5 ways to protect your hair from over-washing

Yu Li’s question: I usually shampoo late at night and then again in the morning when I get up. Over the last few years, I’ve felt that my hair at the mid section and ends has gotten really dry. It is possible that I’m washing my hair too often?

The Right Brain replies:

First of all, if you’re noticing a change in your hair over several years, it may not be from the over-washing at all. It could be related to hormonal changes or changes in your diet or medication and not your hair washing at all. Or just plain aging!

But, if you are washing your hair so frequently it is possible that you doing some serious damage to your strands. Even wetting your hair can be damaging because water swells the hair shaft. Here are five precautions you can take to protect your hair, Beauty Brains style!

1. Rock Me Gently – use a mild shampoo

If you don’t use a lot of styling products you shouldn’t need a deep cleansing shampoo. Stick with something that’s less likely to irritate your scalp and dry your hair, like a baby shampoo. It’s hard to beat Johnson’s for the price, but you could go crazy and buy some Angel Baby products.

2. Strange Condition – be sure to use a leave in or rinse out.

Depending on your hair type you’ll have to be careful not to over condition. But use SOME kind of conditioner to prevent further damage. (And although we’ve never proved it, we’ve seen data that suggest certain conditioners can even make your hair dry faster which leads us to out next tip…)

3. Water Runs Dry – Towel drying can tear your hair.

Remember, it’s not just the shampooing itself that’s bad for you hair. It’s what you do after you get out of the shower. Towel drying roughs up the cuticle. Blot your hair dry instead of scrubbing it dry. Or use one of those special super-absorbent towels.

4. Slippery When Wet – wet hair is easy to break.

You can gently detangle with a wide tooth comb, but don’t comb or brush your hair when it’s still wet. Why? Because wet hair stretches and breaks easier than dry hair!

5. It’s a Heat Wave – reduce heat styling

Any damage you do to your hair is just made worse with heat. Cut back on heat styling if you can. If you can’t, use a good leave in product, like a flat iron spray, to help diffuse the heat.

For the bonus round: can any of our loyal Beauty Brainiacs name the bands that go with the 5 song titles in this post?