but it is detrimental to the health of your hair, especially if you are a rough sleeper. Sleeping with a satin bonnet helps to maintain your hair’s moisture as well as preserving your hair from forming tangles which lead to breakage. If you dislike hair scarves and bonnets, opt for a silk pillowcase.
2. Wearing Your Hair Out Daily
When you wear your hair down it gets exposed to elements in the air, material on your clothing and other things that can cause friction that leads to breakage. Wearing your hair up in a bun or any style off your shoulders stops the friction which causes breakage.
3. Avoiding Protective Styles
A protective style is any style where the ends of your hair are tucked away. When your ends are tucked away they are less likely to get dry and less likely to break. Protective style as much as possible but do not neglect your hair! A protective style is usually effective when kept in for up to 2 weeks. Keep your hair moisturised using the Protective Style Set.
4. Overusing Heat
In one of our previous posts on avoiding heat damage, we mentioned high temperatures cause the hair cuticle to be raised, not only leaving the delicate cortex of the hair vulnerable to damage but also allowing moisture to escape. Heat styling is one of the main culprits for breakage, especially if you have tight curls. Blowdryers and straighteners strip moisture from the hair.
5. Using a Sulphate Shampoo
Shampoos are great for removing dirt but some also strip the hair of its natural moisture. As a general rule of thumb, we advise using a gentle sulphate free shampoo.
Creamy shampoos tend to contain more oils and are therefore more moisturising. If you have curly hair you should scout for key terms on shampoo bottles such as ‘moisturising’, ‘replenishing’, ‘restorative’, ‘for dry, brittle hair’ and ‘ for damaged hair. Remember to immediately follow shampooing with a conditioner, deep conditioner or sealant.
We hope this article helps to strengthen your hair! What habits did you have to eliminate to boost your hair health?
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How do you reduce constant shedding and get your hair to grow at the same rate all over your head?