Everyone wants healthy, beautiful hair, but hair breakage can be a major obstacle to achieving a strong, glamorous look. 

Whether it’s split ends, thinning hair, or frayed strands, hair breakage can be a major cause of distress for men and women alike. Learning more about hair breakage and taking a few precautionary steps can help anyone with a hair care regimen live up to their hair goals.

What is Hair Breakage? 

Hair breakage is the weakening and fragmentation of the hair shaft, often leading to split ends and other forms of hair damage. It can occur for a number of reasons, from everyday styling habits to lack of moisture and nourishment. Hair breakage can happen at any type of hair—straight, curly, color-treated, etc.—but can be more common for those who have finer, more fragile hair.

What are the Causes of Hair Breakage? 

Hair breakage is caused by a variety of factors, the most common of which are overstyling and poor hair care regimens. Too much heat and styling products can weaken the hair shaft, resulting in split ends and breakage. Regular dyeing, curling, and straightening can also be damaging if done too often or too roughly.

Other possible causes of hair breakage include excessive sun exposure, chemical treatments, and using the wrong type of shampoo and conditioner. Additionally, there are health issues that can contribute to unhealthy hair and hair breakage, such as thyroid diseases, anemia, excessive vitamin A intake, low protein levels, and autoimmune disorders.

How to Avoid Hair Breakage? 

There are many steps you can take to avoid hair breakage and preserve healthy hair. Ensure that you’re using the right type of shampoo and conditioner for your hair type. Be cautious when using heat and styling products, and make sure to “cool down” the hair using a heat protection spray before styling. When styling, be sure to use a brush instead of a comb—combs can pull at the hair and cause breakage.

One key way to avoid hair breakage is to correctly moisturize your hair. Healthy hair requires just the right amount of moisture, and oil treatments and natural masks can help replenish the hydration levels in your hair. Additionally, try to avoid overly tight hairstyles—braids and ponytails are great for avoiding heat damage, but make sure not to pull them too tightly to avoid hair breakage.

How to Treat Hair Breakage?

Unfortunately, damaged hair can be difficult to repair, but there are a few things you can do to help minimize hair breakage. First, use a deep conditioning treatment several times a month to nourish your hair and restore moisture. Opt for natural masks and treatments like honey, coconut oil, avocado, and egg solutions if possible.

If you’re already dealing with split ends and damage, try avoiding heavy styling and opt for longer hairstyles instead, as this will both shorten the amount of time you need to spend styling your hair and help to disguise the split ends. Additionally, cut off any split ends that are more than a quarter inch long. Regularly trimming your split ends will help to prevent further damage and keep your hair healthier overall.

Hair breakage is a common problem, but understanding what causes it and taking preventive measures can help everyone stop breakage in its tracks. Avoiding harsh styling treatments, moisturizing the hair regularly, and choosing the right type of styling products can be instrumental in keeping your hair strong and healthy. If you already have damage, using deep conditioning treatments and avoiding overly tight hairstyles can help minimize hair breakage and keep your hair looking beautiful.