DESPERATE for longer, thicker tresses? Aren’t we all.
Broken shafts and weak follicles are commonplace thanks to a plethora of practices, such as heat, bleach and way-too-tight up ‘dos.
It’s likely that, somewhere along the line, we’re all engaging in things that are indirectly or directly causing our .
Experts have long and scalp massages to remedy thinning, but there’s actually daily lifestyle changes you can implement too.
On average, humans lose 50 to 100 strands of hair per day. This is a completely normal part of the , where older hair falls out to make way for new hair to grow in.
But in some cases, your daily routines will be inflating this number and putting you at risk of bald patches.
1. Stop slicking your hair back (or do it less)
High-tension hairstyles, like slick-back buns and high ponytails, can wreak havoc on your follicles.
These types of styles pull on the hair, making it susceptible to falling out AND thinning.
“High-tension styles like slick ponytails may cause traction alopecia – a caused by chronic follicle stress,”;; Dr Suhail Alam from Aventus Clinic told The Express.
“Research published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology found that up to one in three women who regularly wear tight hairstyles experience some degree of hair loss.”;;
2. Never sleep on wet hair
We get it, you’re tired – and flopping into bed for some doomscrolling seems way more attractive than standing in the mirror with the blow dryer at 10pm.
For the sake of your hair health, though, you should choose the latter.
“Wet hair is weaker and more prone to breakage,”;; Dr Suhail said.
“Tossing and turning on it adds friction and tangling. Let it dry naturally, or use a gentle blow-dry before sleep.”;;
3. Swap your pillow cases
Most bed sheets and pillow cases are made from polyester (a synthetic fibre) or cotton, or sometimes a hybrid of the two.
These abrasive materials can be particularly problematic for your tresses as they create more friction against the hair while you sleep, especially if you move around a lot.
This friction can cause hair to tangle, break or frizz – and over time, this can make it fall out at an unnatural rate.
Dr Suhail recommends sleeping on a satin or silk pillowcase to reduce friction, and thus foster a healthier sleep environment for your lengths.
4. Stop washing your hair so much
Most people either team ‘I wash my hair once a week’ or ‘I wash my hair every day’ – but the sweet spot is somewhere in the middle.
Over-washing strips sebum, the natural oil produced by your scalp to keep your hair moisturised and protected, leading to dryness and making your hair more prone to breakage.
It can also irritate the scalp, contributing to conditions like dandruff and irritation and, in some instances, hair loss.
Dr Suhail recommends washing your hair three times a week at most, but never less than two times a week, to ensure your scalp doesn’t suffer a build-up of products and oils.
5. Turn down the shower temperature
Like over-washing, having scorching water during your shower can further strip your hair of the natural oils and contribute towards hair loss.
Furthermore, the heat from hot water opens up the hair cuticle (the outer layer of the hair shaft), which allows moisture to escape from your hair.
This can turn your lengths dry, brittle and more susceptible to breakage over time – and when it’s dry, your hair will feel rough and look dull.
And when the scalp loses moisture, it may overcompensate by producing excess oil, leading to greasy hair or an imbalanced scalp.
This will also make your hair appear less smooth and harder to manage after a hot shower.
Instead, you should it with lukewarm water.
