8 Strategies for Banishing Bad Hair Days

5. Give wet hair extra TLC.
Wet hair stretches and snaps more easily than dry hair, so avoid wooden combs that can have microscopic divots that snag hairs.  Instead, use a wide-tooth plastic comb while hair is wet; then, once it's towel-dried, switch to a good brush. 

6. Try an ionic dryer.
Ions are atoms with a positive or negative charge. These particular hairdryers bathe your hair in negative ions, which help break up water molecules faster and cancel out hair-damaging positive ions. Plus, you'll cut your hair-drying time in half. To prevent frizz, use a nozzle (or diffuser for curly hair) in order to concentrate the dryer's airflow on sections.

7. Deep condition once every two weeks.
Deep-conditioning treatments penetrate the hair shaft and strengthen strands. To intensify the treatment, use heat from a blow dryer, which causes the cuticle to open and the ingredients to penetrate.

8. Give textured or relaxed hair a break.
African-American hair tends to be coarse due to a lack of natural oils (more so if chemically processed). Opt for gentle color choices like semi-permanent or vegetable dye and space processing treatments at least two weeks apart (with weekly conditioning treatments in between).