We all want beautiful, shiny, healthy hair, but without realizing it, our daily routines could be contributing to dandruff and hair loss. Sadly, our strands begin to shed with age, but we can speed up hair loss by neglecting the health of our scalp and indulging in some not-so-healthy hair habits. Stop doing these things now to boost the condition and fullness of your hair and help ward off those pesky, annoying flakes.
1. Over or Underwashing Your Hair
Over-shampooing causes your scalp to lose its natural oils. Excessive washing eventually leads to dryness, irritation, and dandruff. Similarly, underwashing your hair can cause a dry, irritated scalp that will also develop dandruff. In addition to weakening hair strands, overwashing and underwashing can cause breakage and hair loss. It’s ideal to wash your hair every two to three days in order to maintain a healthy scalp and remove grease and product build-up.
2. Washing in Hot Water
There’s nothing better than taking a hot shower at the end of the day, but did you know that this is actually bad for your hair and scalp? If you’re suffering from dandruff, it may be a result of showering in hot water. Very hot water can strip natural oils from your scalp, leaving it dry and brittle. Make sure to only wash your hair with lukewarm water to avoid breakage and dandruff. It’s also good to finish with a cold rinse to help seal the cuticles and lock in shine.
3. Skipping Conditioner
Skipping conditioner can save time in the shower and might be tempting if you have oily hair. But what you may not realize is that not using conditioner can leave your hair dry and brittle and cause breakages and hair loss. Conditioner is important to protect the hair’s cuticle as well as give it lubrication, both of which ward off dandruff. If you’re worried about heavy, greasy hair from conditioners, opt for a lighter product, but don’t skip it altogether. Dehydrated hair can lead to an overproduction of oil as compensation, which can leave you looking like an oil slick.
4. Using Too Much Product
Overuse of styling products, such as mousses, gels, and hairsprays, can cause product accumulation on the scalp. This accumulation leads to heavily clogged hair follicles, which can lead to chronic dandruff and even hair loss. To avoid getting dandruff, use style products sparingly, and make sure you give your scalp a deep scrub after loading your hair up with mousse or gel.
5. Aggressively Towel-Drying
Yes, even drying your hair wrong can give you dandruff and cause it to shed. The friction from vigorously rubbing a towel through your hair can weaken the hair shaft, contributing to breakages and hair loss. Not only are you irritating your scalp, but harsh towel drying can stretch strands and loosen and worsen your dandruff. When you’re drying your hair, don’t rub it aggressively, instead gently squeeze your hair with it.
6. Ignoring Your Scalp Health
Just like the skin on your face and everywhere else on your body, your scalp needs a little TLC sometimes. Dandruff and hair loss happen when you ignore the health of your scalp. Use a scalp treatment or oil to keep the skin hydrated and balanced, and massage your scalp frequently to promote blood flow and maintain its condition.
7. Brushing Wet Hair
Wet hair is weaker than dry hair, making it more prone to damage. When you run a brush through your wet hair, you could actually be stretching and snapping the delicate hair follicles. Not only can it damage the hair, but you can loosen dandruff by brushing it wet. If you must brush your wet hair, make sure you’re using a wide-tooth comb or a detangling brush made especially for wet hair.
8. Using Chemical Haircare
Dandruff, dryness, and irritation are usually the result of using products that contain harsh sulfates, silicones, and synthetic fragrances. Toxic chemicals are often found in shampoos and conditioners to give them their scent, lather, and bind the strands, but they can seriously damage the hair shaft over time, which can lead to dandruff and hair loss. Next time you’re shopping for haircare products, look for clean, organic, sulfate-free shampoos and conditioners with gentle, nourishing ingredients that protect and strengthen the scalp and thwart dandruff.
9. Pulling Hair Too Tight
Wearing super tight hairstyles like braids, buns, or ponytails for long periods of time is bad for your hair and scalp. This is because they stretch the strands and create tension, which can cause breakages and traction alopecia, a condition where hair falls out. Additionally, these hairstyles put stress on the scalp, causing it to develop dandruff. Wearing your hair in looser hairstyles is not only kinder to your scalp but will help you avoid dandruff. And be careful which elastics you use.
10. Excessive Heat Styling
If you love to blow dry, curl, or straighten your hair with heat styling tools, your scalp will suffer. Hair strands tend to get weak when they’re constantly exposed to extreme heat. Not only does this increase the likelihood of breakage and hair loss, but it can also dry out your scalp, causing dandruff and flakiness. Use heat styling equipment sparingly and always spray on a heat protectant before style to reduce harm.
11. Skipping Regular Trims
Regular hair trims are more essential. When you get a haircut, you’re not simply changing up your style; you’re helping to keep your scalp and hair healthy. Though this can be costly and time-consuming, maintaining regular haircuts will ensure healthy hair growth. This will help prevent premature hair loss and stop your scalp from producing dandruff.
12. Overuse of Dry Shampoo
During hectic days, dry shampoo is a girl’s best friend. However, if used excessively, dry shampoo can create a stomach-turning buildup on the scalp. In turn, this can clog up your hair shafts, which might result in your scalp producing dandruff. Although dry shampoo is an excellent way to revive your hair in between washes, proper shampooing in the shower should still be done to avoid unsightly dandruff.
13. Not Protecting Against Sun Damage
We all know that being in the sun too long can turn our skin red and put us at risk of premature aging and skin cancer. What you might now know is it can age your hair and cause a dry, flaky scalp. Sun exposure can damage hair strands, increasing their susceptibility to breakage and hair loss, and dry out your scalp, causing flakiness and dandruff. Apply a leave-in conditioner with UV protection, or wear a hat when outdoors to protect your scalp.
14. Sleeping with Wet Hair
Although it’s tempting and may appear harmless, putting damp hair to bed can cause a ton of problems. Breakage, hair loss, and irritation of the scalp are guaranteed when you skip drying your hair before bed. The friction between your hair and the pillowcase might result in a moist environment on your scalp, increasing the risk of dandruff and fungal infections. Even though it feels like a chore, make sure to dry your hair before bed. Or wash it in the morning.
15. Stress and Poor Diet
Dandruff and hair loss are two conditions that can be brought on by long-term stress. When you’re under stress, the body produces extra cortisol (stress chemicals), which interferes with the regular cycle of hair growth, causing strands to shed faster and damaging the scalp. To avoid loss and dandruff, include stress-relieving activities like exercise, meditation, and self-care practices in your daily routine to manage stress and safeguard your precious strands.