There are many things that can effect hair and its health and condition including internal factors such as stress, illness, nutrient deficiencies and hormonal imbalances as well as external factors such as lifestyle, heat damage, environmental damage, wrong product usage and many more.
Caring for your hair correctly doesn't need to be complicated however there are some common mistakes I see on a daily basis with my clients that can be avoided in order to maximise your hair's potential.
Read our top 5 hair mistakes and see if there's a way you can make small changes to help transform your hair over time.
Our top 5 hair mistakes and how you can avoid them:
1 - Over shampooing hair - Shampooing too often, every day or more can be detrimental to hair and scalp health. This is made worse if you use shampoos that contain harsh detergents like Sulphates (SLS's) that strip moisture from the hair and skin of the scalp leaving the scalp parched and the hair dehydrated. Opt instead for a gentle, sulphate-free shampoo especially if you have to wash your hair frequently due to your lifestyle but also consider trying to stretch the time between washing with shampoo by just rinsing your hair with water to refresh the style or also introducing a nourishing scalp treatment in to your hair care routine.
2 - Combing out knots from the roots - Remove knots after washing your hair when you have conditioner in your hair to avoid damage. Start at the tips of hair with a wide-toothed comb or detangling brush then work your way up.
3 - Using too much heat - Excessive heat on your hair damages the cuticle layer which over time can leave hair prone to more internal damage as the Keratin bonds are destroyed. Use the correct temperature for your hair type and try not to heat style your hair too often. When you do, always prepare the hair by applying a heat styling protection product and only use heat on each section of hair minimally. Be more precise and don't go over and over the same section as this is what causes heat damage.
Heat styling temperature guide:
- Thin/fine, and/or chemically treated hair - Low heat 160-175 degrees C
- Medium thickness - 175- 185 degrees C
- Thick, coarse, wavy and textured hair - 185 degrees and above
4 - Neglecting your scalp - Caring for your scalp is just as important as caring for your hair, if not more so! The scalp is the flower bed for your hair so it makes sense that improving the condition of your scalp will have a positive effect on the hair you grow. Dead skin, product build-up and sebum can create a layer on the scalp clogging pores and making it difficult for new hair to grow through. There are many ways to create a scalp care routine but the simplest and most effective is to introduce a scalp treatment in to your hair care routine.
5 - Skipping your supplements - One of the simplest and most effective ways to ensure your body is getting the right nutrition to support hair growth is by taking a hair growth supplement. We always advise eating a healthy, balanced diet of whole foods but let's face it, busy lifestyles make it hard to get in all the right nutrients all the time. Our Tender Love & Hair supplements contain several key vitamins, minerals and amino acids known by science to be integral to healthy hair growth. In addition to diet, sleep, hydration, stress levels and lifestyle all play a role in the quality of hair growth. Hair comes form within and can often be a reflection of what's going on inside. Add a supplement to your self-care routine to help kickstart a positive change to your health and wellbeing. This is why we say "great hair starts with self-care'.
If you have any specific hair or scalp concerns you would like some advice on then you can drop us a line by emailing hello@wearecntred.com
You can also get some targeted advice from taking our hair health quiz
