15 Worst Hairstyles That Damage Your Hair

Curling irons use extremely high heat to bend your hair into that beautiful, bouncy curl. The only issue is that the high temperatures aren't ideal for your hair. It rapidly dries out your hair, which can be even worse if you have colored hair. Before long, curling irons can cause split ends and crispy locks.

Putting your hair in a ponytail is easy each day, especially after work, but you should resist when possible. Any pony that’s tight will pull at the delicate hairs on your scalp and rip them out. The other hairs will eventually grow weak and break off. Over time, this will create thinning that no one wants.

Tight braids have the same issue as daily ponytails, but worse. A tight braid unnaturally bends the hair and weakens the cuticle cells that protect the hair. Eventually, the hair will grow too weak and break. This can create split ends and even thinning.

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Teasing can help boost volume, but if you do it too rough, your hair can suffer. Teasing goes against the cuticle cells of your hair, which can create damaged hair. Sometimes, it’s enough to strip the cuticle cells from the fiber completely. With a little prepping, you can protect the outer layers of your hair. 

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Extensions come in a variety of price ranges, and the cheap one’s clip to your hair and cause breakage. Additionally, those with thin hair need to be especially careful. Getting extension sections that are heavier than your own hair will cause damage and breakage, as well.

Bleaching is extremely bad for your hair. The chemicals quickly cause your hair to become brittle and inelastic, so they break easily. This is exactly why going from really dark to really light hair takes so long. It requires multiple visits to make sure your hair is healthy enough to withstand the treatment.

Long hair can be beautiful, but at a certain point, it’s terrible for your hair. What people don’t know is that split ends don’t always stop near the end. It can go all the way up the hair shaft and split in multiple places. This causes your hair to break easily, and super long hair is at serious risk of breakage due to split ends.

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Twisting and pulling wet hair is a bad idea. When your hair is wet, it’s a lot weaker than it is when dry. By twisting and styling your hair, you’re putting it at risk of breaking off. Some stylists say every now and then can be alright, but we would say that it's better to be safe than sorry.

You may want pin-straight hair but think again. Straightened hair looks good but dries out your hair in moments. When it’s dry, it isn’t protected by oils, which keep your hair from breaking. When using heat tools, make sure to use a heat protectant.

The act of gelling your hair isn’t dangerous, per say. What is terrible is when you use a cheaper gel that contains alcohol. Like everything, alcohol dries out your hair. When your hair is dry, it splits and breaks much easier than when its oily. Read the ingredients of your gel to make sure it’s hair-safe.

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Tight ballerina buns can cause your strands to break, but that isn’t the worst of it. Some buns are so tight that they can actually pull the strand out by the root! A ballerina bun can work occasionally, but never use this style in your daily routine.

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Coloring your hair once or twice a year isn’t deadly for your hair. However, if you’re the type to switch up shades on a regular basis, you could be creating lasting damage. Coloring your hair weakens the sheath that protects your hair, which can cause breakage as the strands dry out.

Elastic hair ties are pretty harsh on your hair. They rub against them in an unnatural way. Most hair experts will suggest that you use fabric or cloth to put your hair up. They’ll also tell you to avoid anything with metal. We all remember when we were kids and the metal part of a tie ripped out hair every time it was moved. 

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Pinterest has a lot of braid inspiration, but many of them are near the hairline. A mini-French braid near your crown looks stunning, but it’s pulling on the tiny hairs around your hairline. They’re the most delicate, and it doesn’t take much to seriously damage them. Repeated damage may prevent future growth.

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A perfect blowout can turn a bad hair day into a perfect one, but your hair may not be as big of a fan. When a stylist does it in the salon, he or she does it in a way that minimizes damage. Doing it at home without training is asking for split ends and breakage. Additionally, daily blowouts can increase the risk of issues that lead to thinning.

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