10 Bad Habits That Sabotage Your Hair Goals

Heather Packer, Stylist at Red Door Salon and Spa in New York City

“One of the bad habits I see is people who are over-shampooing their hair. Some clients say they don’t feel clean unless they shampoo every single day, that they feel dirty. This is a common misconception. Obviously, if you haven’t shampooed your hair in a week, it’s dirty. But if you washed it yesterday or the day before and it’s not piled on with products, it’s not dirty. The natural oil coming from your scalp and down your hair strand is a good thing for your hair: it helps keep it moisturized and healthy.

If you must apply water to your hair every day, just rinse and condition it; don’t shampoo it every day. Unless your scalp is super greasy to the point where your hair is just gross, shampooing your hair 2-3 times a week is more than fine and enough to properly cleanse your hair. I like Hairstory New Wash Deep, $40, as a great alternative to shampoo: it’s a detergent-free cleanser that contains argan oil and apple cider vinegar to remove buildup and dirt without stripping your hair.”