Many people habitually brush their wet hair after a shower to remove tangles, but a dermatologist cautions that this practice can damage locks. When hair is wet, it becomes more elastic and fragile. Dragging a brush through it can overstretch strands, roughen the cuticle, and lead to breakage, frizz, and split ends.
Dr Joyce Park, a dermatologist, explained: "When your hair is wet, the cuticle layer, the outermost part of the strand, swells and lifts, making your hair more prone and vulnerable to breakage. Especially when you're brushing it aggressively or with the wrong tool. So brushing while wet can also stretch and snap the hair shaft, leading to split ends, which can then travel up the hair and cause long-term thinning."
Dr Park, who collaborated with Vord Life, advised allowing hair to air dry partially before detangling, or waiting until it is completely dry. She also recommends brushing hair prior to washing it. If brushing while wet is necessary, she suggested using a wide-tooth comb or detangling brush and starting from the ends, working upward to minimise pulling.
Combing wet hair does not cause permanent hair loss by damaging the follicle, but it does lead to significant hair breakage. Over time, this breakage can make hair appear thinner.
Tips to Strengthen Hair and Avoid Breakage
- Stop rough towel-drying. Instead, squeeze or blot hair with a microfibre towel or a T-shirt.
- Detangle gently, especially when wet. Use a wide-tooth comb or detangling brush, starting at the ends and working up in small sections.
- Add slip before brushing with a leave-in conditioner or detangling spray to reduce friction.
- Use less heat and always protect hair with a heat protectant. Keep tools on a lower setting and avoid repeated passes.
- Do not over-wash or over-clarify. Focus shampoo on the scalp and let suds rinse through the ends.
- Condition consistently after each wash, and use a weekly deep-conditioning mask if hair feels dry or coloured.
- Avoid tight styles and constant tension. Slick ponytails, buns, tight braids and extensions can cause breakage. Rotate styles and keep them looser.
