When hair starts to get dry, brittle, and unmanageable, breakage is never far off. Hair breakage is frustrating and embarrassing, but the first step to treating this common hair problem is understanding what causes it.
There are plenty of reasons your once gorgeous mane is suddenly causing you so much trouble that you probably haven’t considered before:
Towel Drying
It’s true! Most of us have been towel drying for our entire lives — and that’s totally fine for some women. However, if you struggle with dry, curly, brittle, or even very fine hair, your towel may be doing more harm than good. The simple act of tying your hair up in a towel can cause a lot of breakage, especially if your hair is soaking wet, so it’s important to look into other options if you’re dealing with hair breakage constantly.
How to fix it: Instead of tying your hair up in a towel, try using an old, soft cotton t-shirt to gently dry your hair. The fibers are far less aggressive, so this drying method can help combat hair breakage and frizz while allowing your hair to retain its natural oils. Another option? Try a microfiber towel to minimize damage. Swapping out your pillowcase for a silk pillowcase also minimizes this damaging friction.
Blow Drying
More importantly — blow drying too quickly after your shower. It’s common knowledge that too much heat on your hair will cause damage, and blow drying dripping-wet hair means leaving heat on your mane for even longer.
How to fix it: First and foremost, invest in a good hair dryer — preferably an ionic dryer that dries hair as quickly as possible, using the least amount of heat — and use a microfiber towel or cotton t-shirt to soak up excess water before turning it on. If you regularly blow-dry your hair, it’s always a good idea to use a heat protectant serum or spray, as well.
Over-washing & Lack of Moisture
Unless your hair is fine and oily, you probably don’t need to wash it as often as you think. In fact, over-washing your hair and stripping it of its natural oils can quickly lead to dry, brittle hair, breakage, and frizz. Even your showerhead could play a role in hair breakage. If you live in a home or apartment that has hard water, which contains chlorine, you may be exposing your hair to further damage.
How to fix it: Before making any major changes to your routine, talk to your hair stylist about your specific hair type. If you have rough, curly hair, you may only need to shampoo your hair once a week, while women with normal-to-dry straight hair will typically see changes by limiting their hair-washing to no more than 3 times a week. Investing in a showerhead filter is also a great way to make sure you aren’t exposing your hair to too much hard water and chlorine.
Poor Diet
They say beauty starts on the inside, and that’s certainly true when it comes to your hair health. An unbalanced diet that’s high in simple carbohydrates and sugary sweets deprives both your skin and hair of the natural fats, oils, and proteins it needs to stay strong and shiny.
How to fix it: If poor nutrition is causing your hair to split and break, then it’s time to overhaul your diet. A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and lean protein like chicken and fish can help strengthen your hair and keep it looking healthy and vibrant.
Forgetting Trims
If you repeatedly skip your regular haircuts, your split ends will eventually start breaking off and cause serious damage to your healthy locks. The longer you wait on that trim, the more you’ll be forced to cut off once you finally go in for one.
How to fix it: Get a haircut! Maintaining regular appointments with your stylist will make a world of difference when it comes to your hair health.