Split ends can be just the beginning of hair breakage. Everything from heat to chemicals to even the weight of the hair itself can stress out your locks and make them snap. Once you know how to stop hair breakage naturally, it’s easy to get a good hair care routine. So hold tight to your tired ends, take a deep breath, and relax with these simple tips on how to fix hair breakage.
What causes hair breakage?
Everyone’s hair is different, which means everyone’s hair has a different breaking point. Hair breakage happens when the “scales” around your hairs’ cuticles break down or get damaged. At the root of most breakage is dryness. The most common causes include:
- Winter weather and artificial heat
- Hair styling tools
- Color treatments
- Losing weight quickly
- Playing with your hair too much
It’s a Seasonal Struggle
If winter woes are weighing you down, your hair may be feeling just as heavy. Denver is home to beautiful mountains and dry, dry winters. Dryness damages hair, causing dullness, frizz, and breakage. High winds are your hair’s worst enemy. Not only does it cause imminent danger of ruining a perfect style, but it puts lasting stress on dried out, tired out locks.
Also, summer sunshine might be great for your highlights. But if you’re the active type, swimming and sweating can cause damage from, you guessed it, dryness.
The key to managing brittle hair is restoring moisture and hydration. Treat your hair right and adjust your styling routine to combat breakage. Use Oribe’s Gold Lust effective Mask to enhance shine and repair damaged ends. Pair restorative treatments with added care during your hair’s offseason. A high quality, luxurious leave-in oil spray is excellent for giving your hair the extra love it deserves, year after year.
Style vs. Health? Choose Both
Most hair gurus own a plethora of flat irons, curling wands, and hair dryers to achieve an always-on-point look. Unfortunately, the tools we love could also be ruining our hair. Opt for ceramic styling tools over cheaper products for lasting results that don’t leave hair feeling fried and dull. Be sure to give your hair a break in between styling and allow freshly washed hair a few minutes to drip before using a hairdryer.
Feeling brave? Try air drying your locks once a week and always protect hair with a styling spray or Kérastase’s L’incroyable Blowdry Créme before applying heat.
Color Code
Let’s face it: overly processed hair isn’t exactly a good look.
DIY Color-treated hair is especially vulnerable to breakage. Permed and chemically straightened hair can be equally difficult to maintain. The added challenge of caring for processed hair need not be a deterrent or a reason to go completely natural. Adding a few styling products to your regimen can help leave your mane feeling (and looking) fresh. For best results, use a high quality, sulfate-free shampoo and give your hair an added boost with some shine-enhancing leave-in conditioner for soft locks.
The Skinny on Hair Loss
It’s rare to hear about the downside of getting healthy, but weight loss can cause temporary hair thinning. Avoid losing a significant amount of weight over a short period of time. Not only is rapid weight loss damaging to your hair, but a sudden shock to your body is unlikely to promote good health in the long run.
When implementing a new fitness lifestyle, expect some amount of breakage to occur. Don’t panic if you spy extra hair in the drain! This is normal and your hair will eventually get with the program of your wellness routine. In the interim, volumizing products are a fantastic way to keep your hair perfect from your morning run to an after-work cocktail.
Take It Easy with the Accessories
We understand that some days it’s easy to feel like tearing your hair out! Resist the urge to rake a comb or brush through your disobedient mane. Over styling is among the primary causes of breakage. But it can be remedied by implementing a few basic rules for loving your locks. Treat your hair gently and avoid tight elastics, over-brushing, and yanking out tangles. Consider making your hair a part of your personal wellness routine. Self-care begins at the root!
Ready to give your hair some extra pampering? Book a deep conditioning or an Olaplex treatment with us today! The professional stylists at Deseo Salon & BlowDry know how to restore your hair, even in the middle of a cold Denver winter. Talk to us about getting a hair breakage treatment or a completely new look.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common causes of hair breakage?
Hair breakage typically occurs when the protective scales around the hair’s cuticles break down from damage or dryness. The most common causes include winter weather and dry artificial heat, heat styling tools, chemical color treatments, rapid weight loss, and overmanipulating the hair, such as excessive brushing, tight elastics, and yanking through tangles. In Denver specifically, dry winters, high winds, and summer sun exposure are common seasonal culprits.
How does dryness contribute to hair breakage?
Dryness is at the root of most hair breakage. When hair loses moisture, the cuticle becomes brittle and loses its natural elasticity, making individual strands more vulnerable to snapping under even mild stress. Factors that strip moisture from hair include cold weather, artificial heating, UV exposure, and chlorine or saltwater from swimming. Restoring hydration through deep conditioning treatments, leave-in oils, and moisturizing masques is the most effective way to combat dryness-related breakage.
What hair products help repair and prevent breakage?
Several professional products are recommended for repairing and preventing hair breakage. Oribe’s Gold Lust effective Masque enhances shine and repairs damaged ends. A leave-in oil spray is excellent for daily moisture protection throughout the year. Kérastase’s L’Incroyable Blowdry Crème is a great heat protectant to apply before blow drying or heat styling. For color-treated or chemically processed hair, a high-quality sulfate-free shampoo paired with a shine-enhancing leave-in conditioner helps maintain softness and reduce breakage.
Can heat styling tools cause hair breakage?
Yes, heat styling tools are a leading cause of hair breakage when used incorrectly or too frequently. Opting for ceramic styling tools over lower-quality alternatives produces better results with less heat damage. Always allow freshly washed hair a few minutes to drip-dry before using a hair dryer, and apply a heat protectant or styling cream before using any heat tool. Giving hair at least one air-dry day per week reduces cumulative heat stress on the hair shaft.
Can rapid weight loss cause hair breakage or loss?
Yes, rapid weight loss can cause temporary hair thinning and breakage. A sudden shock to the body from quick weight loss can disrupt the hair growth cycle. This is a normal physiological response and the hair typically recovers as the body adjusts to a new wellness routine. During this period, volumizing products can help maintain the appearance of fullness. Gradual, sustained weight loss is less likely to trigger significant hair changes.
What professional treatments can help repair severe hair breakage?
For serious hair breakage, professional salon treatments offer the most effective repair. Deep conditioning treatments restore moisture and elasticity to dry, brittle hair. Olaplex treatments are particularly powerful, this three-step process works at the molecular level to reconnect broken bonds in the hair shaft, reversing damage from color treatments, bleaching, and excessive heat. At Deseo Salon & BlowDry, stylists can assess the extent of breakage and recommend the right combination of treatments to restore your hair’s health and strength.