While slick back ponytails and tight braids are everywhere these days, these trendy hairstyles could be causing serious damage to your hair and hairline. Many hair elastics snag and break your hair, while styles like pulled back ponies and tight braids put stress on the follicles and weaken your strands. Not to mention using heat tools, which can cause hair bonds to break. This doesn’t mean you can never wear tight, pulled back hairstyles or straighten your hair, but it’s important to switch it up to give your hair a break. Here are 17 hairstyles that won’t damage your hair.
3 Short Hairstyles that Won’t Damage Your Hair
1. Half Up Bun with Small Claw Clip
A half up bun looks incredibly chic on shorter hair. For less damage, use a small claw clip instead of a hair elastic to secure the bun in place, leaving out a few pieces at the front. Not only does it give you that cool girl aesthetic, a claw clip won’t snag and pull on your hair like an elastic will. Using a claw clip leads to less breakage and damage overall.
2. Low Bun: Styling a Short Bob Into a Chic Bun | Mallory Brooke
A low bun is a chic way to style your short hair that won’t cause damage. Watch this tutorial to learn her best tips and tricks for short hairstyle buns, and follow her steps to create this look. A low bun hairstyle is a healthier alternative to higher styles as they create less strain and tension on your hair follicles and distribute the weight of your hair more evenly. She uses snag-free elastics and bobby pins, as well as hair pomade and strong hold hairspray to hold the bun in place.
3. Low Ponytail Scrunchie
A low ponytail is much less damaging to your hairline than a high ponytail. It’s a less stressful way to pull your hair back, and is super chic if you part your hair down the middle and leave the front pieces out. Using a scrunchie instead of a hair tie is also less damaging to your hair. They help reduce hair tangling and don’t break the hair as hair ties tend to do. Scrunchies don’t need to be wound as tightly around your hair and the soft fabric around the elastic acts as a barrier to protect your stands from friction.
7 Medium Hairstyles that Won’t Damage Your Hair
1. Butterfly Clips: Trying Out Butterfly Clip Hairstyles | Hannah Paul
Butterfly clips are super cute and won’t cause damage to your hair. She demonstrates five different butterfly clip hairstyles you can recreate yourself at home. Butterfly clips are a great alternative to hair ties and elastics that tend to pull and snag on your hair. They’re gentler on your hair and allow you to pull it back off your face without damaging it. Plus, they offer so many styling opportunities!
2. Half Up Bun with a Hair Pin
Half up hairstyles are always on trend, especially a half up bun. To create this look, take your fingers by the tops of your ears and pull the top of your hair back away from your face (you can use a brush to help). Twist the top section into a bun and secure it with a hair pin. A French hair pin will be gentler on your hair than a hair tie and less damaging. They’re also less likely to cause creases in your hair and won’t snag on your hair and cause split ends.
3. Heatless Waves: This Method Works! | elanna pecherle
If you want to get gorgeous waves without the damage of a heat tool, try out this heatless wave technique. She uses a silk heatless wave kit as well as hair oil and wave holding spray. The silk will help your hair remain smooth while it’s curling and the hair oil is a key step as it will tame frizz and create a smooth appearance. This tutorial is for you if you’re looking for a nice, soft beachy wave without heat damage. She’s tested numerous different heatless waves and this is the best technique she’s found!
7 Long Hairstyles that Won’t Damage Your Hair
1. Claw Clips: 5 Easy 90s Claw Clip Half Up Hairstyle | Hair Girl Style
Claw clips are an easy way to style or pull back your hair without any risk of causing damage, which is ideal for long haired gals. Not only are they a great way to secure your hair, they’re much gentler than using a hair tie, which can cause snags and even tension headaches. This tutorial provides five different claw clip hairstyles for long hair. You’ll see exactly how to create each one, and they’re super easy to do! Switch out your hair tie for claw clips for healthier hair.
2. French Braid
Braided styles, especially the French braid, are a gorgeous way to wear a pulled-together style while protecting your hair from damage. You can opt for a single braid like in this inspo photo, or try French braid pigtails. While braids sometimes get a bad rap, as long as you do looser braids and aren’t braiding your hair too tight, braids are a great healthy hair option.
3. Looped Half Updo | Missy Sue 
This half up looped hairstyle is so pretty and gentle on your hair. It doesn’t tug your hair at your hairline, and although it’s super quick to do, you’ll look really elegant and put together. It’s the perfect everyday look, or you can wear it dressed up to a party or fancy event. All you need is a snag-free elastic, bobby pins, and hairspray.
If you feel like your hair has been going through it, try these hairstyles to ensure you’re gentler on your hair and don’t do too much damage!
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