While most teens want healthy hair, the improper use of styling tools and hair care techniques can cause permanent damage and loss.
“Having healthy hair is possible if one knows how to care for hair before and after styling,” said Dr. Paradi Mirmirani, an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the University of California. Mirmirani offered the following tips for healthy hair.
After a shower, one should dry hair by wrapping it in a towel or letting it air dry. Since wet hair breaks more easily when combed or brushed, teens should handle their wet hair as little as possible.
“Hair myths, such as brushing one’s hair 100 strokes each day, can cause split ends,” said Mirmirani. Teens should minimize their hair brushing due to the cause of split ends from continuously brushing the hair.
Hairstyles such as ponytails, braids, cornrows and hair extensions should not be worn continuously. These type of styles can pull on the hair that can cause tension, which may lead to the breakage of hair and permanent hair loss.
Junior Jenni Le said,“I would always tie up my hair in a ponytail, but after a while my head would hurt because of the way my hairstyle pulled on my hair. Since I don’t like the tugging of my hair, I try my best to put my hair into a loose ponytail or use another hairstyle.”
Combing hair after applying “long-lasting hold” styling products can cause hair to break and over time, can also lead to hair loss. The use of flat irons should be limited to no more than every other day and should be carefully handled. Since excessive heat can damage all types of hair, teens should not leave the curling iron in place for more than three seconds.
Sophomore Shannon Domingsil said, “I love curling my hair, but realizing that constantly using curling irons can cause hair damage, I usually style my hair only on special occasions. When I style my hair, I try not to hold the curling iron in place for a long time because I’m aware that it can damage my hair because of the extreme heat.”
To use hair products and tools safely, some simple rules should be followed. Consumers should avoid constant use of chemical hair-straightening products and certain perms because they break hair’s bonds. Teens should also minimize the use of cold permanent waves based on chemicals because they, too, rely on some of the same chemicals used to straighten hair.
By reducing the use of styling products to properly care for hair, teens will be able to have healthier hair in no time.
