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Do you straighten your hair often? You may be doing more harm than good to your hair. But who can seize the beauty of freshly straightened hair? The orderliness, the luster, the magnificence, no one!
That is why most people will visit the salon or use flat irons at their homes to straighten up their frizzy or curly hair. Unfortunately, most people do not give a damn on the possible hair straightening side effects their hair regularly.
7 Side Effects Of Hair Straightening You Should Be Aware
Here are some threats you should be aware of that will make you have a second thought every time you get the urge to straighten your hair.
Excessive Hair Dryness
One of the most common side effects of straightening your hair often is making it dry. Whether you use heat or chemicals to straighten your air, they rob your hair’s natural oil, making it elastic. Thus, your hair will be brittle and coarse.
That smoke you see rising out of your hair during straightening, it’s not smoke. It is the moisture out of your hair that is evaporating. The flat iron seeps out all the moisture out of your hair. This makes your hair dry and that’s how it straightens up.
In the process, natural oils from your scalp will be stripped off, making your hair to become extremely dry. Dryness occurs to any hair types, so no one should feel safe. Once the natural oils of your hair have been depleted, your hair becomes brittle
Related: How To Get Rid Of Greasy Hair
Hair Breakage
There is nothing that hurts as much as seeing your hair break. Did you know straightening is one of the major causes of hair breakage? Straightening your hair regularly will make the structure of your hair strands weak.
Thus, your hair becomes more vulnerable to breaking. This especially happens when your hair becomes excessively dry due to straightening. Exposure to heat and other chemicals will make your hair strands become very weak and easy to break. Hair breakage also encourages split ends. Split ends will make your hair look unattractive.
Hair Loss
Hair loss is another side effect of straightening your hair you should be aware of. Chemicals used in straightening your hair normally damage your hair follicles. If you see a clump of hair on your hairbrush you should get worried.
Once your hair follicles are damaged, they will not be strong enough to hold on. This poses you to a greater risk of hair loss. Continuous use of straightening chemicals will further lead to killing your hair follicles.
Once they are dead, they will not be in a position to make any more hair. A repeated process of this will lead to baldness. Imagine the pain of not being able to grow your hair again due to continuous straightening.
For those who use a flat iron, they are not safe either. This is because the heat damages your hair follicles too. (Here is a list of best flat irons for damaged hair) This is worse for people who use their straightener near the roots of their hair. Do not lose a substantial amount of hair in the process of straightening it.
Related: Prevent Hair Loss After Pregnancy
Hair Dullness
Is your hair always dull? Maybe it’s because of straightening it often. Hair dullness is as a result of having insufficient natural oils from your head that lubricates your hair. Straightening your hair depletes natural oils of your hair and your hair becomes dull and bland.
Dry hair will have nothing to make it look shiny and it will even look unhealthy as its texture has already been destroyed. Your scalp lacks natural oil and all the moisture of your hair have been seeped out while straightening it.
The beauty you see in your hair with a healthy shine is because of your scalp’s moisture and natural oils. Once you rob these two from your hair by continuously straightening it, hair dullness is rewarded.
Frizz
Hair frizzing is one reason that will make a lot of people think of straightening their hair. What most people are unaware of is that straightening your hair leads to more frizzing. The dry state of your hair causes hair crimping and your mane will look out of control.
Frizzing hair is worse since it is a mixed texture. Some parts of your hair will be curly while others will be straight. This can make styling your hair problematic. To overcome frizzing, avoid straightening your hair often.
After straightening your hair, make sure that you use some conditioner or apply olive or coconut oil. This will keep your hair moisturized and prevent it from becoming frizzed.
Related: 7 Tips To Protect Your Hair On Holiday
Itchy Scalp
Once your hair follicles are dead due to too much heat or chemicals for straightening, there is minimal production of natural oils. Natural oils help in keeping your scalp moisturized. Therefore, if there are no enough natural oils produced, the result is a dry scalp that leads to redness, itchiness, and flaking.
This can even affect the surrounding areas such as your neck and even your forehead. An itchy scalp is very irritating since you will not be in peace. To avoid this, stop straightening your hair often.
Altered Hair Texture
You may just alter your hair texture permanently by continuously straightening your hair. Remember that there is no remedy to regain the natural healthy state of your hair strands. To avoid destroying your hair’s texture in a way that you cannot remedy it, avoid straightening your hair regularly.
Also, straightening your hair leads to a slow growth rate. This is because it damages your hair cuticles permanently. Are you there complaining that your hair is not growing? Stop straightening it every now and then.
At The End Of The Day
Hair straightening is not as bad as long as you don’t get addicted and make it something you do every now and then. These are some of the possible side effects of straightening your hair that you should all know.
Maybe you have been experiencing one or two of these effects and you have been wondering what would be the possible cause. Now you know common side effects of straightening your hair that you should be cautious about.
About Author (Edna K. Martin)
Edna K. Martin is an expert in skincare and hair care. With years of experience in the beauty industry, she has developed a deep understanding of the science behind healthy skin and hair; has a wealth of knowledge about the latest products and techniques. She is a certified skin care coach and has helped many people achieve a clearer and healthier complexion. As a hairstylist, View Profile ››
