The Seven Deadly Sins of Haircare
Bad hair days can be one of the most frustrating setbacks in our daily lives. Be that as it may, there are countless actions that men and women everywhere are making that are actively ruining their hair. As many Christians view the Seven Deadly Sins as unrighteous wrongdoings that act as a discourtesy to God, we are doing a discourtesy to our head of hair by partaking in simple harmful actions. But no need to repent! Hold on to your brushes and learn the seven deadly sins in your haircare routine.
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Slovenliness: Disinclination to action or labor. While being lazy on a typical weekend and spending your time in sweatpants watching Netflix is certainly no crime, your go-to messy bun is! Continuously straining your hair with a plastic elastic band can put pressure on the individual strands and cause them to break. Tight buns or ponytails can also pull at the root of your hair, leading to headaches or migraines. So next time you are short on time, try a loose braid or low ponytail and skip the headache!
Gluttony: Habitual greed or excess in eating. We can all own up to binging a little too hard on our favorite snack, but eating excess amounts of the wrong foods can cause serious issues with your hair. Eating too much high mercury foods such as swordfish, mackerel, and even some varieties of tuna can cause your hair to thin out or become brittle. Being conscious of the amounts of fish with high mercury levels that you consume can be beneficial to keeping your flowing mane full!
Greed: An overwhelming urge to have more money. As a broke college student, I am no stranger to trying to save as much money as possible. While trying to pinch a few pennies is always helpful to your wallet, it is not always in your hair's best interest. Celebrity hairstylist Tommy Buckett points out that "small batches of imported ingredients can raise prices, whereas bigger labels (Pantene or Garnier, for instance) may use components made in a lab (that aren't necessarily good for your hair". Using cheaper products means that they are made of cheaper ingredients that can dry out your hair. So next time you are shopping for shampoo, treat yourself! Your hair will thank you later.
Lust: A very strong sexual desire. Somewhere along the way, a rumor was started that men view women with longer hair as more sexually desirable. However, after countless studies, this is not always the case. The reason that lust is listed as a sin of haircare is that one of the worst things that you can do to your hair is altered it for someone else. No matter the length, thickness, or color of your hair, every woman has their unique style that should not be altered to match the "ideal woman" of lust-filled stereotypes.
Wrath: Extreme anger. It may not come as a shock to you that extreme episodes of stress or rage can lead to hair loss. This can happen in a few different ways. The first way is with Telogen effluvium, which causes stress to push hair particles into a resting place that makes it easier to fall out when brushed. Trichotillomania can cause you to rip or tear your hair in response to stressful events. Lastly, Alopecia areata can cause the body's immune system to attack the hair follicles. Learning to manage stress and avoid outbursts of anger can help to avoid these hair loss problems.
Envy: A longing to have a desirable attribute belonging to someone else. We have all been guilty of scrolling through Instagram and thinking "maybe I should go blonde like her". However, dying your hair can cause issues of hair loss, hair damage, and the drying out of your roots. However, if you do choose to dye it, make sure to condition it often and use heat protection to avoid further damage.
Pride: A deep pleasure derived from qualities or possessions that are widely admired. Being too "proud" to wear your hair naturally without heat is the final deadly sin. Adding excessive heat to one's hair breaks the hydrogen bonds in the hair molecules which can make it break or even fall out. Give your hair a break from the heat and rock your natural look!
Strike Out,
Writer: Tabitha Labrato
Editors: Gillian McKendree and Savannah Tindall
Tallahassee