How to stop hair breakage? Tips and home remedies

• Posted on July 27, 2018
• by Ellsamwise King
• Comment

Hair breakage is much more than a frustrating problem to deal with. There might be a much bigger underlining cause that can start with how you treat your hair daily. Some people think that the best way to combat hair breakage is to hit up the chop shop to save your locks. However, there are plenty of things that you can do to not only salvage your distressed tresses but also work at preventive care. This will help to not only to reduce breakage but will also help your hair to grow longer and stronger. So, unwrap that top knot and treat your hair to some much-needed TLC. Here is everything you need to know to help keep the hair breakage at bay.

Hair breakage is exactly what it sounds like. It is when your hair snaps way too easily at even the slightest of touch. To know if your hair is breaking, take a small strand and pull it. Your hair should naturally stretch but if you find that is snaps right away, this article is for you! Hair breakage is just another way of your hair telling you that it is in damage mode.

Hair breakage often times is paired with brittle dry hair as well as an increase of frizz and fall out. Hair breakage can also lead to hair loss, an increase in split ends as well as short broken strands around your face. This means that your hair has lost its elasticity and strength which could be due to many different reasons. But, hang in there! There is hope for you and your hair yet.

There are many reasons why you may be experiencing hair breakage. Knowing why you find your silky strands snapping in two is half the battle. Here are some of the main causes of hair breakage so you can prepare yourself for the battle of repairing them:

Hereditary
Some of us were born with our mother’s hair. No matter how hard we try to fight that biological clock, eventually overtime our hair becomes brittle and weak. While there is nothing you can do about your misfortune when it comes to your genes, there are still plenty of ways you can help to treat your weak ends. This means that you don’t have to reside yourself to a lifetime of broken strands. There is still hope for you yet!

Heat styling
We all have fallen victim to the dreaded heat styling. Why wouldn’t we? Finding new and exciting ways to style your hair is half the fun when it comes to showcasing a new look. From bouncy curls to board straight bangs; we have done it all. However, heat styling over time can strip your hair of natural oils and proteins it needs to stay strong. This is one of the reasons why you may be finding you are losing more strands than usual. You first line of defense when it comes to healing styling is to use a good heat protective spray. These products will create a barrier between your hair and the heat so that you can reduce the amount of heat damage. You should never use any type of heat on your hair without this essential styling spray.

If you already use a protective spray and are still finding that your locks crack under pressure, try to give your hair a break. During the dryer months, some people opt to let their hair air dry. This way you are cutting down on the amount of heat styling which will leave your precious curls in much better condition.

Over-processing
HOW TO STOP HAIR BREAKAGE? CAUSES, TIPS, AND HOME REMEDIES
We have all fallen victim to the dreaded box dye. While this is a great way to refresh your color or change up your look all together, it does some serious damage on your hair. This is especially true if you are lightening your hair using bleach. Bleach strips away the nutrients in your hair which can leave your strands to appear almost translucent and pasta like. Once you have processed your hair to this point, there is very little you can do to rescue your damaged hair. While box dyes can lead to damaged hair, you really are not much safer when it comes to getting your hair processed at a salon. Other chemical treatments like relaxers and perms can also leave your hair dry and thirsty which can lead to hair breakage as well.

Styling
If you find that you style your hair in a high pony every day, we hate to break it to you, but you are causing your hair to break. Your hair gets used to the way it sits and is styled and over time you will find that parts of your hair become weaker than others. This is because the part of your hair that is always wrapped up with a hair tie will become weak under the pressure of holding your hair up which will cause hair damage and breakage. So, give your top knot a rest and try switching up the way you wear your hair.

Swimmers hair
Swimming is not only a great way to cool down in the hotter months, it also is an amazing form of exercise. However, you have to remember that pools are full of chemicals. And while these chemicals will keep the water clean, they are doing a serious number on your hair. These chemicals can strip the oils out of your hair leaving it vulnerable to breakage. One way to protect yourself is to wear a swimmers cap. While this isn’t the most fashionable thing, think about that amazing moment when you pull it off in slow motion to review silky healthy hair. Whatever you do, always make sure to wash your hair after swimming to get those hair breaking chemicals out!

Now that you know some reasons why your hair may be breaking, its time to do something about it! Most of the ways to prevent hair breakage are simple and easy lifestyle changes. So, achieving perfectly strong hair is much easier than it sounds. Here are just a few things you can do to help protect your hair and keep it intact:

Careful when wet
Your hair is most vulnerable when it is wet. Wet strands can break off at the slightest of touch. That is why it is so important to treat it right. The first thing you can do to protect your wet hair is to give it a cold blast at the end of your shower. We all love to that those steaming hot showers, but hot water opens up the follicles in your hair which make it open to breakage. Right before you get out of the shower, switch the faucet to cold water and run it over your hair for a few seconds because finishing up. The cold water will close up your hair which will help it to not break.

