Sometimes no matter how hard you try, your hair looks more hot mess than success. You feel like you’re doing everything – lathering, rinsing, repeating – and you still can’t get those covetable Victoria’s Secret Angel cool girl waves. Here are the mistakes you might be making that stand between you and luscious locks.
1. You’re choosing the wrong shampoo
Choosing a shampoo for your hair is very similar to choosing skincare for your face. Shampoo can completely change how your hair sits so it’s important to choose wisely. You wanna pick something based on the style you want to achieve post wash. If your hair is dry, frizzy or tangly, you want to avoid volumising formulas and go for something that locks in moisture. Hair too limp? Avoid hydrating shampoos, as they can leave hair looking limp and lacklustre. If you need something a little more gentle on your strands, get something for colour protection. Whether you hair is coloured or not, these offerings don’t open the cuticle of the hair as much and thus your locks stay protected.
2. You’re drying your hair too vigorously
Do you flip your hair over and rub-a-dub-dub til it’s dry? You could be causing a lot of damage. Rubbing too hard can cause hair breakage, rough up the cuticle and promote frizz. Try squeezing and blotting instead.
3. You wash too often
Chemical shampoo actually strips your hair of much-needed oils that keep both your scalp and hair follicle in tip-top condition. Washing every day is a surefire way to make sure that your hair turns brittle and lifeless. Try washing every second day, or every third if your hair is particularly dry.
4. You skip heat protectant spray
If you use any kind of heat tools on your hair then you need a protective spray. I am talking hairdryers, curling irons, straighteners… anything. Heat is super damaging for hair so using a protective spray will enable you to use all your fave styling tools, without your hair breaking into a massive, dry frizz ball.
5. You detangle your hair when wet
Wet hair is far more prone to breakage and thus split ends. It’s important to make sure you hair is about 80 per cent dry before running a comb through it. Make sure it’s a wide-toothed comb or a detangling brush. If you encounter a knotty patch, don’t try to rip the brush through it. Instead, lightly brush over the area, taking care to work layer after layer.
6. You don’t use a hair mask regularly
Just like a weekly mask can be beneficial to your skin, a weekly hair mask can do wonders for your tresses. These masks contain butters, oils and silicones designed to make hair shine and add bounce back to your locks. Weekly masks are the rehab your hair deserves.
In her spare time, she likes long walks down the makeup aisle and performing in Brisbane theatre. You can follow her adventures on Instagram and TikTok @thebeautypalate.
