It's important to stay aware of your overall hair health. Before you consider new treatments, dyes or an all-together new 'do, take stock of your hair's current state and evaluate how your hair-care routine is affecting it. By being wise to the signs of damage you can make easy changes that will pay off in healthy, luscious locks.

Split Ends

Wrap small sections of your hair around your finger or a pen. Any small, uneven strands sticking out indicate that you have split ends, a telltale sign of damaged hair 1.

Heat Damage

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You'll know whether your heat styling tools are adversely affecting your mane -- the texture will be brittle and you'll probably have split ends.

Extreme Breakage and "Shedding"

Your hair has definitely been weakened if you see large amounts falling out when you comb, brush or style your locks.

Dulled Shine

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Go easy on gels, pomades and sprays -- if your locks are looking lackluster, it might be a result of product buildup.

Dye Overload

If you frequently color your hair, the hydrogen peroxide in hair dyes can leave your tresses dry and damaged.

Too Many Tangles

Using cheap, plastic brushes rather than those with nylon bristles will tear at your head and leave your hair in a tangled mess.

Lack of Moisture

Healthy hair is supple and soft, not brittle and dry. If you have dry hair, you might not use conditioner with enough frequency -- conditioner locks and seals moisture on your hair shaft.