Hair Damage 101: How To Stop Hair Breakage

All people can experience hair breakage whether straight hair or curly hair. And hair breakage usually has many different causes. Fortunately, hair breakage is temporary in most cases. In this article, we look at what hair breakage is, 10 common causes of hair breakage, and some ways to stop and prevent hair damage.

First of all, let us learn what hair breakage is.

What Is Hair Breakage？

Hair breakage is an actual breaking of your hair shaft—resulting in your hair is extremely dry, frizzy, and prone to split ends. It can break off from the tips or it can rip halfway up the hair strand or even close to the root. And it normally occurs at the hairline, crown of your head, back of your head, or the nape of your neck.

What Does Hair Breakage Look Like？

Breakage hair tends to be shorter with frayed ends. You may also notice that the hair is drier and frizzier than normal.

How To Tell If You Have Hair Breakage?

For those with longer hair, the breakage can appear in different areas, not just the ends. Thus, pay attention to the hairline, the back of the head, the crown, or the nape of the neck. Luckily, there are a few signs to help you know if you have hair breakage.

Here are some signs of hair breakage in black hair:

1. Shorter, broken hair is found on your bathroom counter or floor;

2. White spots and split ends on hair strands;

3. The hair look dry and dull and feel rougher to the touch;

4. There are excessive tangling when the hair is wet;

What Causes Hair Breakage?

Until now, we have learned some of the most common causes of hair breakage and will share them with you below.

1. Improper Diet

As we all know, nutrition plays an integral part in promoting healthy hair. For instance, eggs and fish contain biotin, which is essential for healthy hair growth, and Brazil nuts can offer hair-boosting selenium. Instead, if people are deficient in certain nutrients, their hair may become dry, dull, or brittle. Even severe nutrient deficiencies may also lead to severe hair breakage, thinning, and hair loss

 2. Lack Of Moisture

Dry and brittle hair is prone to damage and breakage. A number of factors that can worsen this condition include using harsh hair products, shampooing your hair too often, washing it with hot water, etc. Not using a conditioner after you have cleansed your scalp can also contribute to dryness and breakage.

3. Heat Damage

To get the best results from your hairdryer, flat iron, or curling iron, you need to frequently use heat on the hair. However, when you use these tools incorrectly or too much, you will risk damaging the hair shafts and removing the moisture from the hair, thus drying the hair out and increasing the risk of hair breakage.

4. Stress

There’s a multitude of evidence showing links between stress and hair loss, but it’s also actual that stress can also lead to hair breakage. For example, a severe shock or stress can cause the hair roots to reach the resting stage of their growth cycle before they are meant to and the hair comes loose from the scalp.

5. Towel Or Blower Drying

When your hair is wet, it is more fragile and breaks more easily than dry hair. In this case, if you opt for using a towel or a blow-dryer to let it dry sooner, it will increase frizz and cause breakage.

6. Chemically Treating Your Hair Too Often

Perms, relaxers, professional straightening, and coloring can all make your hair seem like it’s healthier after the first session or two. Having your hair colored, bleached, permed, or chemically straightened too frequently will break down the cuticle and lead to hair breakage, over time.

7. Improper Or Over Brushing

You may have heard that brushing your hair 100 strokes a day is good for your hair, but it is simply a myth. People may not need to brush their hair as much as they think. After all, brushing the hair too much can also cause breakage.

8. Wrong Hair Products

According to data, some shampoos and conditioners that are alkaline or basic will cause a negative charge on the hair, thus creating more friction between hair strands and leading to hair breakage.

9. Tight hairstyles

If people are tying their hair back frequently in tight hairstyles like buns, cornrows, braids, or using elastic bands to tie their hair up, it will stretch or break the hair away from the root, which finally leads to hair breakage.

10. Sleeping

We spend a third of our lives on our pillows in bed. When you toss and turn on the bed, your hair will twist or break, especially long hair.

How To Stop Hair Breakage Fast

Now, we have already known the common cause of hair breakage. Naturally, there are some useful ways to stop or prevent hair breakage.

1. As above mentioned, certain nutrients help your hair grow and stave off breakage from damage. Therefore, make sure to include some foods rich in zinc, iron, or selenium nutrients in your diet for healthy hair;

2. Keep your hair hydrated by using deep conditioning products like hair masks, oils, or leave-in treatments;

3. In order to reduce the risk of hair breakage, you need to give your hair strands a break from all styling tools at least once a week. Of course, you can choose to curl or straighten your hair as less as possible. It is very important to spray some heat-protecting spray and then use tools in a low heat setting to minimize heat damage, thus avoiding and preventing hair breakage;

4. If possible, try to relax and do something to distract your attention. We believe once the stress has passed, people will usually find their hair regrows. But if you notice unusual amounts of hair shedding, it is best to see a professional doctor check for the underlying cause;

5. Instead of rubbing the hair with a regular towel, try wrapping a microfiber towel around it to absorb the moisture or letting it dry naturally in the air;

6. Limit the frequency of chemically treating your hair;

7. Only brush and comb as much as you need to style it, make sure to use a wide-toothed comb to brush dry hair. Besides, avoid using plastic bristles and try a brush with natural bristles instead;

8. Avoid applying harsh chemicals or styling products with a high level of alcohol to the hair and choose a shampoo with a neutral pH and sulfate-free;

9. Change hairstyles often or wear your hair in a variety of loose styles to relieve pressure on the hair;

10. It is the best way for you to wear hair to bed to prevent breakages, such as sleeping on a silk pillowcase or securing your hair in a braid or a satin sleep cap;

11. Trim your ends every six to eight weeks to keep split and damaged ends to a minimum;

12. When you buy a straightening iron or curling iron, be sure to choose a device with a ceramic coating and cleverly style hair with ceramics, which can ensure that the heat is distributed more evenly.