Those frustrating mornings when your hair refuses to cooperate might stem from everyday habits rather than the hair itself.
A global haircare specialist has identified seven common practices that could be undermining your styling efforts and damaging your strands.
Medical doctor and cosmetic formulator Dr Vanita Rattan, who boasts over 3.5 million social media followers, explained that routine activities, from washing to styling, can weaken hair structure.
She told GB News that these seemingly innocent habits may result in increased dryness, brittleness and difficulty managing your locks.
Vigorous towel rubbing after washing damages the hair's protective layer
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With expertise spanning both medicine and pharmacology, Dr Rattan has successfully treated thousands of patients worldwide and noticed how people unknowingly disrupt their hair's moisture balance by shampooing before applying conditioner.
"Sulfates in shampoo can strip too much oil from the roots, leaving the ends dry and vulnerable," the expert warned.
To avoid this, she recommends for 'The Sandwich Method', which involves coating hair ends with conditioner first, then using a mild shampoo and finishing with a light leave-in product.
Vigorous towel rubbing after washing causes friction that damages the hair's protective layer.
Instead, the doctor advises wrapping wet hair in a microfiber towel, which absorbs water without harming the delicate cuticle.
"When detangling, I always advise using a wide-toothed comb to gently separate knots without pulling too harshly," Dr Rattan added.
"Carefully start from the ends and work your way upward toward the roots. If your curls or coils need extra care, you can apply a leave-in conditioner on damp hair to reduce frizz and make combing gentler."
Between washes, it's important not to allow dead skin cells and excess oil to accumulate on the scalp, which could potentially block hair follicles when combined with styling products.
To avoid this, Dr Rattan recommends weekly gentle exfoliation and 10-minute scalp massages to improve circulation and promote healthier growth.
She equally advises against excessive product layering, arguing that this will leave hair lifeless and create residue buildup.
A rule of thumb is to limit yourself to two or three products at most, avoiding formulations containing alcohol, fragrance or essential oils.
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Applying shampoo before conditioner can disrupt the hair's moisture balance
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In addition, Dr Rattan warned that direct heat application without protective barriers will damage the hair's natural moisture content.
But using heat protectants before any thermal styling, with lightweight sprays suited for fine hair and cream formulations for thicker textures.
Pulling hair into tight ponytails, buns, or plaits creates continuous tension on follicles, which also has a damaging effect and causes thinning around the crown and temples.
Over time, this sustained pressure might contribute to a retreating hairline.
She recommends switching between relaxed styles and using soft fabric hair ties rather than elastic bands.
For those experiencing thinning patches, she suggests products containing biotin, niacinamide and peptides.