17. Chlorinated Water
Swimming in a pool may feel heavenly, but it’s hellish for your hair. The chemicals in chlorine suck the moisture out of hair strands, which can lead to severe dryness or straw-like texture. If you dye your hair, the chemicals can react with your hair color—blond hair can turn green (it’s rust from the copper in chlorine oxidizing on your hair”> and darker shades can turn brassy (chlorine dries out the hair, which affects color”>.
To protect your locks at your next swim session, apply a thick conditioner or a mixture of waterproof suntan oil and conditioner. Comb it through your hair to coat each strand. This will protect your hair from chlorine (or salt, if you swim at the beach”> and lock in moisture. After swimming, wash your hair immediately with a shampoo designed to remove chlorine or at least rinse with plain shower water, and use a heavy-duty conditioner.
18. Stress
Stress has a profound effect on hair. A traumatic emotional or physical event can screw up your hair’s growth cycle, which means that about three months after the major stress, you might pull out clumps of hair while brushing or washing. Most people grow the hair back once the trauma has passed, but it can take months. Stress can also cause hair to turn gray. The tendency to go gray is mostly genetic, but if you have chronic stress in your life, it sure ain’t helping.
Read More: Forget-me-Not: The Essential Headband
