Is your hair looking worse for wear? Maybe you haven’t been caring for it properly. Watch out for these infamous hair harmers and – in the process – restore some vitality and life to your tired locks

Chemicals: Bleach, permanent and semi-permanent colours, perms and straighteners all work by swelling the hair cuticle to get underneath it. This roughens the scales of the hair cuticle and leaves them prone to chipping or coming off altogether. Bleaching, perming and straightening also break down some protein bonds in hair, weakening its structure.

Physical wear: Friction and daily wear and tear are, surprisingly, responsible for most hair damage. A rough brush or comb (or even a good brush or comb used too often), not rinsing salt or chlorine out of your hair after swimming or working out, and even the action of hair rubbing against a pillowcase can wreak havoc on hair. Other physical damage can result from abrasion of hairbands, hair clips and other accessories. When hair is wet, it is especially susceptible to breaking and splitting.

Heat: Repeated use of hair dryers, hot rollers, and curling and straightening implements can all crack cuticles and sap moisture from hair. However, adequate conditioning can insulate hair against low and medium heat, so make sure the settings on your hair implements are kept low.

Weather: Ultraviolet rays from the sun break down some of the natural protein bonds in hair. A little exposure to the sun’s rays won't have too detrimental an effect on healthy hair (particularly if your hair is dark), but it can be pretty tough on hair that is chemically processed. Overexposure to wind can roughen up hair cuticles as well.