People have different hair types: curly, straight, wavy, fine, oily, and each hair type has specific needs. There are different types of styling tools and products available on the market to make your hair more manageable and beautiful. However, excessive use of these styling tools and products can damage the hair. This article will tell you all about it, and explain how to follow a few quick tips for styling without damaging your mane too much.
How can styling products be harmful to your hair?
There are many different types of styling products and tools on the market, such as gel, hairspray, wax, straighteners, and so on. When you start styling your hair very often, you’ll notice increased hair loss, frizzy hair, dandruff, split ends, and other hair problems.
The reasons why these products damage your hair are listed below:
1- Presence of chemical components in all styling products, hair dyes, sprays, or gels. These chemicals can weaken hair roots and cause breakage.
2- Styling tools that use heat, such as curlers, ironing machines, and hair dryers. Heat can make your hair dry and damaged.
3-Hair that is pulled too tightly during styling can loosen strands of hair. Hair follicles tend to be damaged and hair growth is impeded.
4- Styling also increases the risk of scalp infections. The presence of excess chemicals in products can cause irritation, dandruff, and itching.
5- Not only chemicals, but most styling products also contain alcohol, which dries out the scalp. It makes hair brittle and strips the scalp of its natural moisture.
These are the main reasons why it’s best to limit the use of styling products.
What are the signs your hair products are damaging your hair?
Here are 3 easy ways to recognize damaged hair.
- Extreme hair breakage
Hair breakage can be caused by many things, but the most notable cause is continuous exposure to chemicals. This includes chemicals hidden under vague terms such as “perfumes” and “colors”.
Drying ingredients such as alcohol and sulfates are particularly harmful. Frequent breakage stunts hair growth and can wipe out years of effort to achieve long, lush hair (if that’s your goal).
- White residue on the scalp
In the modern age, it’s easy to overuse styling products. Every product you use adds another layer of coatings and chemicals that can build up on your scalp.
If you notice white dandruff on your scalp or even something that looks like dandruff (but isn’t), you may want to reconsider your hair care regimen. These build-ups prevent your scalp from absorbing products properly, forcing you to use a greater volume of product to achieve the same effect, while continually increasing the dirt that clogs your pores.
- Stiff, frayed hair
Does your hair refuse to hold its shape? Does it have a straw-like texture or frayed ends? These are signs of chemical damage and over-processing. This is largely due to the stripping nature of most shampoos. They block your hair’s natural oils, which help keep strands moisturized. Overuse of these products results in straight, easily tangled hair.
How can you protect your hair from damage?
Obviously, the most important thing is to use non-toxic hair products that nourish your hair rather than dehydrate it and coat it with chemicals.
But here are a few other tips to help you protect and restore damaged hair:
- Don’t brush your hair when it’s wet: Your hair is more fragile when it’s wet, so don’t brush it as soon as you get out of the shower. Instead, use a wide-tooth comb and detangle your hair from the bottom up.
- Don’t wash your hair every day: Stylists say that hair only needs shampooing every three days or so. If you’ve had a particularly sweaty or dirty day, try washing your hair with water and conditioning the ends. This will allow your hair to rest and prevent your scalp from producing too much oil (caused by constant stripping).
- Use heat sparingly: Whatever heating tool you use, start with the lowest setting and increase it if necessary. Remember that heat alters the hydrogen bonds that hold hair together, so limit heat styling as much as possible.
Can hair styling products cause dandruff?
Hair products such as waxes, sprays, gels, and dry shampoos are an important part of your styling routine. They improve the appearance of your hair and make it easier to style. Dandruff is not directly caused by the use of styling products or heat styling. However, prolonged use of these products can damage your scalp and cause irritation. What’s more, if your scalp is sensitive, using the wrong hair care product will irritate it and worsen your condition.
Although it’s not common to get dandruff from styling, product build-up is a problem faced by many people who use styling products.
Conclusion
Even though styling can damage your hair, you can still use styling products from time to time. Try to use them with caution and see if these tips work for you. If you find that your hair is severely damaged and the situation doesn’t improve even after changing your daily hair care routine, consult a certified dermatologist. The root cause of your damaged hair must be treated in time to improve your results.
Frequently asked questions
Q1. Can all hair types be styled?
Answer: All hair types can be styled using a variety of products and tools. However, hair that is already dry and damaged should not be styled, as it may become even more damaged.
Q2. Should I avoid using styling products every day?
Answer: Yes, daily use of styling products is harmful, as they cause build-up on the scalp that cannot be easily removed. In extreme cases, they can also damage your hair and scalp.
Q3. What are the side effects of using hair gel?
The side effects of hair gel on the hair can be numerous: dehydration of hair shafts, dry scalp, dandruff, hair loss, and accelerated graying.
Q4. How can I repair split ends?
Trim damaged ends regularly to prevent the formation of new split ends, and use nourishing oils or hair treatments to moisturize and strengthen the hair shaft, reducing the appearance of split ends.