Women told to 'stay away' from an everyday hairstyle that could be damaging your locks

Many styling methods can leave your locks dry, brittle and lacklustre, especially those that use heat.

Dr Hamdan Abdullah Hamed, MBChB, a board-certified dermatologist and trichologist and co-founder of PowerYourCurls.com shared tips on caring for your hair while using hot styling tools.

He said: "Some ways to care for your hair can actually harm it [so you should] reduce heat styling.

"Devices such as hair dryers and straighteners can harm your hair. When possible, allow your hair to dry naturally or try styles that do not require heat."

Letting hair dry naturally can cause less heat damage, although it is worth noting hair has more elasticity when wet which can make it more fragile.

Another styling trick that could be damaging your hair without you realising comes when you tie it up.

The doctor warned against tying your hair into any restrictive styles, such as a high ponytail and tight braids.

Dr Hamed added: "Stay away from hairstyles that pull your hair tightly. Use a comb with wide teeth to softly untangle knots and avoid breaking the hair."

One more piece of advice he gave was regarding the products we use on our hair. Using hair dyes may give your locks a lovely sunkissed glow, but they are not without their drawbacks.

He continued: "Search for hair dyes that have ingredients such as saw palmetto, caffeine or peptides. These can help to make hair stronger and reduce the loss of hair."

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

• 'I'm a pharmacist - four factors that speed up hair loss in autumn are easy to avoid'
• The way you wear your hair at night could be ruining it if you don't 'save' it now
• Women told the foods to eat more of for stronger, healthier hair

This comes as the expert shared three more tips to help you care for your scalp.

He said: "Use a mild shampoo without sulfate that keeps your hair’s natural oils. Don't wash too many times or too few; find a good balance for yourself.

"Like your skin, your scalp can gather dead skin and leftover products. Scrubbing helps to keep it fresh and well. Try to use natural oils such as coconut oil or jojoba oil.

"These help keep your scalp hydrated and make a nice place for hair to grow better."