8 Bad Habits That Lead to Buhaghag Hair

You’ve been there before. It’s Monday morning; you hit the snooze button too many times, and as you rush to get ready, you catch a glimpse of your hair in complete disarray. Maybe it’s because you fell asleep with wet hair and, now that you think about it, you forgot to condition it, too. Sadly, you might be to blame for waking up to a bad hair day. Here are eight bad habits to avoid buhaghag hair and what to do instead.

Waking up with your hair still slightly damp from last night’s shower is no good. Your locks are most fragile when they’re wet. Therefore, hitting the sack before drying them will lead to damage from tossing and turning, including problems such as hair fall, dandruff, and even fungal infections.

Try washing your hair earlier in the evening so it has time to air-dry. But if you can’t, use a dryer and gently run your fingers through your hair to hasten the drying process (much like the blow-drying step at salons).

Speaking of wet hair, the way you dry it also matters. Like most people, you probably think grabbing a towel and vigorously rubbing your hair is okay. Wrong. Being rough on your strands is one of the first bad habits you should break if you want to smoothen them. Friction from a towel is harmful and can result in breakage, frizzy hair, and overall damage.

Instead of roughly drying your hair with a towel, use it to gently remove excess moisture from your hair without squeezing or rubbing it. Swap your brush for a wide-tooth comb to detangle it without damage.

Ponytails and updos are great because they’re so easy and practical, especially when you don’t have time to style your hair. But tying your hair too tightly will eventually lead to hair loss from constant tension on the scalp.

That said, you don't need to avoid ponytails altogether. You can wear them loosely, mix them up with braids, or try a half updo with a barrette or silk scrunchie.

Cotton is known for its absorbency, so using a cotton pillowcase will rob your hair of its natural oils. Swap your sheets for luxurious silk ones, which are smoother. These will reduce friction from tossing and turning, so you wake up with hair like Bella Hadid’s instead of buhaghag realness like Hagrid’s. Your skin will thank you for it, too.

A common mistake that you might be making is conditioning your entire head of hair from the roots to the tips. Conditioners are thick and heavy, so frequent contact with the scalp can cause pore blockage, ingrown hair, damaged follicles, and excess oil.

A good rule of thumb is to apply conditioner only up to the section right below your ear. Work your way from the ends, making sure not to go beyond this area. Your hair will benefit from using a treatment like VitaKeratin Deep Repair Hair Mask, which is infused with Vitamin E to give your hair the daily nourishment it needs.

Meanwhile, to combat product buildup and dull strands, use TRESemmé Detox & Nourish Shampoo. It deeply cleanses and detoxifies hair from daily impurities and buildup, replenishing lost nutrients to nourish hair.

While cleansing your hair is necessary, using too much product might dry it out. Washing it too often will strip your hair of essential oils vital to hydration. Unless you work out every day or are exposed to heat and other pollutants that might require you to shampoo daily, try cleansing your hair every other day instead.

If you have wavy or curly hair, shampoo your hair at least two to three times a week. Those prone to dandruff can cleanse their hair daily, alternating between a regular shampoo and an anti-dandruff one.

One of the most common bad habits affecting hair is avoiding a monthly trim. Whether you're up to your ears with your schedule or denying yourself some me-time for whatever current cause atm (i.e., a travel fund, recovery from that designer bag you said you would never get, being a member of a parent committee in school, etc.), you can’t seem to find the time to visit the salon.

To avoid split ends, stylists recommend trimming your hair every three months. Those with wavy or curly hair might require more frequent haircuts, like once every six to 12 weeks. Find a schedule that works for you – but don’t delay it.

Heads up, beach babes, this one’s for you. Bronze, sun-kissed skin and bleached beachy waves might go with your laid-back surfer girl vibe, but your hair might not agree with your extended tanning time. Like the skin, hair becomes dry and dull when hair is exposed to harmful UV rays.

Before hitting the pool, apply a liberal amount of sunscreen, especially around the hairline. A hat, preferably one with UV protection, will also shield your hair from potential sun damage. But if you can’t help but be under the sun, shampoo with Sunsilk Damage Reconstruction Shampoo to revive damaged and brittle hair from the sun.

Bad habits are not always easy to break, especially if we’re unaware of them. With the help of these eight tips and some tweaks to your lifestyle, you can say goodbye to buhaghag hair for good.