Chemicals are also, sadly, the enemy of healthy hair growth, especially if you’re layering several throughout different steps of your hair colouring and styling routine. “Overlapping chemical processes, such as permanent colour, bleach and chemical straightening, can cause a lot of damage,” warns Anabel.
As for other common mistakes to avoid? Top of the list is “pulling your hair back too tightly,” says Anabel. It can place unnecessary strain on the hair, and if done regularly, can lead to repeated breakage. In severe cases, it can even cause traction alopecia.
How can we treat the causes?
“Treat the hairs along your front hairline with extra TLC,” advises Anabel. “Be gentle when you brush and style, opting for a brush with rounded plastic prongs and a vented cushioned base,” she says. If you can, “limit your use of hair straighteners to once a week maximum, and use a low to medium heat setting when you style.” Simply switching your dryer from high to medium will help, and it’s worth experimenting with the temperature on your straighteners or tong. You’ll probably find you can opt for the lower setting without compromising your style.
As for wearing your hair up, “don’t tie it too tightly,” says Anabel. “Instead, go for a looser style. The rule of thumb is, if a hairstyle makes your scalp sore, it’s too tight!”
What should we be doing to encourage healthy regrowth?
This may be nothing new, but nourishing your strands is the way to go. “Once a week, use an intensive, strengthening pre-shampoo conditioning treatment. I recommend using our Elasticizer, which adds elasticity to strands to help prevent breakage,” says Anabel. This is important since breakage often occurs when our hair is wet and overstretched while styling.
“When you style, use a heat protection spray,” says Anabel. This will shield hair, as much as possible, from excess heat. “And eat a healthy, balanced diet. This will benefit the growth of your hair in general – not just your front hairline,” adds Anabel.