Using the wrong styling products and skipping breakfast are just two everyday activities that can cause thinning hair. Find out which bad hair habits you need to break.

Bad habit: Not shampooing frequently enough

man is pouring shampoo on his hand, shower gel on hand, man hand holding bottle with shampoo and squeezing shampoo for hair from tubeAlena TS/Shutterstock

“Shampooing is so important to the health of the scalp and hair. Your scalp is skin, and the way to keep the scalp healthy is to shampoo frequently,” says Anabel Kingsley, consultant trichologist for the Philip Kingsley clinics, who explains that regular shampooing ensures that hair grows at its best rate and helps avoid thinning hair. How often should you wash?

“That varies a bit from person to person, based on how oily your scalp is,” says Melissa Piliang, MD, a dermatologist at the Cleveland Clinic. “But most people should wash their hair at least every other day. If you don’t, things like oils and pollutants can build up on the scalp, leading to inflammation and dandruff (seborrheic dermatitis).” The inflammation can disturb hair growth, and dandruff can lead to itching, which leads to scratching . . . and breakage. Take note of the 12 absolute worst hair mistakes you can make.

Bad habit: Shampooing too frequently

The man is washing his hair, he use shampoo.TORWAISTUDIO/Shutterstock

This can be a concern for people with dry or brittle hair. “For them, frequent shampooing can lead to breakage, especially if they use a drying shampoo,” says Dr. Piliang. African Americans may need to wash their hair less frequently because it tends to be more fragile. For anyone with dry, brittle, or fragile hair, a moisturizing shampoo and a good conditioner can help prevent breakage that can lead to thinning hair.

Bad habit: Treating your tresses too roughly

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“Everything you do to your hair, do it gently,” recommends Nunzio Saviano, owner and stylist at the Nunzio Saviano Salon in New York City. “Don’t aggressively shampoo. Condition your hair gently. And use a wide-tooth comb for detangling. The less you pull on your hair, the better.”

And if you’ve gotten into the habit of brushing your hair vigorously in the morning and at night—don’t: “A lot of people find it satisfying to brush their hair, and think that 100 strokes a day is good for it. It’s not!” says Kingsley. She recommends that her clients brush their hair only when it needs it, and detangle hair carefully using a detangling spray and starting at the bottom “rather than starting at the top and ripping down at the hair.” Save your strands with these gentle detangling tips.

[“source=TimeOFIndia”]