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So, we know that excessive heat and chemical processing can lead to dryness, breakage and unnecessary shedding. But, some of the little things we do each and every day can also slowly damage our hair. Check out three of the lesser-known causes of hair damage below.Elastic Bands and Hair Accessories
Elastic bands with metal clasps, jeweled barrettes and butterfly clips can pull and snag on our hair daily. To prevent unnecessary breakage, try Goody Ouchless elastic bands for ponytails and updos. If using a barrette or clip, secure the style with an elastic band and pins before adding the ornament as the clips are more likely to snag free-flowing, unsecured hair.
Oh Natural! Celebs With Natural Hair
Tracee Ellis Ross
Actress Tracee Ellis Ross really does have "naturally curly hair" and most likely uses styling products to keep the frizz at minimum.
Frank Micelotta, Getty Images
Erykah Badu
Singer Erykah Badu performs at Chene Park on August 3, 2007 with big, curly, wooly, hair. Badu has done it all with her natural hair -- from bald to dreads to all sorts of afros. This trendsetter always marches to her own beat.
Monica Morgan, WireImage.com
Cree Summer
Actress Cree Summer, who we all first knew and loved as "Freddie" from 'A Different World' still keeps her hair out, curly and free.
Vince Bucci, Getty Images
Goapele
Neo soul senstation Goapele, who wore her hair in long locks for many years switched it up and now can be seen with a short afro.
Lisa Lake, WireImage.com
India Irie
Singer India Arie arrives at the 2006 Annual GRAMMY Awards with double stranded twists and a nice tapered cut. Chile, we know you are SO not your hair. But if you were, you would be so very pretty.
Gregg DeGuire, WireImage.com
Jill Scott
Singer Jill Scott arrives at the BET Awards '08 Pre-Party with shaved sides and "faux" locks with highlights throughout. This is a very modern, very, sexy look for the buxom beauty.
Chris Pizzello, AP
Joan Armatrading
Some ladies still wore afros in the '80s -- when it was not quite as de rigeur. British soul singer Joan Armatrading is one of such daring divas, as evidenced in this 1983 shot.
Chris Walter, WireImage.com
Joie Lee
Joie Lee, actress, director, and Spike's baby sis has always kept a natural coif and this natural 'do taken in 2006 really takes a que from nature -- it looks very trees and branch like!
Brad Barket, Getty Images
Lauryn Hill
She's had many incarnations of natural hair, but one look we love best is when Lauryn Hill sported her budding locks in this '98 Fugees-era flick.
John Spellman, Retna
Ledisi
The oh so talented Ledisi arrives at the 38th Annual Songwriters Hall of Fame Ceremony with her signature locks, curled up and pinned.
Stephen Lovekin, WireImage.com
Indoor Heat
The indoor heat is incredibly drying to the hair and scalp. To counteract this effect, try to incorporate hot oil treatments once a week during the winter to keep the scalp supple and moist. Or, sleep with a small humidifier (or even a large bowl of water) by the bedside at night to add moisture to the air.
Rings and Bracelets
Bracelets, engagement and wedding rings can also pull out our hair strand by strand. If you have a tendency to twirl or flip your hair each day, try to keep the side you typically twirl pinned up (in a side bun or ponytail). This will protect the hair and gradually help you break the habit.
I hope this helps! For more tips and techniques, check me out at www.healthytextures.com.
Comments: (20)
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By: Vaclav on 12/19/2008 9:49AM
I'd never think about rings and bracelets in this type...Strange
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By: Sherry on 12/25/2008 12:34AM
Merry Christmas, Hannukah,Kwanza, everybody. I have had my hair in braids for a year now, and my hair is growing very fast. A year ago my hair was coming out due to workplace stress, and I was desperate for a way to keep my hair from breaking out. I saw a picture of me, and the hair loss was shocking. It had aged me so much. I didn't look like myself, and at that point I decided that there had to be some changes. This was the solution for me. I have my hair in medium sized individuals. This is not the current style, and when I go in to get my hair braided, I have to insist on the size of the braid, because the braider is shocked that I want out of style braids. I get medium sized because in the 90's I got my hair braided and kept it in for four or five months, then when I took them down myself, I was amazed at how long my hair was. My hair has grown about 8-10 inches as of October...I take my hair down again next month, and know it will be another two or three inches longer. I intend to keep getting my hair braided until at least the summer. Maybe another year. I like individual braids because you can wear them in a lot of different ways; ponytail, down, pulled back, or up with strands of braids down. I wash my hair at least once a week and put baby oil on it every other day. I condition my hair every time I wash. When I am exercising regularly, I wash every day. If your hair is breaking off, I feel your pain. Please consider this option, and commit to a year of braids. You will be AMAZED at how your hair responds to being left alone for a yr. God bless
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By: daramnation on 12/25/2008 2:29PM
dear gennifer miller
mmm. there is no such word as "lesser". there's little, then there's less, and there's least. you butchers of the english language. and before you start jumping down my throat about re-inventing language and speaking the way you want to, authenticity and all that self-aggrandizing excusola, realize i speak six languages, and english is not my mother-tongue. perhaps you should master yours before you are let to run rampant and rough shod over it writing popular internet articles.
i hope they are not paying you.
end of rant.
merry christmas.
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By: Tasha on 12/27/2008 6:29PM
FYI, lesser is a word: less⋅er /ˈlɛsər/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [les-er] Show IPA Pronunciation
–adjective, a compar. of little with least as superl. 1. smaller, as in size or importance; inferior: a lesser evil.
–adverb, a compar. of little with least as superl. 2. less. Origin:
1175–1225; ME lasser, lesser. See less, -er 4
I realize that english is not your "mother tongue" so perhaps you should consider that before you start writing rude comments. I'm sure there is a reason why Gennifer is the author of this article and not you. Please do your research next time, thanks.
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By: conundrum777 on 12/27/2008 7:22PM
ouch!
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By: Brat on 12/27/2008 8:25PM
Sherry - You should edit your own comments before making them about others. Lesser IS a word and you made quite a few mistakes yourself. It is very obvious that English is NOT your mother language and from the looks of it, it is not your father nor your grandmother language either!
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By: boizstrous on 12/27/2008 8:36PM
DO NOT USE HOT OIL once a week.. It will cause buildup over time.. It will with heat also lift the cutical causing your color to fade faster.Tell your stylist to gives u a deep treatment that is meant for your specific hair type.. Too much protein is NOT good either. Even cloth bands can cause friction. By habit women usually put their pony's in the exact same spot.. Try changing your pony's to higher and lower than the usual spots.. It makes a huge difference it the breakage they cause.
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By: Sean on 12/27/2008 9:45PM
daramnation:
You should refrain from using " There is no " for it is improper. Also your use of a lower case i when speaking about yourself is improper. School me back if you feel the need to do so.
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By: Shawnaroni on 12/27/2008 9:45PM
daramnation:
You should refrain from using " There is no " for it is improper. Also your use of a lower case i when speaking about yourself is improper. School me back if you feel the need to do so.
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By: nitefli428 on 12/27/2008 10:00PM
I thought this discussion was about hair, you lamers!
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