10 Causes for Hair Breakage
Hair breakage is very common, and it happens to everyone. Our hair structure is extremely fragile, and it really doesn’t take much for a hair strand to snap, break or lose its elasticity. Whether you are looking to improve the quality of your hair or looking for ways to avoid hair breakage, these 10 hair breakage causes and solutions outlined below will help you identify which areas of your hair care routine you may need to improve or change to enhance the appearance and quality of your hair.
#1: Poor Diet
If your diet is poor, you can’t expect your skin to shine and your hair to look flawless. Eating a well-balanced diet, rich in antioxidants, nutrients and vitamins, will help ensure your scalp gets the nutrition it needs. A poor diet can make your hair look dull, lifeless and it can even result in hair loss. So, if your hair is looking fragile and brittle, take a look at your overall diet and see where you need to improve or change. If in doubt, seek help from a nutritionist or a trichologist and they’ll be able to guide you. If you feel there is an underlying health issue that is causing your hair breakage, always seek a medical doctor first.
Supplement your diet with hair vitamins as these can greatly improve the appearance and overall condition of your hair. Here are some of our favourite hair supplements that you may want to consider taking: Viviscal/ Biotin / Perfectil.
Image by Perfectil | @Perfectilofficial
#2: Not Drinking Enough Water Per Day
We all know the importance of drinking enough water per day is for our body to function properly. Drinking 2L of water every day will help your body as well as your scalp to absorb nutrients faster and much more efficiently. When you don’t consume enough water, your hair is more prone to split ends and breakage. Poor scalp circulation and a slow absorption of nutrients can also lead to hair loss.
Make sure you stick to your 2L of water per day to help hydrate your scalp and the overall appearance of your hair. Here’s a free 30 Day 2 Litre water tracker sheet that you can download and print at home. This challenge is one of our most popular and has been downloaded hundreds of times. Make sure you get yourself a 2L water bottle to help you track your daily water intake.
#3: Washing Your Hair Too Often
Hair Shampoos are amazing at getting rid of all the dirt and grease sitting on your scalp and hair, but they are also very good at stripping your natural oils, which can leave your hair feeling dry and coarse, leading to hair breakage and split ends. Allowing your hair to get greasy will help condition your strands naturally which will help avoid dryness and hair breaking off. Instead of reaching for the shampoo, distribute your natural oils from root to tip by using a boar bristle brush. When your hair is starting to feel a bit greasy, skip a hair wash by putting your hair up in a ponytail or by plaiting it neatly. We recommend sticking to 1-2 hair washes per week maximum.
#4: Messy Hair Do’s and Hair Ties
Messy hair do’s can really damage your hair especially if you’re using the wrong hair ties. Hair can get so easily trapped in elastic hair bands which can damage the cortex of your hair. Try and avoid messy up do's and securing your hair too tightly. Choose hair ties that are gentle on the hair, such as Invisibobbles and silk scrunchies. If your hair tends to get tangled very easily, we highly recommend using silk scunchies as these help the hair to slide off with ease when removed.
Image by @SlipSilkPillowcase
#5. Hair Friction During the Night
Overnight hair friction is one of the main causes for hair breakage and hair dryness. You can avoid this by sleeping on a silk pillowcase and by choosing an appropriate hairstyle for bed; one where you can’t roll on your hair whilst you sleep!
If you love the idea of putting your hair away at night whilst curling it at the same time, check out the Flower Curl tutorial below. An overnight hair curler that is not only comfortable to sleep in but it will also help reduce hair friction during the night, whilst gently curling your hair. The curler sits on the top of the scalp and away from your face and ears, which allows you to roll from side to side whilst you sleep.
#6: Over touching your hair
If you love touching your hair, you are most likely drying and thinning it at the same time. Some women like to fiddle with their hair or they like to check the ends, open split ends or check for hair breakage. All this hair fiddling is not doing you any good, not to mention the amount of time you’re wasting touching your hair. Over touching your hair will not only make your hair feel dirty, but you are also making the roots greasy and the rest of your hair dry and coarse. Tie your hair back and away from your face and keep your hands moisturised and occupied during these hair touching sessions!
#7. Hot styling tools & Hair Colouring
Hot styling tools suck all the moisturise out of your hair whilst hair colouring / hair lighting will change the texture of your hair forever. Once damage is done to the cortex of the hair, it is impossible to revert it back to its original state. A damaged cortex also means that water causes swelling in the hair, which further weakens the hair strand. Give your hair a break from heat and opt in for heatless hair styling options instead. Excessive hair colouring will leave your hair looking frizzy and damaged. Invest in good quality hydrating hair masks that you can apply on a weekly basis to help minimise further damage and hair breakage.
#8: Brushing Hair When Wet
Wet hair is more fragile than dry hair, this is due to protein bonds in the hair becoming weaker when wet. When you comb wet or damp hair, you are literally stretching your hair and deforming the cuticle. Let your hair dry completely before running a hairbrush through your hair strands to avoid unnecessary hair breakage. Choose a brush that compliments the texture of your hair. The Tangle Teezer is known to gently brush your hair without pulling it whilst removing tangles with ease.
#9: Not Applying Regular Hair Masks
Applying a weekly hair mask can greatly improve the quality, texture and appearance of your hair. Regular hair masks help lock in moisture and seal the cuticle which can prevent unnecessary hair breakage and hair dryness from happening. Treat your hair as you would treat your skin. You wouldn’t go a day without applying face moisturiser, let alone a week. Same goes for your hair. Applying a hair mask once every blue moon, is not going to keep your strands in tip top condition. Plan a hydrating and moisturising hair mask on the day you are planning on washing your hair every week and start to notice a difference in the quality and structure of your hair.
#10: Harsh Weather Conditions
We all know that too much sun radiation will damage the proteins present in the hair, which will leave your locks feeling dry, coarse and frizzy. Choose hair products that contain sun protection formulas, such as hair oils, hair serums, sprtiz and creams, depending on your hair type. Winter, on the other hand, can leave your scalp and hair feeling dry and brittle due to the cold temperatures and intense indoor heating. Try and stick to the 1-2 washes per week whilst applying your weekly hydrating hair masks.
