Hair Breakage Causes and Solutions
Your hair`s been
breaking off more and more into your brush, your ends are frayed, and one part
of your hair is longer than the other… eek! You`ve searched for a MIRACLE: a
product, a hairstylist, something or someone that will get your hair back to
how it used to be before it got “messed up.” All of your searching hasn`t been
in vain – you found this article.
But
you won’t find your miracle shampoo. Everything is a process, including
achieving healthier, stronger hair. If you want long, beautiful tresses, you
have to be willing to work for them!
Why is This Happening?
Why
does breakage occur? Well, to understand why, you first have to know what it
actually is. Hair shedding is a natural part of life; you lose anywhere from
50 to 100 hairs a day. When hair breaks however, it has become so weak from
damaging techniques and poor care that it splits off before its life cycle is complete.
Seeing your hair break is disheartening, but the most important thing is to get
to the root (literally) of what’s actually happening.
1. Lack of Moisture and Oils
Dry,
frayed ends are, to say the least, embarrassing. If your hair is very dry, you
might hear that popping/crackling noise when you go over your ends with a comb.
Your scalp produces natural oils that keep a certain level of moisture in your
hair. The speed that these oils travel down you hair shaft will vary depending
on your hair type. The curlier and thicker your hair is, the slower the
process. However, even if your scalp produces plenty of oil, you may be
canceling it out by washing it every day, not conditioning, and continuously
straightening. The weather and your daily activities also have an important
effect on the level of moisture your hair has. For example, if you’re a
swimmer, the chlorine and winter weather will dry your hair out tremendously.
Here’s
a diagram of what your ends may look like:
2. Over Processing
A
common result of over processing is heat damage. Heat damage from excessive
heat styling is a major cause of breakage, and comes from over-employing your
straightener, hair dryer, and other tools. It causes the ends to “fry” and
change texture. Over processing can mean more than just using your flat iron
too frequently, however. Over processing can also be the result of overlapping
different chemical processes. Damaging chemicals that are found in hair color,
perms, relaxers, texturizers, and other treatments are stripping, breaking, and
changing the bonds that make your hair the texture it is. If you used all of
these combined, imagine how broken and fragile your hair would be!
3. Poor Diet
We all
have a weakness for sweet treats, but you have to remember: what you put in is
what you’re going to get out! If you haven’t been eating as well as you should
be, there are bound to be other consequences besides unhealthy hair, but this
certainly adds to it. Foods that are high in sodium, like most snack foods, can
cause hair to shed. Sugary foods, according to Jamaican blogger Brenda Barrett, “can
interfere with the absorption of protein… protein is very important for the
structure of bones, teeth and hair.“
4. Stress
Whether
you’re struggling to get a project done, have trouble at home, or are just
going through some tough times, the situation will start to represent itself in
your hair. Stress can cause you to act roughly towards your hair and do rash
things that may provoke an over-processing situation. It can also drive you to
neglect your hair. The stress is not good for your hair or your body. Learn how to cope with it.
5. Illness
Breakage
and excessive hair shedding can sometimes be a sign of something that is
potentially more serious. This external loss may be an early warning that
something is not functioning correctly internally, and you may need to see your
doctor.
So, What Can I Do about Hair Breakage?
All of
the above might just seem like bad news – but it’s important to know why you’re
not getting the results you want to see. Now that you’ve managed to pinpoint
the cause of your breakage, you can be open to solutions, and further
prevention.
1. Everyday
For
starters, you should try to limit the manipulation of your hair. Try to avoid
heat styling and blow-drying as much as possible, and excessive brushing or
combing on an everyday basis. Washing your hair everyday for any hair type is
never a good idea; however, if your hair is extremely oily and you feel the
need to wash it everyday, use a cleansing agent that conditions, while
eliminating build up.
As far
as diet goes, eating healthier has several advantages, stronger hair being just
one of them. Foods that work well for repairing your hair are ones that are
rich in protein – red kidney beans, salmon, nuts, etc. Keep foods that are high
in sugar and sodium in moderation. And if anything is a miracle in a bottle,
it’s water! By incorporating water into your daily life, you’re not only saving
your hair, but your whole body!
2. Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff
If you
have to live and work in a competitive environment, there’s always the risk of
stress and anxiety. There’s nothing wrong with being deadline driven and
goal-oriented, but when you’re not sleeping enough, neglecting your body or in
this case, your hair, there is a problem. Things may be tough at the moment,
but you have to remember to relax every now and again. Make daily schedules in
order to manage your time efficiently – you’ll be surprised at how much you can
get done!
3. Feed your Hair
As you
feed yourself, you must feed your hair. There are tons of kitchen remedies and
treatments out there for you to experience and attempt for yourself. Many
feature egg, which has essential Omega 3s and protein, oils such as jojoba or
grapeseed, which are both light oils (won’t weigh your tresses down) that are
great for moisturizing the scalp and relieving dandruff. Avocado does wonders
for the hair, and is also very tasty!
For
softer, more manageable hair, try this classic DIY Avocado Hair Mask from The Blush. You’ll need:
- An avocado
- 1 tbsp of olive oil
- 1 tbsp of honey
- A shower cap
- 20-30 minutes of spare
pampering time (I recommend a whole Sunday. Why not?)
1. Crush
the avocado in a bowl (leaving the pit out, of course). Add the olive oil and
the honey and mix together.
2.
Massage the green paste into your damp hair from roots to tips.
3. Put
the shower cap on and leave it there for 20-30 mins.
4.
Wash the mask out, then use shampoo and conditioner as usual.
5.
Enjoy your gorgeous mane!
4. Repair & Moisturize – Products
In
addition to giving your hair, and body, the nutrition it needs to be healthy,
you have to choose the right products that will repair your hair in its
fragility. You want to find products with gentle, natural ingredients that are
formulated for your hair texture. Avoid getting confused by products that
contain mineral oil, which sounds natural, but is actually harsh and drying to
hair. Most importantly, use products that were made for YOUR hair type. If you
have finer hair, you should go for clear shampoos- try to abstain from using
the creamy kind – they’ll weigh your hair down with product, and won’t lock in
true moisture to prevent breakage. If you have curlier, fuller hair that tends
to get drier, frequent conditioning should be a part of your regular hair regimen.
5. Regular Trims
It may
be hard to let go of your ends. We all know the feeling of dreading those
scissors; not to mention every stylist we go to seems to want to cut! But
regular trims every 6-8 weeks will dramatically reduce your breakage. If your
hair is especially damaged, it may seem at first like a lot of hair, but as you
increase your trims, and follow the tips above, you will grow stronger,
healthier hair.
Experiencing
hair breakage and loss can be worrisome and saddening; if you take the right steps
towards improving your condition however, you’re well on your way to being an
overall more healthy and happy individual. Take this mishap as a chance to
learn more about yourself!
