3. Drying your hair by rubbing it with a towel. Changes that can help prevent hair damage:

• Wrap your hair in a towel to absorb the water.
• Let your hair air dry.

4. Brushing your hair while it is wet. Changes that can help prevent hair damage:

• Do you have straight hair? Let your hair dry a bit before you gently comb it with a wide-tooth comb.
• Do you have textured hair or tight curls? Always comb your hair while it is damp, using a wide-tooth comb.

5. Using a blow dryer, hot comb, or curling iron. Changes that can help prevent hair damage:

• Use the lowest heat setting.
• Limit the time a hot comb or curling iron touches your hair.
• Let your hair air dry when possible.
• Use these tools less frequently, aiming for once a week — or even less often.

6. Applying styling products that offer long-lasting hold. Changes that can help prevent hair damage:

• Try a hairstyle that does not require this product.

7. Pulling your hair back tightly, such as in a ponytail, bun, or cornrows. Changes that can help prevent hair damage:

• Use covered rubber bands made especially for styling hair.
• Wear hair loosely pulled back.
• Try a different hairstyle that does not pull on your hair.

8. Wearing a weave or hair extensions. Changes that can help prevent hair damage:

• Get weaves and hair extensions at a salon that specializes in these services.
• Wear a professional weave or hair extension for 2 or 3 months at most.
• Keep up your scalp hygiene when wearing a weave or hair extension.
• Wear weaves and extensions that are light, so they do not pull.
• Switch hairstyles, so you don’t always wear a weave or hair extensions.

9. Coloring, perming, or relaxing your hair. Changes that can help prevent hair damage:

• Try to add more time between touch-ups, especially when the air is dry. In the winter, try to stretch the time between touch-ups to every 8 to 10 weeks or longer.
• Have only one service — a coloring, relaxer, or perm. If you want more than one service, perm or relax your hair first, and do it 2 weeks before you color your hair.
• Use conditioner after each shampoo.
• When in the sun, protect your hair by using a leave-in conditioner that contains zinc oxide or wearing a wide-brimmed hat.

10. Brushing your hair 100 strokes a day or tugging on your hair to style it. Changes that can help prevent hair damage:

• Brush and comb your hair only to style it. Hair never needs 100 brush strokes a day. That’s a myth.
• Use a wide-tooth comb, and use it gently to comb your hair.
• Avoid pulling and tugging on your hair as you brush, comb, or style it.
• Remove tangles gently, using a moisturizing conditioner if necessary.