Everyone has a bad habit or two that they'd like to forget about or change. While some ''bad" habits are merely mild annoyances, others can negatively impact our health and may prompt or accelerate hair loss in some people. In this article, we'll look at some bad habits and how they can affect the health of your scalp and the growth of your hair.
Poor Diet
A well-balanced diet with an adequate supply of essential vitamins and minerals is vital to growing and maintaining a thick, full head of hair. Any nutritional deficiency can impact your scalp's health and lead to thinning hair and hair loss.
Often, one of the first symptoms of a nutritional deficiency is a change in your hair. When your diet lacks an essential nutrient, your body diverts resources from non-vital functions such as hair growth. People with eating disorders or who crash diet often experience thinning hair or hair loss as a result.
If the cause of your hair loss is a poor diet and a nutritional deficiency, your hair will usually regrow once the issue is corrected. You can often correct a nutritional deficiency by adjusting your food intake or taking supplements.
Wearing Tight Hairstyles
One common cause of hair loss is consistently wearing tight hairstyles. Over time, hairstyles such as tight buns, braids, ponytails, or extensions can damage the hair follicles and lead to a hair loss condition called traction alopecia.
While wearing a ponytail or braids on occasion isn't going to harm your hair, if you wear the same style every day, the constant tugging can lead to permanent hair loss. Try wearing your ponytail or bun in a different area of the scalp or changing it up completely with a new hairstyle!
Excessive Heat
Too much of anything can be harmful, and this is undoubtedly true regarding heat and the health of your scalp and hair. Blow dryers, curling irons, straighteners, and other hot styling tools are convenient and can help you get the look you want, but all that heat can damage your hair.
Hot styling tools can make your hair dry and brittle, leading to breakage and thinning hair. High heat can even damage the hair follicles on your scalp and inhibit their ability to grow strong, healthy hair. If you are going to use a blow dryer or other hot styling tool, limit how often you use them, use a low-temperature setting, and never use straighteners or curling irons on wet hair.
Being Rough On Your Hair When Wet
Your hair is most delicate and vulnerable to damage when it is wet. After you wash your hair, gently blot it with a towel and let it dry naturally. Avoid vigorously rubbing your hair to dry it because this will cause breakage. You should also avoid brushing your hair when it is still wet.
Try to let your hair dry before brushing it, but if you can't, use a wide tooth comb to remove tangles and be gentle.
Improper Hair Washing
Keeping your hair healthy and clean is more complicated than simply washing, rinsing, and repeating. Every individual's scalp and hair are different and has its own unique needs.
Most people should wash their hair as often as possible to control oils and avoid residue buildup. There is also a proper way to wash your hair, which you can quickly learn by consulting a Trichologist or a hair professional.
Finally, choosing the best hair care products for your unique hair and scalp conditions is critical. While many consumer-grade shampoos are available, they often contain ingredients that can harm your scalp and hair. Work with a Trichology practitioner to identify products to help you develop and maintain a healthy scalp and hair.
Learn Healthy Hair Habits
While hair loss has many causes, avoiding bad habits and learning and developing healthy habits can dramatically slow or stop hair loss. At New Look Institute, we take pride in educating our clients and helping them to develop healthy hair and avoid hair loss. To learn more about bad habits that lead to hair loss and how to stop your hair loss and keep their thick, full head of hair, contact us today and schedule your FREE initial consultation.
