
Usually, when we tie up our hair - we mean business. Yes, it's a cliche and Bipasha Basu's sleek ponytail in Corporate reiterates that. When we are working out, typing furiously for the next big presentation or managing some sort of crisis, we take that hair-tie, pull back our hair and get to work.
Though it might seem efficient and sort of like the comfort zone for your tresses, it will end badly for your delicate hair. Hair-ties with metallic clasps, rubber bands that are meant to pack last night's leftovers, hair elastics, anything that holds your hair too tight - drop it like it's hot.
"Especially when hair is tied tightly in a specific area on a regular basis, it leads to hair breakage. That's when you begin seeing split strands and baby hair at the hairline and the temples," says hairstylist Zahabia Lacewalla.
"New York Fashion Week 2017 is calling the scrunchie cool again" but we beg you to skip this hair trend. Whether you bun it with a scrunchie or wrap it with an elastic, constantly tying your hair exerts pressure on the delicate strands. "Tying hair back pulls against its natural direction. In turn, this causes brittleness and breakage," informs Zahabia. Sometimes, it can even lead to traction alopecia, a gradual hair loss condition that results from the constant strain on the tresses. All because of that sneaky scrunchie!
So what do you do instead?
1. Try Anjali kind of hair bands - These soft, fluffy hair ties work gently on the hair.
2. "Part your hair in the centre and tie it loosely at the nape for a low ponytail that doesn't tug," recommends Zahabia.
3. Cords or plastic bands have a lesser chance of getting entangled in your hair and breaking it.
4. 3. A diet rich in protein and Omega-3 fatty acids in the form of eggs, oily fish, nuts and chicken to strengthen your hair internally.
5. Get a weekly head massage. This will encourage blood circulation and promote healthy new hair growth.
Don't forget to leave your hair loose when it's wet. Even if your hair is freshly washed and you turn to your rubber band to tie it up on the way to work, avoid doing so. Instead, just wash your hair the night before rather than in the morning. That should do the trick!
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