Hair ties have become a somewhat permanent fixture in our beauty routine, but with each use, these elastic bands give stress and pressure to your hair, producing permanent flyaways and dents. Plus, they can snag and break your follicles. It's impossible to live without ponytails, buns, and braids, but there are a few ways to protect your strands.

Use ties without metal or glued seams.
Fabric hair ties or snag-free ones won't break your follicles and cause nasty dents.

Wear your 'dos loose.
Sorry, ladies. Tight, high ponytails may look sophisticated, you're stretching your strands to their limit. If you prefer sleek hairstyles, make sure you don't do it on a daily basis. Even your strands need a break!

Never tie your hair up when wet.
When your tresses are fresh from post-rinse, they are more susceptible to breakage. Let them air-dry before tying them.

Use leave-on conditioners and serums prior to your updo.
Apart from taming your tresses to conform to a hairstyle, serums and leave-on conditioners strengthen your follicles against possible damage.

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons/Lauren Rushing