Dos and don'ts for repairing damaged hair that's falling out

Damaged hair that's falling out is often triggered by poor hair care, as well as harsh styling techniques. Here's how and how not to treat your lifeless hair to help bring it back to its former glory.

Although some hair loss is normal – humans shed an average of 100 strands of hair per day – it's important to know the causes of damaged hair and why it can potentially result in hair loss. To help you understand, here's how not to treat your hair.

Don't excessively wring and dry

Hair is at its most fragile while wet and must be dried gently using soft, blotting rubs instead of harsh towel rubbing. To minimize the risk of damaging wet hair:

• Use a wide-toothed comb to separate tangled strands because detangling wet hair with a brush pulls the hair roots from the scalp.
• Allow the tresses to dry a little bit before combing.

Don't use a hot blow dryer too often

Hair that's regularly subjected to heat becomes thin and prone to breakage.

• The hot blasts of hair dryers can also cause scalp inflammation, which may irritate the hair follicles and uproot hair shafts.

Air-dry hair whenever possible.

• If you do use one, keep hair dryers on low and at least 15 cm (six inches) from the scalp.

Don't style hair too often

Even simple hair styling such as bunching, braiding, pony-tailing and tight hairpins can cause damage and hair loss as they choke the scalp's blood circulation.

• Give hair a complete rest from styling, allotting a day in the week to simply let your hair down.

Don't overdo colouring and chemical treatments

Excessive treatments using chemical-based solutions are highly damaging to hair and may cause irreversible balding.

• Chemical build-up from colouring, curling, straightening, permanent-waving and rebonding can potentially reach tender follicles, damage old growth and stunt new hair growth.

There are things you can do to help improve the overall condition of your hair. Here's how you should be treating your hair.

Do use the right shampoo

Clean your hair regularly with appropriate hair products for your hair type.

• Hair cleansers containing dimethicone are best to reduce hair breakage.

Do treat your hair with care

By maintaining good hair grooming practices, you can help to protect your lush mane of hair. That includes:

• Handle hair gently and avoid movements that cause scalp irritation and hair friction.
• Gently massage the scalp for good blood circulation.
• Use non-abrasive combs and brushes made of soft, natural materials with enough space between tips and bristles.

Do lead a healthy lifestyle

To promote strong and healthy hair:

• Strengthen your immune system regularly with a healthy diet and active lifestyle that improves overall oxygen levels and blood circulation in the body.
• Balance this with enough rest and sleep to optimize the repair and growing back of healthy hair.

Do relax

Practice relaxation techniques to help save the head from stress-induced damage and hair loss.

• The hair is especially sensitive to the acidic environment in the body, which can be induced by toxic stress. This weakens delicate hair follicles, possibly resulting in dull, damaged hair and hair loss.