Friction is One Of Hair's Worst Enemies

If you have unmanageable, “flyaway” hair or excessive breakage, your problem probably has to do with friction. Whenever you brush or comb your hair, remove a hat or sleep on a cotton pillowcase, you’re creating hair-damaging friction.

  

Friction can lead to hair breakage because it wears down the cuticle – the hair’s protective outer layer. Friction also causes static electricity charges to build up on your hair. The “charged hairs” repel each other and won’t lay smoothly, which leads to flyaways.

You may notice that your hair’s unruliness increases on hot, dry days, or in the winter when the heater is running full bore. That’s because less moisture in the air leads to more static electricity to build up on your hair.

To counteract the problem, you’ll want to use a moisturizing conditioner that smooths the cuticle. Smooth hair is less prone to friction and static buildup.

Wet hair is particularly vulnerable to friction. When hair is wet, the cortex swells causing the edges of the cuticle scales to lift. Hair is more “roughed up” and should therefore be treated very gently when shampooing or swimming.

 

Serious matting and tangles can develop as the cuticles stick to each other and cause the hairs to intertwine. Usually, the tangles can be worked out with a little patience and a wide-toothed comb; occasionally, however, the mattes have to be cut out because the individual hairs are just too rough and knotted.

Friction solutions:

• A good way to combat flyaways is to keep a small bottle of leave-in conditioner or even hand lotion with you. Rub a pea-sized amount between your hands and smooth them down either side of your hair. The conditioning agents should leave your hair smoother and moisturized, which will keep flyaways at bay.
• If your hair is often full of static when you wake up in the morning, you may want to invest in a satin pillowcase. Satin is a much smoother surface than cotton and will allow your hair to slide easily as you move your head during the night.
• A humidifier or even a pot of boiling water on your stove is a great way to add extra moisture to dry air.
• When you can’t avoid friction – like while shampooing or brushing hair – be sure to perform the task as gently as possible.
• Also remember that wet hair is even more fragile than dry hair and that you should never, ever brush wet hair. Instead, use a wide-toothed comb without seams or rough spots that could catch on hair.