Who would’ve thought that we as a society would come to a point where we have to take conscious protective measures to step out of the house so that we aren’t harmed by the pollution we created. We’ve come to a point where oceans have more plastic than fish, highrises are more valued than trees and the air we breathe is equal to smoking 30 cigarettes a day! It’s a given that we should do whatever we can to protect our lungs from this air pollution, but what can we do to protect our hair from it? There are a ton of anti-pollution products for your skin, but we tend to neglect our hair when it comes to protecting it. We should make some efforts to protect it because here’s how air pollution affects your locks:
- Dust, dirt and soot can irritate your scalp and cause dryness.
- Toxic particles in the air can also cause premature baldness.
- If your hair is exposed to air pollution for long periods of time then your hair will get brittle and be prone to breakage.
So if you want to keep your mane protected and healthy, follow these steps:
1. Wear A Scarf:
This one is probably a no brainer. The best way to protect your scalp and the ends of your hair is to wrap a scarf around it. Doing this will not only protect your locks from the toxic air particles but it also shields your eyes and skin from UV rays. It may seem tedious to do at first, but in the long run it’s extremely beneficial for your hair and skin.
2. Shampoo Less Often:
This step may seem counterintuitive but trust me it works. Air pollution tends to dry your hair and if you shampoo often you might just worsen the situation. Hence, cut down on your shampoo sessions and keep your hair healthy. If you have an oily scalp and shampooing is your only solution to fix it, this tip will help you out—brush your hair daily with a wooden comb. A wooden comb will help you distribute the natural oils of your scalp, hence, making your scalp look less greasy.
3. Cut Back On Styling Products:
All those mousses, serums and sprays may make your hair look fabulous but the sticky texture of these products tend to attract dust particles to your hair. So you should be mindful about the number of products you apply to your mane. It’s best to keep this number to the minimum and keep your routine simple.
4. Try Anti-Pollution Hair Care:
Fortunately, there are a few anti-pollution products out there that work hard to protect our strands. It may seem excessive to go out of your way and buy these anti-pollution products but in the long run, they’re totally worth it! Have a look at a few of our favourite anti-pollution products:
Aveda Pramasana Protective Scalp Concentrate | (Source: www.nykaa.com)
8H Magic Night Hair Serum (Source: Kérastase.com)
5. Use A Hydrating Hair Mask:
It’s a good idea to treat your hair to a nourishing hair mask once a week. A rich moisturising mask will hydrate your locks make them look less frizzy. If you’re into DIY projects then you can try out nourishing coconut milk hair mask. If DIY projects are not your thing then you can try out this one which happens to be one of my favourite hair masks:
What would you do to keep your hair protected from pollution? Let us know in the comments below.
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