Who knew something as simple as taking a shower could be so challenging?
Most of us have been showering regularly since we were kids. We’ve got the whole thing down. Or so we thought. After talking to a hairstylist and dermatologist, we’ve found out a few things that we’re actually doing wrong. Click through and check out if you’re making these showering mistakes.

The water’s too hot.
There’s nothing like starting the day off with a nice hot shower. But if the water temperature is too high, it can actually do more damage than good. “Hot water can strip the natural oils from your skin, leaving it dry and vulnerable to cracking,” explains dermatologist Dendy Engelman. “Losing these oils compromises our skin’s barrier, thus protection from irritants.” This is most dangerous in the winter (when you’re most tempted to use extra hot water) because skin is already prone to dryness.

And apparently hot water isn’t great for hair health either. Butterfly Studio Salon’s expert stylist Jason J Dougherty explains that it’s best to use warm water to open up the hair cuticle to remove dirt and oils. Then, rinse with cold water to close it up. “It will prevent hair loss in the shower, reduce frizz, and add a lot more shine,” he says.

Your water’s unfiltered.
There are certain places that have hard water, which can have a negative effect on your hair and skin. What this means is that the unfiltered water may contain many harmful additives such as minerals, oxidizers, calcium, magnesium, silica, and iron.  “These can leave residue on the skin and hair causing build-up, dryness, and irritations,” explains Dr. Engelman. With the residue leaving a coat over the skin and hair, products are unable to fully penetrate to properly clean the area. This can create dull looking finish to both the hair and skin. Dougherty also explains that these chemicals can strip hair color, dulling out the look. So if you do happen to live in an area with hard water, install a filtering system.

You’re using the wrong cleanser.
Just because you like the smell of the body wash you’ve been using for years, doesn’t mean it’s the best option. A lot of available cleansers contain harmful chemicals, fragrances, parabens, and sulfates, which all can increase flare-ups. Dr. Engelman recommends oil-based cleansers to maintain hydrated, healthy skin. “Oil-based cleansers eliminate impurities without drying out the skin,” she explains. “Essentially the oil binds to the oils on your face and the cleanser rinses them away, without striping your skin of its good natural oils.” 

You’re shampooing too much.
Unless you have ultra-fine, thin hair, you really don’t need to wash it every day. If you’re over-shampooing, the results are similar to using harsh chemicals on your skin. “It strips the hair of its natural oils and will lead to your hair becoming quite dry and brittle over time,” explains Dougherty. So if you notice your hair seems drier than usual, cut back to shampooing every other shower. It’s all about finding the right balance. 

You’re over exfoliating.
Exfoliating can be seriously beneficial to the skin. It rids the skin of any dead skin cells and promotes cell turnover. However, over-exfoliating can do a lot of damage. “It will expose the skin, weaken skin-barrier function and in some cases trigger inflammation,” explains Dr. Engelman. This can create a sort-of vulnerability to the skin and create sensitivity, infection or irritation. Ideally, you only need to be exfoliating two or three times a week. And if you are experiencing any sensitivity or inflammation, you should cut back.

You don’t moisturizer post-shower.
Dr. Engelman notes that the few minutes post-shower can be just as important as those spent in the shower. And post-shower, moisturizing is key. “Applying oil and lotion on wet skin will allow the product to lock moisture in by trapping some of the water on the skin,” she explains. “Keeping it from evaporating, the glycerin in the lotion helps to bind to water molecules, which not only gives a soft, supple feeling but strengthens the skin barrier.” This little shift in habit can make all the difference to the skin’s health and overall feel.

This article first appeared on Domino.com

Want to look 13% stronger?
Shave your head.    

At least that’s the finding from a new research project which suggests that men who take the preemptive step of shaving their head appear tougher and more powerful than others.

A shaved head indicates dominance, authority and… being in control.

Sounds like a fitting description of Hollywood’s leading action stars – Bruce Willis, Dwayne Johnson, Vin Diesel and Jason Statham.

Their shaved heads play a significant role in their tough-guy image.

Greek soldiers during the reign of Alexander the Great were ordered to shave their heads as a defensive measure – to stop enemies from grabbing their hair in hand-to-hand combat.

