Unhealthy Habits That Are Ruining Your Hair

Healthy hair is hard to come by, especially if you’re guilty of one of the following. If you’re desperate for luscious locks, it's time to quit these unhealthy hair habits cold turkey.

1. Brushing wet hair

Hair is at its weakest straight out of the shower. Taking to your mane with a brush can actually overstretch the hair shaft and cause breakage. Still dying to detangle? Do it in the shower. Coat hair with conditioner after rinsing out your shampoo, then use a wide-tooth comb (or even your fingers) to work through any knots. If you just can't kick the wet hair habit, try something specifically designed for detangling wet hair without causing damage.

bh loves: Lady Jayne TanglePro

2. Scrubbing strands with a towel

Not to be dramatic or anything, but drying your hair with a traditional bath towel is basically the worst strand sin you can commit. The coarse texture of this type of towel is too rough to be used on hair, and the friction of working the towel up and down on hair to remove moisture causes craters along the hair shaft, weakening the strands and worsening split ends. Switch to a microfiber towel to absorb water without adding frizz (if you're in a pinch, you can even use a t-shirt as many of your tees are made out of similarly gentle materials (unconventional, but useful).

bh loves: Microfiber Towel ($15, saintcurl.com.au)

3. Not protecting your hair from heat-styling

We’ve told you before and we’ll tell you again: protecting your hair from heat-styling is one of the most important things you can do to keep locks healthy. Before you go anywhere near the blow dryer, give your hair a good spritz of protection - a good heat spray forms a protective barrier over the cuticle of the hair strand, leaving shine in tact whilst combatting damage.

bh loves: Schwarzkopf Extra Care Heat Styles Heat Protection Spray

4. Sleeping on it

No, we're not about to suggest you stay up all night to avoid damaging your hair, we all need our beauty sleep, but we are going to tell you the right way to sleep on your hair to keep it looking its best. Switching to a silk pillowcase will do wonders for your strands (and your skin too).

bh loves: Lilysilk 19 Momme Marbling Print Silk Pillowcase

5. Over-colouring

It’s best to go four to six weeks between salon visits (or home dye jobs) – any more frequent than that and you’re guilty of over-colouring your hair. If you regularly colour your strands, it’s best to counteract the stress and damage with a regular at-home conditioning treatment.

bh loves: Moroccanoil Restorative Hair Mask.

6. Using the wrong brush

There are plenty of hairbrushes on the market, and they all have their own specific use. Here’s a little guide to make sure you’re using the right brush for your hair type:

Brushes with synthetic bristles (like Brushology Paddle Brush) are best for super thick hair types.

Natural bristles (like Lady Jayne 100% Boar Bristle Brush) are ideal for those with fine, straight hair

Brushes with mixed bristles (like Michel Mercier Wooden Hair Brush for Normal Hair with bristles of varying heights) are the most popular, as they work pretty well on most hair types.

7. Taking scalding showers

If you like your shower super hot (and super long), you may be doing more harm than good. Hot water can dry out your hair (and skin), stripping it of its much-needed, protective oils. If your hair is prone to frizz and dehydration, try turning your shower temp down a notch.

Main image credit: Getty Images

Are you guilty of any of the above? Can you think of any more unhealthy hair habits?

153 Member Comments

Ameena0805 15 Nov 2019 9:43 PM

I always brush my hair in the shower and it detangles perfectly and leaves it looking smooth

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Neel8888 22 Oct 2019 3:10 PM

I always comb my wet hair with wide tooth wooden brush. Never broke my hair. I do wonder how much damage I am doing with my frequent dry shampoo use though.

Am1851 9 Oct 2019 3:16 PM

There are many sins how to damage our hair. I like hot showers too and I feel my hair gets much cleaner with hot water, though I do try to finish with cold, sometimes. I wrap my towel around my hair and just leave it, and I use a wide tooth comb like the tony & guy in the shower, then wait till it is almost dry to comb through again. When I use the dryer I try to use on the lower setting, and I don't style my hair too often which does help keep it healthy. I have thought to get a microfiber towel for my hair but haven't as yet. Don't think I will use a t-shirt though.