Another thing to remember is that brushing your hair when wet is a sure-fire way to make your hair break. A great way to combat this is to invest in a high-quality wet brush. These tangle-free brushes are gentle enough to brush out knots without ripping your hair. If you hear that familiar tearing sound, that is your hair breaking! So, use a gentler method instead.

The last thing you can do for your wet hair to keep it from breaking is to wrap it up carefully. Everyone knows the twist and wrap method when it comes to towel drying your hair. However, towels are bulky and thick and will pull on your hair when it is wet causing it to break. Instead of wrapping your hair up with a towel, try this. First, apply your after-shower products like your hair oils and leave in conditioner. Next, gently comb through your hair using a wet brush so that there are no tangles and also so the products can distribute evenly. Lastly, take a 100% cotton t-shirt and wrap your hair up in this instead. Leave your hair wrapped up until all the excess moisture is out and then braid your hair and pin it back to air dry. You will be left with soft waves that didn’t need any help from the heat!

You should be able to dye your hair any color under the sun. Showcasing a bold new hair color is a great way to assert some creativity while gaining some new-found confidence. However, since dying takes a toll on the strength and quality of your hair, there are some things you can do to help keep the damage to a minimum. Number one is to remember to never dye your hair multiple times in a short span of time. If you are using a box dye to refresh your color or touch up your roots, try to hold out for at least 5-6 weeks between colors. If you are just touching up roots, try to avoid getting color on the ends of your hair because this is where damage and breakage are most evident.

If you are looking to use bold colors, opt for a demi-permanent instead. These are less harsh solutions. This way not only will you be saving your hair some stress, you will also be able to switch up the bold colors each time. Want to go from purple to blue? No problem! If you are looking to do a more muted of pastel color, try mixing your own. Take a darker shade of the color you want and dilute it yourself using a thick white conditioner. Not only will you be able to make a custom color, you will also be treating your locks to an intense conditioning treatment in the process.

The most dangerous and easiest way to ruin your beautiful head of hair is with bleach. Full disclaimer, you should also see a hair professional before trying to lighten your hair. It is so easy to go from blonde to bald when using bleach so having someone with experience is a must. However, if you feel like you are knowledgeable enough to handle it on your own, there are a couple things you can do to lessen the damage. Adding proteins complexes to your bleach mixture is a great way to help your hair keep its strength during the process. These little vials can be found at beauty supply stores and work wonders. Another way to salvage your hair is to soak it in coconut oil before dying. Coconut oil is one of the only oils that will condition your hair without messing with the dying or lightening process. Simply coat your hair in melting coconut oil at least 2 hours before dying. No need to rinse, just apply your products right over.

Try as you might, even the most honest of preventive measures can still fail us. This is because while we may do our best, hair breakage is bound to happen. This is especially true if you have noticed your hair getting more brittle overtime before starting to change your hair lifestyle. However, there is still hope! Here are some amazing remedies that can help you get your hair and your confidence back:

Conditioning mask
One of those most important things you can do to help repair broken hair is to add some much-needed proteins back into your strands. One way to do this is to create your own conditioning mask at home using hair care products that most of us already have in our arsenal. Start by picking out a really thick conditioner. The best ones to use are ones that work like shower masks that need to sit in your hair for up to five minutes for best results. Next, pick out a hair oil that you find works best for you.

Start by pouring a quarter size amount of hair oil into your palm and rub your hands together to warm it up. Next, pour out the desired amount of conditioner into your palm. The amount you will need depends on how long and thick your hair is. Work this mixture through dry hair. This works best in dry because when your hair is wet the mixture can get diluted. Focus the mixture on your mid-shaft down to the ends and cover with a shower cap. If you find that you have thicker hair, leave this mask in overnight to set. Make sure to rinse thoroughly.

Coconut oil mask
While a deep conditioning mask works best on dry hair, a coconut oil mask works the best with damp hair. Using hot water, dampen your hair. Hot water is the way to do because you want the coconut oil to penetrate your hair to the core and hot water opens up those follicles. Next, take around 2 Tbs of melted coconut oil and lather your hair making sure to avoid your scalp. Getting coconut oil directly on your scalp can make your hair greasy especially if you already have thin hair. This mixture can also be left in your hair overnight but make sure to sleep on a towel because of coconut oil transfers easily. Rinse out with cool water and follow up with shampoo and conditioner.

Egg whites
Egg whites are full of rich proteins that have been shown to work wonders on rebuilding broken and damaged hair. Start by separating 2 large egg yolks from the white. The best eggs to use for this is organic eggs because those have been proven to have the most amount of protein and rich fatty acids. Next, whisk in some olive oil until you have a smooth texture and apply to the ends of your hair. This is another mask that you will want to avoid putting directly onto your scalp. Leave this in for up to an hour and follow up with a conditioning shampoo. You may need to shampoo multiple times to get all of the egg out, just make sure not to overdo it!

