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In an ideal world, the only breaks we’d ever have to deal with isKurtis Blow’s song.
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Do we like it?
Fortunately, there are ways to combat it when and even before it happens.
Did youleave the bleacha little too long on your hair?
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Have you recentlyhad a relaxer?
Have you been doing a little too much with the flatiron?
All of these are important questions to ask on your journey to fixing that pesky hair breakage.
And, as always, a little guidance from the pros-in-the-know is also a big help.
Take a close look at the hair you’re shedding.
Notice any broken strands?
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You lose around50 to 100 hairsa day this is normal.
Birmingham, Alabama-based dermatologistCorey L. Hartman, M.D., FAAD, gives us a tip on how to I.D.
You may also notice that the hair is drier and frizzier than normal.
“Healthy hair is well moisturized with an intact, shiny cuticular layer,” Dr. Hartman continues.
“It is shiny and smooth with good elasticity.”
Be on the lookout around your hairline too.
The tighter the curl or coil, the more susceptible it is to breakage.
Aging and gray hair also break off more easily.
“Aging hair, especiallygray and white hair, tends to be coarser and resists moisture absorption.
It has also lost elasticity, making it ripe for breakage,” explains Dr. Yadav.
The damage your hair sustains when you color it can also make it more likely to break.
“Overly processing one’s hair causes the probability of breakage to increase exponentially,” says Dr. Yadav.
(We like the Best of Beauty-winningSexyHair Calm Wetfix & Chill All Style Dry Creme.)
Imagine trying to get a look off only to doom yourself to weeks of breakage!
Actually, we don’t have to imagine we’ve lived it.
Snatched ponytails, tight buns and braids, and repeated baby hair styling can all contribute to the problem.
All our dermatologist friends confirmed that yes, sometimes breakage can be an indication of an underlying health issue.
“Health conditions can absolutely play a part in hair loss,” Dr. Yadav confirms.
Dr. Hartman also tells us that scalp funguses and (mainly bacterial) folliculitis can also be to blame.
Of course, in these situations, it’s important to consult a doctor to accurately identify the problem.
“Increased levels of stress hormones mainly cortisol disrupt the hair cycle,” Sadick explained.
That all depends on the cause of your breakage, though.
If poor nutrition is your issue, putting the right vitamins back into your diet may be helpful.
“These include vitamins B, D, and ferritin.
Fixing your broken hair can also be a matter of avoiding certain hairstyling practices.
The hair products you use are key weapons in the fight against breakage.
Since damaged hair tends to be dry, it’s important to keep it moisturized to replenish the strand.
Humectant (moisturizing) oils are going to be your BFF here.
It doesn’t hurt that it’s also raved about by folks of all hair types.
Still need more options?
We’ve gota whole listof silky-soft pillowcases to sleep on if you care to peruse.
This will help prevent the breakage from traveling up and damaging new/newer growth.”
The good news is, yes, your damaged hair can grow back.
After all, hair grows from the root, sodon’t eff it upby putting stress on your root.
