There is no denying that your hair is one of the most important parts of your personality. However, changing your hairstyle every time you change your look can cause a lot of suffering to your hair. Unnatural shedding is one of the many signs that your locks might be suffering a lot.

The latest study has shown that around twenty-one million women and thirty-five million men suffer from hair thinning in the United States. In general, people suffer from excessive hair fall for a variety of reasons. Some of these reasons are hormonal changes, certain illnesses, genetics, poor diet, and overuse of styling tools and chemical products. Among all these reasons, the one you might not have thought of is excessive combing.

Yes, you heard it right. Excessive brushing is one of the contributing factors of increased hair breakage and significant hair loss. Not only does it break the fragile strands of your hair but it also damages follicles. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, a lot of men and women lose much more than the average hair count per day. This results in thinning hair, which not only lowers their perceived attractiveness but also affects their self-esteem.

Luckily, there is a plethora of ways to overcome this problem. But before delving into the discussion of how you can reduce over-brushing, let’s take a look at some of the common mistakes you might be making while brushing.

Common Mistakes While Brushing

Brushing hair seems to be a no-brainer, right? All you need to do is grab your brush and stroke your locks. However, there is a right way and a wrong way when it comes to brushing your mane. As mentioned earlier, brushing your hair improperly damages your strands and causes tons of breakage and tangling issues. On the other hand, brushing properly makes your hair shiny, soft, and strong.

Here are the common hair-brushing mistakes that might be causing you to lose hair without you even realizing it.

Untangling When Hair Is Wet

Many people don’t know that hair is in its weakest state when it is wet. That means it is so vulnerable that even a slight stroke of a brush can break the strands. That is why smoothing and detangling it before you take a shower or bath is of paramount importance. This is also why you should never get your hair cut wet.

According to hair experts, detangling hair with your fingers is far gentler, and is one of the better methods of avoiding excessive hair thinning and damaging.

Brushing the Roots First

Brushing in the wrong direction is another common cause of hair-damage that many people do unknowingly. Remember, brushing your hair from the roots not only creates unnecessary breakage and damage but also causes more knots.

Hair experts always recommend detangling hair from the ends (a few inches away from the bottom) and working your way up from there. Once all the knots are detangled, move your brush close to the scalp. Make sure you brush your scalp and hair roots properly to redistribute natural oils that are essential for your hair to retain moisture.

Working this way, you will not pull out hair or cause unnecessary stress that could lead to possible damage. If you run your comb directly down the full length of your mane in a single swipe, you will end up snagging your brush on a knot. However, brushing it from the bottom helps you detangle the knots gently and enables you to brush your hair smoothly from the roots to the tips later.

Brushing Backwards

Brushing backwards or back-combing is not a very uncommon method of making buns, or puffy hairstyles. No doubt, the hair teasing technique is a great way to add texture and volume to hair. But there is a negative side to it that must not be ignored.

Brushing your hair backwards regularly can damage and break hair cuticles. As a result, your hair becomes more fragile, frizzy, and susceptible to hair thinning. Using a light hair spray is a good idea for adding volume without damaging hair.

Useful Brushing Tips

Choose the Right Type of Hairbrush

Hairbrushes do not follow a one-size-fits-all mentality. While a round-tip brush does well for others, it might not do well in your hair. This is what makes testing the brush before buying or using it important for healthy hair. If your hairbrush feels rough or painful, that means it does not complement the texture and type of your hair.

Always go for the right type of hairbrush to relieve knots and avoid tearing your hair out.

Brush Before Bathing

Brushing wet hair causes hair strain and leads to excessive hair damage. That is why it is important that your hair is detangled and knot-free before you wash it. Brushing your hair before bathing helps you prevent hair loss and damage. Additionally, it allows you to wash out shampoos and conditioners from your hair properly.

Say “No” to Brushing While Your Hair Is Wet

As we said, hair is prone to breakage and damage when it is wet. It is clear how important it is to get rid of the habit of brushing wet hair. Always comb your hair when it is dry, with a brush that has flexible bristles or a wide-tooth comb to reduce tress stress.

Brush From the Middle or Bottom First

Get accustomed to brushing your hair in an orderly pattern. Always start brushing your hair from the middle or bottom to avoid damage. Gently detangle the knots and then move your brush upwards toward the roots.

Some Benefits of Brushing Your Hair

Brushing your hair is like dry shampooing. It helps you eliminate impurities, buildup of encrusted scalp crystals, and uric acid.

Brushing hair might seem like a chore, but it has tons of benefits if you want to get beautiful, luscious, and nontoxic hair:

• Brushing your hair daily strengthens your hair by stimulating the scalp and distributing natural sebum through hair.
• It makes your tresses manageable, adds sheen, and smooths by restoring moisture.
• Brushing your hair moderately prevents hair loss as it increases the transportation of nutrients, oxygen, and sebum.

Conclusion

Anything can be harmful when you do it excessively, and hair brushing is no exception. Although brushing hair has several benefits, doing it excessively is dangerous for your hair health. Follow the given tips and proper hair care regime to keep your tresses in the best shape.