Hair Care
10 Reasons Your Hair Is ThinningWatching your hair go down the drain -- literally? Find out what's normal, what's not, and what you can do about it |
Suspect #6: Your styling routine It's tempting to rake through tangles and secure the tightest top knot known to man, but vigorous styling and hair treatments add up, and yes, they can cause your hair to fall out. If you get a mild headache every time you pull your hair back into a ponytail, you need to ease up for your hair's sake. "Tension, stress and pulling on hair follicles and the scalp can lead to a form of gradual hair loss called traction alopecia," says Leonard. This can be anything from "tugging" styles (think tight braids, hair weaves, corn rows) to harsh chemical treatments like relaxers and perms -- not to mention basically every hot tool on the market.
Solve It:
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends using conditioner after shampooing and using hot styling tools only once a week. If that sounds laughable, try to give your hair a break once in a while -- especially if you are seeing an increase in hair loss. Leonard also recommends rethinking the way you comb through fragile, wet hair. "Be sure to comb from the ends, back to the scalp, and don't rip through tangled snarls." We'll also add, invest in a good de-tangler, like Joico's, $11.99, to decrease the stress on your strands when combing.
SEE NEXT PAGE: Suspect #7: Your Scalp
Solve It:
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends using conditioner after shampooing and using hot styling tools only once a week. If that sounds laughable, try to give your hair a break once in a while -- especially if you are seeing an increase in hair loss. Leonard also recommends rethinking the way you comb through fragile, wet hair. "Be sure to comb from the ends, back to the scalp, and don't rip through tangled snarls." We'll also add, invest in a good de-tangler, like Joico's, $11.99, to decrease the stress on your strands when combing.
SEE NEXT PAGE: Suspect #7: Your Scalp