Since then – a shaved head has become a symbol of aggression and toughness.
It takes a man of confidence to display a shorn head.

According to the research explained below – guys with shaved heads are also seen as 13% stronger, taller and having greater leadership potential than guys with a full head or thinning hair.

A hard beauty truth: Split ends can’t be made whole again. Although there’s a whole arsenal of products that can make fried ends look better, the only way you can really fix the situation is by trimming off the damaged hair.

But what if you’re growing out your hair and don’t want to sacrifice any of your length? Meet hair dusting. It’s a way of cutting off the dead ends without going shorter by an inch or two. “Hair dusting is healthy hair measure. It is a technique in which you only address the damaged ends of the hair and not necessarily any length from the haircut at all,” explains L.A.-based hairstylist Sal Salcedo who uses the technique on his clients. “It is a grooming technique that allows the hair strand to be healthy by removing what is unhealthy and by doing so allowing for growth and stopping further breakage.”

It’s done by snipping the bottom of each strand to eliminate the damaged hair tip, similar to removing lint from your favorite wool jacket. While Salcedo says the technique works on all hair types, strands should be smoothed out first so that the split ends stick up. This way, when your stylist runs their scissors over your hair, the stray pieces get removed. So, why haven’t you heard of hair dusting before? According to Salcedo the method can be time consuming since you’re only taking off about an eighth of an inch on each hair strand.

Since you won’t lose any of your precious length, chances are you won’t put off making regular salon appointments, which in turn will benefit your mane’s health. “Since we all know that all hair weakens at some point, if you never cut your hair at all, it’s only a matter of time before the oldest, and weakest portion of the hair strand, the ends, breaks and splits,” Honey Artists hairstylist Corey Tuttle says. “This will prolong the damage and possibly make it worse by not cutting and holding on to the ends of your hair. Dusting your hair will eliminate the downside of both scenarios.”

Want to see the technique in action? Look no further than Salcedo’s Instagram.

Pretty mesmerizing, right? If you want your hair dusted the next time you visit your stylist, Salcedo says to make sure you tell them at the beginning of your appointment to only snip the ends of your strands.

What are the Benefits of Dusting?
It’s recommended that you trim your hair to keep it healthy. Dusting your hair may be the preferential method for you due to the following:

• Helps to maintain maximum length
• It keeps your hair neat and free of loose ends
• It will help to speed up your detangling sessions
• It’s suitable for all hair lengths

It’s recommended that you should "dust" every 6-8 weeks to help maintain healthy, longer hair.

Don't put off getting that "trim" any longer.  Book an appointment with me now for a dusting to maintain your long hair and keep it healthy.

Just a heads-up: your hair has super strength.

Research tells us that a single strand of hair can hold approximately three ounces in weight. That may not seem like much, but take a look at the video below ― you’ll see that one hair can withstand the weight of over a dozen pennies without breaking.

If one hair can hold that much weight, how much can all the hair on your head hold? The answer is staggering. One head of hair can hold up to 12 tons, or the weight of two elephants. 

So what makes your hair so freakishly strong?

Human hair is made of keratin, a powerful structural protein found in horse hooves, animal claws, and our outer layer of skin. Keratin’s cross-linking nature allows for hair’s unbelievable tensile strength, i.e. the force required to pull something like rope or wire to the point where it breaks. 

Your hair is naturally tough, but there are certain behaviors that can weaken its tensile strength. Your hair can become dry and brittle if you don’t ingest enough vitamins or protein. Moisture and temperature can also have an effect on your hair’s texture.

So if you want your hair to be Connie Britton-level flawless, eat plenty of protein, protect your hair from sun damage and get trims every six to eight weeks. Your hair will be Rapunzel-ready in no time. 

We're all for adding an extra day or two in between shampooing. The only issue is the longer you go without washing, the less likely you are to let your locks flow freely. (There's a reason wash-and-go is a thing, and wash-and-go-go-go is not.) But here's the silver lining: There are a few hairstyles that actually look better with dirty hair. Lazy girls, rejoice, and keep reading for nine excuses to skip a shampoo!  Click on the image below for hairstyles that look better on dirty hair.