Seven Deadly Sins You're Likely Committing with Your Hair

By Kendra Aarhus
Women's Hairstyles Expert
 
1: Turning the Heat to High on Your Flat Iron
Just because your flat iron goes up to 450 degrees, doesn't mean you should turn it to high. Of course there are some exceptions to that rule, like when you're in a super hurry on the occasional night out, or if you hair is incredibly course and unruly and a high heat is necessary for the look you want (even then, keep that occasional). The finer and thinner your hair is, the less heat it can handle, so using your hot tools at a responsible temperature will keep your hair from becoming damaged.
 
A good heat protection spray is also a good idea, but heat protection doesn't mean your hair can't be damaged from heat. It simply helps prevent damage, but does not guarantee it.
 
2: Never Getting a Haircut While it Grows Out
I can completely empathize with the agony of growing your hair out. It's such a long process, but never cutting your hair while you're growing it out is one way to guarantee your hair will look awful. While cutting your hair doesn't actually make it grow faster, as you may have heard, it does clean up the split ends and prevent your hair from breakage. Split ends break your hair off, causing the length to shorten from the ends.
 
Bottom line: get a haircut at least every 8-12 weeks while you're growing your hair out and work with your hairstylist to trim as little as possible for the healthiest hair and optimum hair growth.
 
3: Using Shampoo Completely Wrong
From not washing properly to not rinsing thoroughly, the sins of shampoo use are vast. Shampoo should be used to clean your scalp, not necessarily your hair. Sound confusing? Fortunately if you're properly cleansing your scalp, your hair will get clean in the process. To wash your hair the right way try these tips:

• Choose a shampoo that addresses your scalp issues.
• Scrub your scalp with the tips of your fingers, not your fingernails.
• Be sure to pay special attention to the back of your head, directly behind your eyes as that's the spot people miss and build up can get pretty gross.
• Rinse really, really well for 30-60 seconds with clean water.
• Repeat the shampoo once or twice until the shampoo easily creates suds when applied to your scalp.
• When in doubt, rinse again. 

4: Shampooing Daily
The idea of not shampooing my hair daily was simultaneously the hardest and most rewarding hair decision I've ever made. Dirty hair seemed like a deadly sin, if you asked me. Not only does daily shampooing dry your hair and scalp out, it also strips your hair color, invites split ends, and influences frizz. Even if you can switch to every-other-day shampooing, you can improve the overall health of your hair, extend the life of your color, and some say even grow your hair faster.
 
5: Choosing a Haircut for Someone Else
As a hairstylist, the idea of keeping your hair at a particular length or style because someone else told you to drives me up a wall, and it's keeping you from experiencing possibly the best cut or style of your life. So despite what your best friend, your husband, or your grandmother says; yes, you can wear short hair, and no, you don't have to have a perfect shaped face for those layers. Throw the ideas of the world out the window and choose a haircut based on your lifestyle, and for crying out loud, if you want to try that pixie cut before you're 80 years old, then do it.
 
6: Unrealistic Expectations
For crying out loud if you listen to one piece of advice from me ever in your life, please listen to this. If you bring your stylist a photo of a hair cut with pin straight hair and light wispy layers but you have thick curly hair, unless you intend to spend one hour every day making your hair pin straight your stylist can physically not make that happen, ever. If you want your hair to look like the photo, you have to be willing to put the effort into your hair that will be required.

My advice, embrace your hair's thickness and texture and find photos of hairstyles that closely resemble the hair you are living with right here, right now.
 
7: Being Completely Clueless About Your Hair Products
If you're a product junkie, this is your cue to pay attention. I have no real issue with product junkies, I'm certified myself, but product junkies with no real purpose or understanding of the products they're purchasing are committing a huge hair sin. Not only are you probably missing out on some great product benefits, but misuse or overuse or hair products can cause serious buildup that can lead to hair damage.
 
Get knowledgeable about your hair products by talking to your stylist or reading reviews by people that know what they're talking about.

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