MerryGoRound 28 Sep 2019 9:20 AM

Best all-rounder hairbrush (IMHO) is BHAVE’s vent brush—works for all hair types, wet or dry, gentle but firm on scale, and can be used when blow drying as well. And the unique shape (until Lady Jayne copied it) is somehow perfectly curved in two directions and hugs your head.

Definitely got to get a silk pillow case though.

Peta908 14 Sep 2019 8:54 AM

Guilty of a few of these!

miss_kc06 9 Sep 2019 9:10 PM

I have recently gone blonde and I have never been more cautious with my hair till now. Thanks for this, so helpful.

Rose_P 19 Aug 2019 2:57 PM

I went to Target and bought a couple of those $5 hair turbans that I’ve previously commented on. They are great!

Priti_Shah 13 Aug 2019 4:52 PM

The silk pillowcase tip is a great idea!

Rose_P 13 Aug 2019 10:49 AM

I’m guilty of towel drying my hair. Oops! I did have a hair turban but it fell apart and I keep forgetting to buy a new one. Target have them for $5.

Margi59 9 Aug 2019 5:24 PM

Yes I am guilty of doing a lot of these things but now I will be a bit more careful about how I treat my hair. I tend to use spider brushes to dry my hair with those, always use a heat resistant serum or spray.

Lucy16 25 Jul 2019 11:09 PM

I’m guilty of taking scalding hot showers.

Lucy16 25 Jul 2019 11:02 PM

The tshirt tip isn’t unconventional among curly haired types.

Using one to dry your hair is called plopping!

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NellAdams 22 Jul 2019 5:30 PM

My boar bristle brush has really lowered my breakage!

stefaneigh 22 Jul 2019 9:56 AM

I think I'm finally going to invest in a silk pillow case!!

GeeJ 20 Jul 2019 8:46 PM

My hairdresser is always warning me not to comb my hair while wet. Also, I still need to get a silk pillowcase.

june 18 Jul 2019 7:49 PM

Thanks for these tips on hair care.

S-P 18 Jul 2019 6:13 PM

I must admit I love rubbing my hair dry even though I know I shouldn't.

wandus 17 Jul 2019 9:21 PM

I'm surprised to do most of the routines correct. I'm hardly a person to have a patience for elaborate pampering but it seems I do the right things for my hair (instinctively)

abbeyleee12 11 Jul 2019 7:44 AM

guilty of taking very hot showers! might need to lower the temp!

Zenna.X 7 Jul 2019 10:43 AM

I’ve recently been hearing about the silk pillow recommendation. I’ll definitely need to get my hands on that soon

misfortune8 5 Jul 2019 7:07 AM

I love my Lady Jayne TanglePRO.

I colour my hair every 4-5 weeks, but I carefully measure out half of the ingredients to use on my roots only.

beautyfun 4 Jul 2019 2:33 PM

I have never dryed my hair with a t shirt. I do use a gym micro fibre from target. Works well. Best to leave it on for a few minutes or as long as possible.

Vi 4 Jul 2019 10:37 AM

I'm guilty of a few of these. The worst is taking a hot shower. I try to have a warm shower but I don't enjoy it.

LadyLola 4 Jul 2019 7:19 AM

I'm guilty of a few of these hair sins!

Face Paint 3 Jul 2019 11:21 PM

Guilty as charged! On pretty much all counts! I comb my hair with conditioner in it, and then again when I'm out of the shower and have put in some leave in conditioner. As you didn't mention anything about combs I'm guessing you wouldn't approve. But it's the only way to get the nasty knots out of my hair. I also towel dry my hair with a sports towel. I can't imagine ever sleeping on a silk pillowcase - it's plain cotton or flannelette pillow cases for me. But I don't heat style or colour my hair, so I guess that works in my favour.

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