I’m a hairstylist and here are four mistakes that are killing your hair

• US-based stylist Carly took to TikTok to give advice about daily beauty routines
• She warned that your hair care items might be doing more harm than good
• And other social media users were quick to praise the expert for her advice

If your locks are looking a little lackluster, it might be time to rethink your beauty routine.

US-based hairstylist Carly recently took to TikTok to reveal how your hair care items might actually be doing more harm than good.

The expert warned against the four major mistakes to avoid – from overusing dry shampoo to buying the wrong growth supplements – and urged followers to adopt healthier habits instead.

Her viewers were quick to heap on the praise as one joked: ‘Why didn’t they teach us this in school.’

Never put oil onto your hair before applying heat  

In the clip, which has so far been viewed more than 252,700 times, Carly began by introducing herself as a licensed hairstylist who ‘helps women grow and heal their hair.’

She then launched into her list of common mistakes and started off by discussing Olaplex’s Number Seven Bonding Oil.

Pointing to an image of the product behind her, the content creator said: ‘I‘m sure you’re all familiar with this right here – and, if you’re not, I’m sure you’re familiar with hair oil in general. 

‘I can almost guarantee that all of you have used oil on your hair before applying heat. 

‘This literally destroys your hair if you apply any type of oil before applying hot tools or a blow dryer, you are killing your hair.

‘So I want all of you to vow to me and yourselves right now that you will never do this again. 

‘If you apply oil before applying a hot tool you are literally frying your hair in oil the same way you would fry fried food.’

She jokingly advised: ‘Don’t treat you hair like McDonald’s chicken nuggets.’

Offering an alternative, the expert explained: ‘Instead, save the oil for last or only use oil as a treatment before you wash your hair.

‘But if you are using oil make sure it is the last product you apply and use a cream or spray or aerosol [that’s] heat protected instead of an oil-based one.’

Stop overusing dry shampoo

Carly wasted little time before launching into her next insight.

‘Number two, overusing dry shampoo. I get it you’re oily, you want volume. Your roots are feeling a little sticky,’ she said.

‘Using dry shampoo too often and too much of it is actually clogging your hair follicles. 

‘This can lead to extreme hair loss and when you have clogged hair follicles, they cannot function properly meaning your hair cannot grow properly. 

‘So if you’re experiencing hair loss, maybe a lot of shedding, this could be the culprit. Instead of overusing dry shampoo, why don’t we just get to the root of the oil in the first place.

‘Stop trying to hide it, crazy concept I know…’

Elaborating on a more long-term solution, the stylist revealed: ‘So here’s what you’re gonna do. You’re going to balance the pH of your scalp at least once a week. 

‘”But Carly how do you do that?” So you are going to dilute pure apple cider vinegar and you’re going to apply it on your scalp. 

‘Leave it on for at least 15 minutes and then rinse it out. 

‘Just like everywhere else on your body, your scalp has a pH level and lots of things can cause it to be imbalanced – hair products, your fingers when you run your hands through your hair, the type of water you have – hard or soft – sweat, dead skin cells… The list goes on.’ 

She concluded: ‘When you keep your scalp balanced, you won’t feel like you struggle with as much oil.’

Avoid buying random hair growth supplements  

The stylist had yet more tips up her sleeve, as she continued: ‘Number three, buying whatever hair growth supplement you see at the drugstore that catches your eye. No, please no.

‘I feel like we all get so label happy and we just believe like whatever the label says.

‘”Oh this will grow my hair? Great.” But the US actually has super loose terms when it comes to [Food and Drug Administration] regulations. 

‘That’s why the UK bans over 1,000 ingredients going into beauty products and the US bans less than 30.

‘So that’s why being educated is so important. If you’re looking for the proper hair grow supplement you need to make sure that it contains the vitamins your hair needs. 

‘A lot of the times these supplements have unnecessary additives and things like that and they’re literally doing nothing for you, or they’ll have the vitamins your hair needs.

‘But there won’t be enough of that vitamin so its not going to do anything and you’re still going to be in a deficiency.’

Going into further detail, Carly said: ‘So what’s crazy is over 90 per cent of people have vitamin deficiency…

‘You’re literally more likely to have a vitamin deficiency than not. That’s crazy.

‘So by making sure you’re using the proper hair growth supplement with important vitamins like vitamin C, vitamin D, collagen, hyaluronic acid, iron, the list goes on… 

‘You’re going to notice such a difference in your hair, your scalp, hair growth – all of the above.’

Her own go-to hair growth supplement, which she regularly recommends, is Vitamo’s Biotin and Collagen Veggie Capsules.

‘I actually just had someone comment on one of my videos saying that they have all this baby hairs since using this product, which makes me so happy because we love results,’ she said.

Steer clear of shampooing your ends  

The fourth and final mistake she identifies is ‘shampooing your ends.’ 

Carly explained: ‘I told one of my clients this once and she was like “what are you talking about?” 

‘But here’s the thing, shampoo is a scalp product. It is not made for your ends. 

‘Your conditioner is made for your ends. Your shampoo is made for your scalp. 

‘So by running your shampoo all the way through your ends every time you wash your hair you’re stripping your hair of its natural nutrients and you’re completely adding to its dryness.

‘So if you get really tangly out of the shower or maybe your hair is just really dry no matter what you do, it could be because you’re putting your shampoo through your ends, so stop doing that today.’

Adding further insight, she said that it was best to buy products specifically based on hair type which comes down to hair porosity – a measurement of the hair’s ability to absorb and hold moisture.

Those with low porosity hair need to avoid protein and use water based products.

Inversely, those with high porosity need to add protein treatments.

Many hair enthusiasts that watched Carly’s video were thankful for her tips and flocked to her comments to shower her with praise.

One person wrote: ‘Why didn’t they teach us this in school instead of [trigonometry].’

Another commentator added: ‘This explains a lot about my dead hair.’ 

Other also shared their own tips as one said they already ‘apply oil after’ and another said: ‘For my vitamins, I use multi-vitamins only.’