How not to let your hair down

Your hair is no longer alive as it grows away from your scalp, so once the hair is damaged, it has no way of repairing itself.

By ANNA T. HIRSH
CTW Features

Your hair is no longer alive as it grows away from your scalp, so once the hair is damaged, it has no way of repairing itself. Dull, damaged hair is dry, porous, weak and hard to manage.

All hair will experience normal wear and tear, but there are definitely ways you can be smarter about your hair behaviors and protect your coif from the elements. Here are five common hair behaviors and how to make them safer for the long-term health of your hair, from Keith Ayotte, regional creative director for Sassoon Salon USA, Minneapolis:

Hair behavior: Too much sun
What the experts say: Just like skin, the hair is very sensitive to sun exposure, and long-term problems can result by not taking the necessary precautions. When going out in the sun, be sure to apply a hair product with UV protection (and re-apply throughout the day), and then deep condition hair post-exposure since the sun will dry out hair, causing breakage and discoloration.

Hair behavior: Too much washing
What the experts say: Washing your hair too much can dry out your scalp, cause flakes and strip the natural oils on your head that protect your hair’s roots.

Instead, shampoo and condition about twice a week. In addition, 30-minute conditioning treatments are terrific for rejuvenating the hair. There are fantastic, no-heat-required treatments available (sometimes called treatment cuts) that are sprayed onto the hair before the cut and penetrate/condition during the cut — two services in the amount of time it takes for one.

Hair behavior: Too much blow-drying
What the experts say: To achieve a beautiful blow out and maintain hair’s integrity, apply a heat resistant product and use a paddle brush to get a smooth, natural finish.

A paddle brush works with the hairs’ texture and natural bend, to give your mane a healthy, shiny look.

Hair behavior: Too much flat-ironing
What the experts say: When using a flat iron properly, you can achieve great results and maintain healthy hair by making sure hair is thoroughly dry before ironing, applying a product that will protect hair from the heat and using a ceramic flat iron. Then, glide the flat iron through the hair in fluid movements to prevent one spot from getting too much heat exposure.

Hair behavior: Too-tight ponytail
What the experts say: When wearing a ponytail, use fabric hair ties, not rubber bands to pull back hair. Rubber bands, especially on wet hair, will stick to the hair and cause tearing. You also want to avoid ties that have metal on them or wearing the ponytail too tight, as these habits can weaken the hair and cause breakage.

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