Hair Damage and Prevention; How to Stop Tangles, Snags and Split Ends

Don't blame summer and hot weather for frizzy, puffy, and wispy hair.  You're probably dealing with hair breakage.  We know regular trims are necessary for healthy hair, but how can you prevent snags, tangles and hair that's anything but smooth?  Heat tools, bobby pins and too-tight hair ties are the obvious culprits, but there are other "secret" things we do that can cause these problems:1.  The shower.  When wet hair is damp, it's the weakest.  Water breaks down the natural hydrogen bonds in the hair.  They re-form again when hair dries.  In the shower, use a paddle brush to work conditioner through your hair or a wide tooth comb.  Be sure to start at the bottom of the hair so you are not breaking weak ends.2.  Don't use a towel turban.  Wrapping wet hair in a towel can cause the greatest damage!  Dry hair gently.  Don't rub with a towel.  After towel blotting, gently start at the tips with a paddle brush or wide toothed comb as with combing in the shower.  Remember, comb tip to root.3.  Ways around heat drying your hair, which fries your hair.  First soak up excess water to save on drying time.  This way, you won't be going over the same section many times.  Try to use a dryer  that features ceramic, ionic or tournaline tecnology, which cut down on drying time.  When you hold a hot dryer on hair for too long, the water in the hair heats to a boil, so it cooks and blisters the hair!4.  Think about your hair-do.  When we put our hair up, we usually anchor it in the same location.   This will cause damage.  Try to put your hair up in a different place, such as a high ponytail as opposed to a low one.  Same for chignons, up-twists and braids.  The same holds true for bobby pins.  Clamps actually crush your hair.  It is best to loosen hair after putting a clamp on it to make sure it's not too tight.    Rubberized pins don't leave a crease and are more gentle.5.  A silk pillow helps at night.  Also, you get the added benefit of stopping wrinkling of skin.
Good products to stop breaking of hair are:Nexxus Ultimate Moisture Deep Conditioning treatment ($17.00) at Walgreens.Spectrum Naturals Organic Coconut Oil  ($11.00) at AmazonNexxus Split End Binding, Smoothing Shine Serum ($12.00) at ULTA.Satin pillowcase ($22.00) at Linens and Things.

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