This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s senior fall editorial intern Maggie Lardie. Find her on Instagram at @maggielardie. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
The holiday season can be one of the most stressful times of the year, in addition to being the most wonderful. It’s easy to get caught up in the rush of it all, since presents to buy, food to make and people to see typically take over our thoughts, making it difficult to priortize anything else. Despite all the things that are probably waiting on your long to-do list this time of year, it’s important to remember to take care of yourself, too. Both physical and mental self-care is always necessary, even when life around us gets more intense.
I don’t know about you, but I find that when I’m stressed, my hair is the first thing to suffer. I tend to just throw it up in a messy bun in order to focus on the work I need to do and neglect properly taking care of it. Because of this, I have so many flyaways and split ends that wouldn’t be there if I had just given it a little more attention. If you’re finding yourself in the same boat and are looking to heal your hair this holiday season, don’t worry! Here are some tips and tricks on how to prevent hair breakage naturally.
Be Careful With Wet Hair
Putting tension on your hair is never good, but did you know that your hair is actually at a greater risk of breaking when it’s wet? Water tends to make hair stretchier and more elastic, so it’s a lot easier for hair to snap after a shower or a swim. Make sure you give your hair time to dry completely before attempting that fun hairstyle you’ve been waiting to try! In addition to this, you should try your best to never sleep on wet hair. Not only will your tossing and turning throughout the night provide more opportunities for hair breakage, but if you have thicker hair, the part of your head that touches the pillow might still be damp in the morning!
Dry It Right
Since you don’t want to work with wet hair, you should probably find the quickest and easiest way to dry it, right? Unfortunately, no. One of the worst ways you can dry your hair is by rubbing it with a towel. That hair elasticity we mentioned combined with the friction of the towel will leave you with a lot of split ends. I used to think wrapping my hair in a towel would be a more gentle and efficient way to dry my hair (at least while it’s soaked) but I realized that twisting it up in the towel can be just as damaging. Shockingly, one of the best ways to dry your hair that will leave it looking light and healthy is by using a hair dryer. Just make sure you coat your hair in heat protectant before you dry it so that it doesn’t get fried. Air-drying hair can sometimes leave it feeling heavy and it takes forever! If you’re still someone who prefers using a towel over anything else, we recommend a microfiber hair towel. They’re more absorbent, don’t have as much friction and are particularly great for curly hair types. Pro tip: tip: This method works well on curly wigs also.
Eat Those Nutrients
We all know the benefits of eating healthy, but did you know there are actually specific foods that are more nourishing for your hair than others? Foods like eggs, spinach, salmon and berries are fantastic for hair strength, along with any other foods that are rich in iron or vitamins B and D. Additionally, make sure you’re getting enough of the foods you do eat, along with water and sleep. Stress plays a huge part in making or breaking your hair, so make sure you’re taking breaks when you need them!
Have you struggled with hair breakage in the past? Do you have any tips on fixing it? Let us know!
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