8 Shower Mistakes That Make Hair Dry & Brittle

Showering is one of the simple joys of life — especially after a long day at the office, an intense workout, or pretty much anything else you can think of. While a shower can always make you feel renewed and rejuvenated, your hair could be telling a different story. Instead of refreshing your hair, there are certain shower mistakes that can make your hair dry and brittle. Don't stress, though: These mistakes are all common things that people do when they hop into steamy water to get clean, but they can be easily avoided to give you healthier, more nourished, and way more conditioned hair.

If part of your shower routine is giving yourself a good scalp massage, you'll want to start using a shampoo scalp brush. It can that give you the at-home spa feeling while protecting you from over-scrubbing and irritating your scalp. If you've heard that using hot water in the shower causes dry hair to become frizzy after air drying, you don't necessarily have to give it up just yet (although turn temperatures down a bit never hurts). Just make sure to take extra conditioning measures and apply a deeply penetrating hair mask to keep your hair soft and healthy.

Daily Shampooing Dries Out Hair, So Hydrate & Cleanse With Coconut Oil

Luseta Coconut Milk Shampoo & Conditioner Set , $28, Amazon

Dermatologist Jason Emer told Allure that the more you shampoo, the more you can remove nourishing oils that protect your hair shaft. This shampoo and conditioner, which is created with coconut oil, will revive weaker strands with soy proteins to keep hair nourished and looking healthy. Both products are sulfate-free, so you can wash knowing these formulas aren't stripping away any of your essential oils.

...And On Shower-Free Days, Plump Hair With Silica Dry Shampoo

Fekkai Blowout Hair Refresher Dry Shampoo, $19, Amazon

Cut back on hair washes (without losing that clean hair feeling) with a dry shampoo that's invisible on your roots — absorbing excess oils that creeped across your scalp during no-shower days. This one is formulated with the mineral silica, which plumps your hair and encourages growth for more volume. You'll see additional results over time, too, once your hair is free from daily damaging steam baths. Work this refresher spray through your hair and tousle, tricking your friends into thinking you just got a salon blowout. Finally, you can make like Outkast and keep your hair "so fresh and so clean (clean)."

Your Fingernails Scrub Too Hard, So Lather With A Massage Brush

Zyllion Shampoo Scalp Massage Brush, $5, Amazon

Nothing's better than a good head massage, and what better time than when you're shampooing? I love scrubbing, too, but using your nails to scratch away can cause scalp irritation. This non-slip shampoo massager brush will gently stimulate your scalp as it cleanses your hair with shampoo, and its two different bristles will work to protect you from overdoing it. One user loves this tool's ability to improve circulation at the scalp, too, as the root stimulation led to noticeable hair growth.

You Shampoo (Instead of Rinse) First Thing, Which Creates Habitual Product Build-Up

Barber & More Ultimate Cleansing Shampoo with Tea Tree Oil, $12, Amazon

If you don't give your hair a minute or two under the water before you add shampoo, you may not be getting all of the product build-up out of your hair in the shower. If you're caught in a product build-up cycle, follow up your next rinse with a heavy-hitting cleansing shampoo that uses tea tree oil to cut out excess dirt and oils. This paraben-free shampoo will prevent future dandruff flakes naturally, too, leaving behind an invigorating cooling sensation — instead of itchiness and irritation.

Rubbing With Terrycloth Causes Frizzy Breakage, So Pat Dry With Microfiber

Aquis Microfiber Hair Towel, $21, Amazon

Rubbing a terrycloth towel over your head can cause damaging hair breakage over time. But these microfiber hair towels produce noticeable results for softer, smoother hair post-shower. The lightweight, gentle material reduces split ends and protects your hair from tension caused by traditional towels. Bonus: These towels tuck easily into a turban to make your morning routine more convenient, plus they dry hair faster — cutting your blow drying time in half.

You Don't Remove Knots Pre-Shower, So Detangle With Special Brush

Glide Thru Detangling Hair Comb , $11, Amazon

If you just got home after a long jog in the sun, the first thing you want to do is hit the shower: Resist! Your best bet is to detangle any knots in your hair before washing with a gentle detangling brush. This will make your hair easier to clean, and it will ultimately remove more dirt and oils — the kinds that can build up on your scalp over time. This brush will never break or snag your hair, as its bristles use a special technology to separate strands sideways, instead of pulling knots downward (and ripping out hair in the process).

You're A 'Rinse-And-Repeat'-er, But Your Cleanser Is Too Harsh For That

WEN by Chaz Dean Sweet Almond Mint Cleansing Conditioner, $32, Amazon

This product gives you specific instructions to cleanse, rinse, and repeat — but its formula is actually gentle enough to do so without drying out your hair. Adopting this habit with just any shampoo (depending on your needs), might leave hair feeling brittle and dull. This almond mint cleanser makes hair manageable and healthy, thanks to its 5-in-1 formula. It's basically a shampoo, conditioner, deep conditioner, detangler, and leave-in conditioner all in one, and users say it keeps color vibrancy intact. One reviewer said, "My hair feels so healthy, and it looks so healthy and shiny that the thought of using any other product is depressing."

You Won't Give Up Steamy Showers, So Deep Condition With Argan Oil

Moroccan Organics Certified Organic Hair Mask, $28, Amazon

If you're like me and refuse to give up hot showers (even though they're known to dry out hair and cause hair loss), make sure you take extra measures to condition your hair after you shower. This argan oil-rich hair mask has 100 percent certified organic ingredients, like strengthening keratin protein, hydrating jojoba seed oil, and calming lavender flower extract. These all work together to deeply penetrate the hair follicle, soften texture, and offer vital nourishment without leaving your hair greasy when you rinse.

You Don't Wash Out Chlorine After Swimming, So Avoid Damage With Hydrolized Rice Protein

Malibu C Swimmer's Wellness Shampoo, $19, Amazon

To prevent damage to your hair caused by time in the pool, use a swimmer's shampoo to remove the chemicals that cling to your hair while you swim. This one cleanses gently to support weak and brittle strands, while its hydrolized rice protein fortifies your hair's moisture barrier — helping hair maintain a high-luster shine. Bonus: This sulfate-free formula can also double as a cleansing daily body wash.

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