Aguilar is a French-Mexican fashion and beauty expert with a background as writer in international titles such as Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, In Touch Magazine and National Geographic Traveler.

8 BAD HAIR HABITS TO KILL

Are you having one bad hair day too many?

We all know how difficult it is to achieve and maintain healthy hair, but how many of you realize how actively you are contributing to the troubles? Go over this simple list and figure it out yourself…

BRUSHING BEHAVIOUR

Brushing before bedtime is a true beauty gesture that must be performed with a boar bristle brush, as it prevents frizz and brings natural oils from the scalp to the ends. Despite all these benefits, remember that natural bristles are not heat   resistant and you need some nylon tools to  blow-dry and style your hair. Brushes should never come in contact with wet or damp hair, so if you like to comb in the shower, apply conditioner, untangle strands with your fingers and then use a wide-toothed comb before rinsing.

Promote healthy, shiny, manageable hair with Moroccan Oil Boar Brushes. They are handmade natural bristle brushes created with premium materials.

SHAMPOOING TOO OFTEN

Wait, wait! Twice a week is more than enough… Hair is heavier when wet. This simple observation is enough to understand that your hair is not waterproof, but tends to absorb liquids like a sponge. Coming out of the shower, the weight of each of your hair fibers increases by 15 to 20 percent, and while the vital liquid is used as a vehicle for entering cleaning formulas (70 percent of your bottle of shampoo is water) the fact is that in general, it is bad for its health. The worst part is that when the hair is wet, it has no way out to defend itself from sun radiation.

MISTREATING THE SCALP

What would you think if I tell you that your hair falls because your scalp is inflamed? Irritation in this area is very common, especially when women forget that the scalp skin is actually an extension of the skin of their face.  Hence, treat it the same way as your face and massage it to stimulate circulation and hair growth, and then run your fingers from roots to ends to add  natural luster. Avoid scratching the scalp with  fingernails when shampooing; instead, apply pressure gently with fingertips making small  circles. Don’t touch it directly to extremes of heat with blow dryers, flat irons or curling irons. The scalp burns, and that’s when hair loss occurs.

PICKING THE WRONG SERUMS

We all know that oil is the best way to prevent frizz, but be careful. Initially you will love the ones that are produced with a high quantity of silicone because it makes strands softer and sleeker. Unfortunately low-cost silicones aren´t water-soluble and it means that they will accumulate in your hair fibers. And worse, if you use them on regular basis and let them come to the roots, they will clog bulbs and literally drown your hair. Choose one without silicone or with a moderate amount. Believe me, it’s the best long-term investment.

Mythic Oil by L´Oréal Professionnel is a lightweight formulation enriched with a special blend of avocado and grape seed oil for all hair types.

HEATING DISASTERS

I understand that you can’t live without blow-drying, curling, or flattening, but you should take some protective measures. A straightener at maximum temperature not only softens the keratin, but boils the water content of hair fibres forming small vapour bubbles that are trapped inside the curls forever! Use your fingers to shake out hair and also as distance indicator for the dryer. If it´s too hot for your hands then it’s also too hot for your hair – move it away! And always make sure to use a heat-protective formula that acts like an insulator.

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Ionity by Panasonic is a three-temperature settings hair dryer with a cool mode available.

OVER CONDITIONING

Have you ever noticed that your hair just feels weighed down and extra greasy or just won’t behave itself? Well, these are the common symptoms of a "conditioning addiction". Use just enough to untangle snags and once a month prepare a home-made clarifying mixture to remove those deposits, giving your hair a fresh start. The formula is: one part of baking soda with three parts of water. Apply in dry hair starting at the roots and working towards the ends. Wait two to three minutes and finally rinse with cider vinegar and cold water.

CHRONIC TWEAKING

Are you constantly touching your hair, pulling it, or wrapping it around your fingers? For those of you who aren’t aware, ‘hands in hair’ disease is the uncontrollable desire to fondle and play with your hair. The problem is the more you muss with dry hair, the more frizz you create and eventually you will break the keratin fibers in the same way as it happens with a rubber band. Once the strands give in, the hair loses its vitality and there isn’t a way to reverse it. The remedy ca

n be to wear a bun or single braid for a few weeks in order to break the subconscious behaviour. If you can leave it alone for 30 days it means that the compulsion is controlled and both, your mind and your hair, will be happier!

TUGGING AND PULLING

Do you love that ’80s rock star style, and comb and tease your hair for the sake of volume? You must know that you are lifting scales of your fibers and destroying them. If you do it regularly the damage is irreparable. To get the desired dimension without any damage, try a volume support product for your roots. Also forget stretched ponytails that pull too tightly at the hairline. It causes traction alopecia at the frontal hairline.

Toni&Guy Sea Salt Texturizing Spray is suitable for adding

consistency and casual body to your hair.