Millions of Brits are risking long-term damage to their hair by sunbathing, eating junk food - and wearing hats

Experts have revealed some of the everyday activities which could be having an impact on your locks, including touching it too much - which creates grease and can even cause hair to thin.

Putting it up in a ponytail or bun which is too tight is also considered to be bad as it can cause tension as the hair pulls, possibly leaving bald spots after constant wear.

Excessive use of hats can also rub against hair, as well as stopping oils being produced leaving the ends dry and damaged.

A poor diet can weaken your hair, while sitting in the sun for too long can dry it out as the UV light weakens the bonds of the hair.

Not washing your hairbrushes, showering too often and even towel drying your hair can also cause breakage and leave your hair worse off.

It comes after a study, commissioned by hair supplement Vitabiotics Perfectil, found just 14 per cent of women are confident they know what is good and bad for their hair.

Four in 10 admit to roughly towel drying their hair when they get out of the shower while more than a third (35 per cent) often twist or play with their locks.

Celebrity hair stylist Sarrah Hamid, who is working with Vitabiotics Perfectil, features in a video highlighting the unexpected things women are doing to their hair.

She said: “To many of us, our hair plays a huge part in our appearance and how confident we feel.

“We often feel good when we know our hair is looking it’s best – think about that moment you step out of the salon with a freshly coloured or cut style.

“But while we might think we are doing everything we can to keep our hair in great condition, there are so many things we all do every day without even realising which

could be having an impact.”

The study also found skipping trims is bad for your hair, as a regular cut every 6-8 weeks is good for growth.

Despite this, the average woman leaves it 11 weeks between trips to the salon.

The research of 2,000 women revealed 46 per cent feel their hair is very important to their appearance, with 84 per cent more confident when their locks look good.

More than four in 10 feel happier when their hair is in great condition while 23 per cent have a ‘bounce in their step’.

And 71 per cent admitted their hair can have a real impact on their mood.

During the average 104 bad hair days the average woman will have a year, 18 per cent have worn a hat to cover it up while almost one in 10 have kept the camera turned off on video calls.

One in twenty have even been known to cancel a date or call in sick to work.