Hair health isn’t just about how your hair looks.
It’s about how it behaves.
How it feels when you run your hands through it.
How it holds up day to day.
How it responds to everything you put it through.
Because most of the time, damage doesn’t happen overnight.
It builds slowly.
Through friction, heat, tight styles, and everyday habits we don’t think twice about.
The biggest cause of hair damage (that no one talks about)
Friction.
Not just heat.
Not just Bleach
Friction
It happens when your hair is constantly rubbing against something:
- pillowcases
- hairties
- clothing
- for riders ... helmet linings
And the thing about friction is, it’s repetitive. It’s not one moment of damage. It’s hundreds of small ones, every single day.
As a former hairdresser one of the things I used to see regularly was my clients returning for their regular haircuts but with one side of their hair noticeably shorter than the other.
It wasn't like this when they left the last time so whats happened?
It took me a while to figure this one out until one day .....
THE HANDBAG....
They’d wear their bag on the same shoulder every day, with their hair sitting underneath the strap.
Then instead of lifting the strap to move their hair… they’d just pull their hair out.
Again and again.
Over time, those strands weaken.
And eventually… they snap.
It’s such a small habit, but repeated daily, it causes real damage.
And it’s exactly the same principle.
Small, repeated friction over time.
Simple ways to improve hair health
You don’t need a 10-step routine.
Most of the time, it’s about small changes that reduce stress on your hair.
1. Reduce friction wherever you can
Switch to silk or satin where your hair rests the most.
This could be your pillowcase… or inside your helmet.
2. Be gentle with wet hair
This is when your hair is most fragile.
Use a wide-tooth comb of my favourite mentioned in (The right way to brush your hair) and avoid aggressive brushing.
3. Watch your heat styling
You don’t have to cut it out completely.
Just be mindful, use protection, and give your hair breaks.
4. Don’t underestimate how you tie your hair
Tight styles over time = breakage.
Looser, lower tension styles make a big difference.
Products that actually help
There’s a lot out there, and honestly… not all of it is necessary. If you keep it simple, these are the ones that matter most:
- Good, gentle shampoo
- Nourishing conditioner
-
Lightweight oil
- Leave-in or heat protectant
These are the foundations, everything else is optional
And if you’re someone who likes really understanding what you’re using…
There’s a girl I follow who explains hair care so well.
She breaks down ingredients, what actually works, and what’s just marketing.
Her name is Abbey - you can find her here: https://www.instagram.com/abbeyyung
I’ve learned a lot from her, and she’s great if you want to go a bit deeper into hair health.
Final Thoughts
Hair health isn’t about perfection.
It’s about consistency.
Small habits.
Better materials.
Less damage over time.
Because when you take care of the little things…
Your hair starts to take care of itself.