5 Mistakes That Are Destroying Your Hair

Hair care is a fundamental pillar of beauty, and something that a lot of people spend a great amount of time perfecting. Hair care routines vary from person to person, but did you know that there are some common hair mistakes that could be leaving your hair brittle and lacklustre?

To reduce hair breakage and get beautiful hair, hair vitamins and supplements are a must. Likewise, hair-healthy nutrition can help to prevent and repair damaged hair. If you want to prevent hair breakage and have stronger, healthier hair, there are also some common pitfalls you need to avoid.

Read on to find out whether you’re making some of these common mistakes, and learn how you can boost the strength, resilience and luminosity of your own locks:

Shampooing your hair every day can strip your hair of its natural oils - the very same oils that help to protect your hair from the environment and keep it looking hydrated and bouncy. When your hair is stripped of its natural oils, your scalp begins to produce more oil to make up for it, and these secondary oils can lead to increased breakage and greasy hair. You definitely shouldn’t be washing your hair more than every other day, and ideally no more than twice per week. If you find that your hair gets dirty quickly when you first start to allow more time to lapse between washes, be patient; your hair and scalp will adjust given time.

Whilst you should certainly be conditioning your hair every time you wash it, you should not be covering all of your hair with conditioner. You should be applying a small, coin-sized, piece to the ends of your hair only. Never should the top half of your hair see conditioner - this will only lead to greasy hair and a clogged scalp.

Shampoo, on the other hand, should be applied only to the top half of the hair, as it is drying by virtue of its role in stripping the hair of grease and dirt. Following this rule of thumb will prevent the top (younger) half of your hair from getting greasy, and will protect the bottom (older) half of your hair from unnecessary drying and breakage.

Over-brushing - and brushing your hair too vigorously - can cause lasting damage. The friction and pull of repeatedly running a hairbrush through your locks can result in split ends. Over-brushing can also make the hair appear greasy as it stimulates the hair follicles to produce oil.

The best thing to do is to use a wide-toothed comb to minimise the surface impact of each stroke, and to gently run your fingers through your hair before brushing to release any knots.

Always remember to comb the ends before combing the top as this can help to reduce breakage further. It's also less painful when your hair is particularly knotty.

Hot water can ruin your hair. Ever noticed that you lose a small - or a not too small - amount of hair every time you shower? By stimulating the follicles and opening up the individual strands to the heat, you encourage your hair to fall out more readily. If you turn down the temperature, you’ll notice that you lose less hair and that your hair looks thicker and more glossy.

Hot water can also strip your hair of its natural, protective oils and keratin, leaving your hair lacking in shine, and looking flat and dull.

Keratin is an amino acid that is a precursor to hair growth, and determines its structure and quality. Keratin-boosting supplements and nutricosmetics can encourage the growth of thick, glossy hair. Cynatine® is a cutting edge, patented, nutricosmetic that is formulated in LYMA.

Cynatine® has been clinically-trialled and is the world’s first solubilised keratin, meaning it has superior bioavailability when compared with other forms of the protein.

65% of people who tried supplementing with LYMA reported glossier hair, more desirable hair structure, and improved hair growth.

Cynatine® is the most exciting ingredient on the market today for those who want to protect, repair and increase the health of their hair.

Following a balanced diet - and ensuring you’re getting solid nutrition - are key to enjoying healthy hair. A hair health-boosting diet includes omega-3 fatty acids, biotin, high-quality protein, vitamin D3 which is best taken in supplement form, iron and zinc. These are all essential nutrients for achieving long, strong and luscious locks.

Omega-3s are well known for being found in fish, but the other ingredients might be less well known to you. Biotin is the B vitamin responsible for keeping your scalp primed for healthy hair growth: Eggs, beans and legumes are all great sources of this all-important nutrient. In addition, these same foods all contain significant amounts of high-quality protein that can help to maintain your hair’s structure and integrity - win win.

Brazil nuts are another brilliant hair-healthy food as just two nuts contain your RDA of selenium. Selenium is essential in regulating the thyroid hormones that promote healthy hair. A deficiency in selenium can lead to dandruff and an itchy scalp. Don’t over-do it though: excess selenium can be detrimental to your hair. Stick to between two and four Brazil nuts per day at most.

If you think your diet could be affecting your hair and scalp, take a look at our guide to the best foods for preventing hair breakage.

Hair can lose shine and lustre for a number of reasons - the mistakes outlined here are just some of the most common. Ageing and environmental stressors such as pollution may also be causal factors in reduced hair health. This is why, in addition to Cynatine® HNS, LYMA contains Lycored Lycopene™ - a powerful antioxidant that has been formulated to reduce collagenases (the enzymatic breakdown of the body’s natural collagen that occurs naturally with age) and to help protect your hair from shine-destroying free-radical damage and oxidative stress. To help support you further on your hair-health journey, we have put together a comprehensive guide to the best supplements for preventing and repairing damaged hair.