We grow up taking care of our hair a certain way, without ever thinking about whether it's the right way or not. And so habits are formed. We all want beautiful hair, but are we willing to change certain habits to make that happen? The problem with hair habits is that they are usually hard to break, but on the other hand, your hair is broken very easily! So what's a girl to do? The first step is to see if there are better ways to care for that delicate mane of yours. From simple updos to your regular shower routine, check out these seven harmful hair habits you need to change ASAP.

The obvious way to brush hair may seem to be from top to bottom: right? Wrong. If you're prone to frizzy hair, work from the bottom up to ensure each knot is brushed out with as little damage as possible, rather than pushing each knot together. Grab a wide-toothed comb and start with the lower parts to avoid unnecessary hair loss.

There are two ways you shouldn't dry super wet hair: with your towel or with a hairdryer. Yes, we're all guilty of it sometimes, but it's best to stop rubbing your towel over your locks like you're trying to start a fire with two twigs. It causes unnecessary friction. If necessary, try using a cotton T-shirt or something less abrasive to pat your hair dry. As for hair dryers, avoid reaching for them until your hair is 50-60% dry before applying the heat tool to finish it off.

Is brushing your hair too much of a good thing? Maybe. It's time to say goodbye to the habit of 100 beats before bed that our mothers instilled in us. Constant brushing, especially if done vigorously, can lead to additional damage to both the scalp and your locks. Be extra careful if you have curly hair because brushing too often will unfurl those curly Q's of yours. And to top it all off, if you've heard that you need to brush to distribute the natural oils, you can throw the theory out the window. Dry hair is a result of a lack of moisture, not oils.