In this video, the host discusses some underlying habits and hair ingredients that may be damaging your hair. The video covers habits such as wearing tight hairstyles, brushing wet hair, towel drying, sleeping on a cotton pillowcase, taking hot showers, exposing hair to sunburn, swimming in chlorine or saltwater, conditioning roots, over-processing hair, and using harmful ingredients in hair products. The host provides tips and alternatives to promote healthier hair, such as wearing hair down, using a wide-tooth comb, using a microfiber towel, using a silk pillowcase, showering with lukewarm water, protecting hair from the sun, rinsing hair after swimming, avoiding conditioning roots, extending the time between chemical treatments, and avoiding ingredients like sulfates, fragrance, formaldehyde, triclosan, and DEA and TEA. The video emphasizes the importance of making informed decisions about hair care for healthier hair.
Key Insights:
- Tight hairstyles can lead to traction alopecia and gradual hair loss.
- Brushing wet hair can cause damage. It’s best to comb hair before washing and allow it to dry partially before brushing.
- Towel drying with regular towels can create frizz and cause damage. Using a microfiber towel is gentler on the hair.
- Sleeping on a cotton pillowcase can lead to tangled hair and breakage. Using a silk pillowcase can prevent excessive pulling and result in smoother hair.
- Taking excessively hot showers can strip away natural oils and make the hair dry and brittle. Showering with lukewarm water and using cold water for the final rinse can help retain moisture.
- UV rays can damage the hair, leading to discoloration, split ends, and hair thinning. Using a broad-spectrum sun protector on your scalp can help prevent damage.
- Rinsing hair immediately after swimming in chlorinated or saltwater and using a deep conditioning cream or oil can protect the hair and lock in moisture.
- Conditioning the roots should be avoided as they are younger hairs. Focus on moisturizing the ends of the hair.
- Over-processing hair with perms, relaxers, and coloring can cause damage. Space out these treatments to allow the hair to recover.
- Sulfates, fragrance, formaldehyde, triclosan, DEA, TEA, and retinyl palmitate are potential ingredients to avoid in hair products.
Transcript
Our hair is put through stress every single day, which can lead to damaged, dull and brittle hair over time. And we all know what some of those bad hair habits are like, excessive heating, overwashing and colour damage, but most of the time you’d be surprised that you could be actually destroying your hair without even knowing it, so in this video, we’ll go over what some of those underlying habits you might not be aware of are, as well go over some hair ingredients you might want to avoid, so stay tuned till the end.
Hi guys, yaseen arsalan, media pharmacist here on youtube where I help you guys make better and more informed decisions about your health and wellness. So if that’s something you’re into, be sure to smash that like button below NOW turn on the notification bell to stay updated with new weekly videos. Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram too for more behind the scenes.
So without further ado, let’s dive into those bad hair habits. Let me first preface this by saying, while genetics and health problems have a direct connection to your hair’s health, and are separate issues that may not be under your complete control, this video will tackle the many things that you may be doing in your daily routine that are damaging your hair.
So to begin, let’s look at the first one: Wearing Tight Hairstyles. In a 2016 study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, researchers found a strong association between scalp-pulling hairstyles (tight ponytails, braids, knots and buns) and the development of traction alopecia, or gradual hair loss. So to maybe combat this: Try wearing your hair down whenever possible and, if you insist on tying your hair back, keep it loose to avoid causing breakage and strain on your hair fibers.
Number 2: Brushing your hair when wet. Your hair is at its most fragile state when it’s wet and is susceptible to damage. It is best to try to comb your hair before washing to reduce tangling and also allow your hair to dry at least halfway before brushing. And if you have textured hair or tight curls, always comb your hair while it is damp, using a wide-tooth comb for better results.
Number 3: Towel drying. Regular towels are usually made with rough, coarse fabric, which leads to more friction when rubbing against the hair. You’ll end up creating frizz, pulling on fragile strands, and causing damage and breakage. Instead, opt for a microfiber towel, which glides easily over hair, reducing strain.
Number 4: Sleeping on a cotton pillowcase. This kind of ties back in with towel drying. When sleeping on a cotton pillow, this can lead to tangled hair when we toss and turn at night and contribute to all that breakage we want to avoid. The smaller fibers, let’s say on a silk pillowcase, prevent your hair from excessive pulling as you toss and turn, which leads to smoother hair in the morning. So if you can, opt for a silky pillowcase instead.
