Some of us make dealing with hair so much harder than it has to be. In an effort to have gorgeous, silky hair we do some pretty ugly things to our manes. There are so many no-nos to avoid, and some methods that can help you reverse the damage. Follow these tips to get the hair of your dreams.
Don’t skip trims
If you’re trying to grow your hair out, skipping trims seems like the obvious choice, but once you start collecting split ends that break and destroy the shape of your hair, you’ll regret it.
Do sleep on silk or satin pillowcases
Satin sheets might seem like a cheesy ’70s love scene waiting to happen, but using a silk or satin pillowcase can help twofold in reducing split ends and, as some evidence shows, wrinkles. The fabric allows your skin to slip lightly across the fabric instead of pulling and creating lines.
Don’t cut your own bangs
Are you a hair stylist? If you answered no, put down the scissors. No matter how simple it seems, cutting your own bangs is a dangerous game that even some pros don’t attempt. Better safe than sorry.
Do protect from UV rays and heat
To prevent heat damage, turn down your heated styling tools to the bare minimum heat you need to get your ideal style. And before you begin styling, spray a heat protectant spray like Aveda’s Brilliant Damage Control, which protects your hair from thermal damage, UV rays and reduces breakage.
Don’t wear too-tight ponytails
Some women think a tight ponytail gives them a free facelift, but too-tight ponytails can have effects on your skin in the form of dryness around the scalp and hairline. Plus, it hurts, and looser ponytails are en vogue.
Do eat for healthy hair
Foods like salmon, avocado, walnuts, sweet potatoes, eggs, Greek yogurt and blueberries deliver essential nutrition for healthy hair and skin. Plus, avocado, eggs and Greek yogurt can be applied directly to the hair as a masque. Who knew?
Don’t smoke
OK, so this one is a little harder to achieve if you’re already a smoker, but the sooner you quit, the sooner your entire body — including your hair — can repair itself. Research suggests that smoking causes thinner hair, so kick the habit.
Do braid before bed
If you have long hair, you go to battle every night for the integrity of your hair. Wearing your hair down or in a loose ponytail allows your mane to run along your pillowcase as you move your hair, potentially causing breakage and split ends. To prevent this, braid your hair into two pigtails that lay on your sides. And who knows, maybe your significant other will love this look.
This article was originally posted October 2014, and updated February 2017.
This post was sponsored by Aveda.
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