4 habits sabotaging your length goals.

Source: www.ehow.com

Does it feel like you've been trying to grow your hair FOREVER?
Well, it could be down to habits that are still sneakily undermining your efforts.

Read on to see if you are guilty of one of these.

1. Hand-in-Hair Syndrome

You're finally rocking the ultimate twistout!  Your hair is looking the BUSINESS. And you can't stop yourself from checking it out in every shiny surface today. Problem is, every time you look, you reach up and tuck, fluff, primp and twirl the strands.

Why is this habit bad? Well, simply put, you are over-manipulating your strands. You are tugging and twisting more than twice a day. You might as well be back-combing the hair, for all the tangles you are introducing!

This habit will lead to dry, tangled hair that needs even more time (and comb sightings) at the end of the day to fix it. And each point of manipulation is a potential source of breakage.

Beware of the hand-in-hair! lol!

2. Scissor-Happy Trimming Times

Trimming off split ends is a good practice - that much is widely agreed on. However, this is different from the 8-weekly to even 6 monthly trimmers.

When trim-time approaches, the scissor-happy lady goes overboard: cutting up to 2 inches off the ends. This is also known as a HAIR CUT.

Another type of scissor-happy habit is when dusting goes too far. Forever looking for the split end, this trimmer may dust a centimetre off every few days! This adds up to inches in a short period.The main issue is too much hair being taken off either in one go or over a few days.

Shorter ends = shorter hair (unfortunately).

Solution: Pick a set date for trimming, and only trim on that day (don't finish it off over the next 4 days).  Trimming should only take half an inch off the ends maximum. Any more is a hair cut (evening out the ends if a blunt cut style).

3. Hair Brush Crush

There is a widely believed myth that encourages 100 strokes of the brush daily for stimulating the scalp. On hair that is naturally drier, curlier or kinkier (read 'Hair of African Descent'), you will either end up bald or with a very sore scalp from doing this!

A brush is only good if you use it properly and sparingly. Using it vigorously as you 'detangle' the strands will lead to breakage.

Side-note: if your hair is relaxed, you tend to need only one pass of any brush to get the job done. If your hair is natural, hair must be very well moisturized (maybe even coated in conditioner) before a brush can look at it).

I threw away my brushes at the start of my hair journey and only bought the Tangle Teezer or a soft boar bristle brush for special occasion use only.

4. Shampoo / Wash Routine Mayhem

A poorly planned wash routine will be poorly executed! Washing LOOSE hair that is past shoulder length (stretched length for naturals)  will only land you in TANGLE CITY.

You need to remember that hair will be more prone to tangling from the shampoo alone (raises the cuticle to clean the hair). A good routine will see you through this common obstacle with ease.

You may need to apply a pre-shampoo conditioning treatment (pre-poo) to your tresses before getting in the shower. Washing the hair in sections also minimizes the tangled web one can fall into. (More info in the next post on a good wash routine).

Well, ladies and gents, any of these sounding familiar? Your thoughts?