Number 5: Taking excessively hot showers. This is because the heat can strip away your hair’s natural oil and without it, the hair becomes dry, brittle, and more prone to breakage and falling out. For best results, shower with lukewarm water for not more than 10-15 minutes, 2-3 times a week. And for a final rinse, use cold water to help lock in extra moisture.
Number 6: Hair sunburn. So it turns out you can get sunburn on your scalp. The UV rays target the hair protein and increase free radical damage, making the hair weak and prone to hair loss. UVA and UVB rays can damage the hair cuticle, resulting in hair discoloration, split ends, hair thinning, dryness, and frizziness. Just as you need to protect your skin from the sun, you need to do the same with your scalp as well. So to combat this, try using a broad-spectrum, sun protector that’s residue-free on days when you’ll be outside for a while.
Number 7: Swimming in chlorine and or saltwater. Now this doesn’t mean avoid swimming in pools or your favorite beach, it’s more about knowing what to do with your hair to make sure it isn’t damaged. The American Academy of Dermatology says to immediately rinse the ocean or pool water from your hair before applying a deep conditioning cream or oil, which will help form a protective barrier around the hair shaft and lock in moisture. I’ve also heard that it helps to get your hair wet in a shower and use a leave-in conditioner. That way when you jump in the water, your hair won’t soak up as much chlorine water.
Number 8: Conditioning your roots. You want to avoid your roots while conditioning. Not only are the roots the youngest hairs on your head, but it also makes sense to focus more on the ends of your hair instead since the ends are older and need more moisture. So start from the ends and comb the conditioner to the mid-lengths of your hair to hydrate your strands where they need it most.
Number 9: Over-processing. These include perms, relaxers, professional straightening, and coloring. All these can make your hair seem like it’s healthier after the first or second session. But if you go overboard on them, the cuticle can break down and cause hair damage. Which is why the (AAD) recommends extending the time between your sessions to 8-10 weeks if possible.
And lastly, number 10: Let’s break down some of those ingredients you want to be conscious of. Because you can already be following the previous 9 steps I’ve mentioned, but if you are using products with any of these 5 ingredients, you might be counteracting your healthy hair habits.
1: Sulfates. You’ve probably heard of sulfates by now; a lot of products that are tailored as natural hair care, these brands proudly label their packaging as sulfate-free. This is because sulfates are harsh on the hair and scalp and can strip away that natural moisture that keeps your hair shiny and soft. Look out for some of those tricky names like Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate or Sodium Laureth Sulfate, to name a few.
Number 2: Fragrance. The term „fragrance“ allows manufacturers to opt out of including a list of the ingredients used to create that fragrance, as the term is not regulated by the FDA. So you really don’t know what constitutes as „fragrance“. And it can cause irritation, which can sometimes lead to itching, redness, or scaling. So opt-in for fragrance-free products in the meantime.
Number 3: Formaldehyde. A common one in shampoos is quaternium-15. They can also be found in chemicals used for Brazilian blowouts in salons, so it’s good to do your research before getting that done and be conscious of formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing agents.
Number 4: Triclosan. It’s an antibacterial agent that’s often added to personal care products as a preservative. We still don’t have enough conclusive evidence to say for sure that it is safe. So in the meantime, it may be best to avoid it.
Number 5: DEA and TEA. They act as emulsifiers and foam agents that reduce surface tension so water-soluble and oil-soluble ingredients can blend together. In 1998, researchers found a link between the topical application of DEA and cancer in animals, but the effects on humans are unclear. Which is why the European Commission has banned DEA in cosmetics to err on the side of caution.
Number 6: Retinyl Palmitate. It is the ester of retinol combined with palmitic acid. It’s a known skin irritant that can cause peeling, scaling, redness, and itching. Some have this sensitivity and others don’t, so it’s best to identify if you are sensitive to this ingredient or not. Some experts are on board with it and others aren’t fully.
And the list goes on, so let me know if you want me to do a video that goes into this topic in more depth. And while there are many bad ingredients in shampoos and harmful shampoo brands, plenty of shampoos use only natural, non-toxic, and organic ingredients. So if you are suffering from hair loss or unhealthy hair growth and think chemicals are to blame, try switching to a natural alternative.
And that’s it, guys! I hope that this video helps give you a better understanding of bad hair habits to avoid and maybe will help you to achieve healthier hair in the process. All in all, I also hope this video was insightful to you guys. The only thing I ask in return is just a simple like down below for the YouTube algorithm. Thanks for sticking tuned till the end, and as always, I’ll see you on the next one.