Avocado mask
Avocados are another one of those superfoods that will do your body and your hair good. For this mask, you want to make sure that you have found an avocado that is overly ripe. Because you will need to rinse this mask off in the shower for best results, you don’t want thick avocado chunks clogging your shower drain. Trust us, we’ve been there and it isn’t pretty! Mash your avocado until really smooth and then add in some hair oil. We find that macadamia or almond oil works best for this treatment because it adds some crazy shine to your dry locks. Spread evenly through your hair and leave to sit for up to two hours. Rinse and style as usual!

Diet change
Sometimes something as simple as changing up your diet can be very beneficial when it comes to strengthening your hair. However, this doesn’t mean that you should dive into a trendy diet that will make you miserable. The smallest changes can make the largest impact. First, you want to make sure that you are drinking plenty of water. At least 8 full glasses a day are highly recommended. Your body needs plenty of moisture so you need to make sure you are drinking enough to also feed your hair. Next, try switching to a high protein diet. Foods like fish and cheese are high in healthy proteins and omega fats that have been shown to improve the strength of hair. Over time you will find the little changes to your diet may help to reduce breakage.

Vitamins
There are plenty of trendy Instagram worthy hair vitamins out there. And while these do come with a hefty price tag, there is some serious science behind them. However, you don’t have to splurge on these sugary treats in order to treat your hair with care. You can personalize your own vitamin regime that will suit you best. Many people choose to use prenatal vitamins for their breaking hair. This is because these vitamins are full of folic acid, protein and vitamin E which are all hair loving ingredients. But, always remember to check with your doctor before starting any kind of vitamin routine.

Aloe vera rinse
While you certainly have plenty of Aloe Vera gel sitting in your home to help with those painful sunburns and bug bites, another thing you might want to consider picking up is Aloe Vera Juice. You can find in this in most health and holistic stores. Aloe Vera juice is a great way to add some moisture back into your hair without having to worry about rinsing out a heavy mask. This is a great option for people who find they have thin and greasy hair. Simple take a cup of the juice into the shower with you and use it to rinse your products out of your hair. Give your hair one final cold rinse with just straight water before leaving. If you use this rinse every time you shampoo your hair you will find that your hair will get stronger which will reduce breakage.

Tea dip
Hibiscus tea is a really great way to naturally add some health and shine into your hair. This floral tea is not only packed with vitamins but a ton of moisture as well. Simple brew a strong cup of hibiscus tea and leave to cool. Try to find a tea brand that is all natural if you can, this way you are reducing the risk of adding unneeded build up in your hair. Once the tea is comfortable cool you can either transfer into a bowl and dip the ends of your hair into it or use it as a shower rinse. This dip is so gentle that you can use it up to twice a week for best results.

Vinegar Rinse
Sometimes the best way to repair broken and damaged hair is to start by stripping it back to the basics. We’re not talking about actually stripping your hair so don’t freak out yet! What you want to do is remove build-up from hair that could be stopping products from properly penetrating your hair for best results. Start by taking a couple of tbs of raw organic apple cider vinegar and cut it with a drizzle of rich olive oil. You should be left with a runny mixture. Take your mixture into the shower with you and pour it over your hair after rinsing out your shampoo. It is totally fine to get this on your scalp because that’s where most of the build-up is. Follow up with conditioner and style as usual.

Trim it
Perhaps the most important thing you can do to repair your broken hair is to cut it off. There is no remedy for dry and damaged ends. The best thing you can do for your hair is to trim it and trim it often. Dead ends cause breakage. So, don’t be afraid to go under the scissors. When you trim those dead ends off you will find that your hair not only grows stronger but faster as well. The hardest part will be finding a stylist that understands your hair trimming anxiety and will only cut off the ends that cannot be revived.

Olive juice
Much like the vinegar rinse, this soak might leave you’re a little stinky, but it will be totally worth it. Olive juice is not only full of that hair healthy vinegar but also tons of healthy fats as well. As you know by now, healthy fats and rich proteins are your best friends when it comes to repairing broken off hair. This is another rinse that you will want to bring in the shower with you. However, this works best as a rinse treatment before you move onto shampooing your hair. So, get your hair nice and wet with hot water to open it up and then pour the juice over your thirsty hair. Leave it to sit for about 5 minutes and then follow up with a conditioning shampoo. For this rinse, it is best to use a conditioning shampoo so that you don’t strip those proteins from your hair. Follow up with a blast of cool water to close your hair and style as usual.

Change it up!
Sometimes your hair needs a little kick in order to get stronger. Like most things, our hair can adjust to routines especially if they stay the same. This includes your shampoo and conditioning routine. Beauty experts say you should switch up your products every 2 months in order to keep your hair guessing. So, maybe its time to give some new products a try. Try looking for hair care products that specifically are made to help repair and rebuild broken hair. The best products out there for you are the ones that contain rich protein complexes. Keratein is one of those amazing hair smart proteins that will help your hair get some of its elasticity back.

Avocado oil
If you don’t want to mess with slimy avocados in order to get that perfectly shiny and strong hair, try giving the oil a try. Avocado oil is super packed full of the name nutrients and fatty acids as a full-sized avocado. Best of all, this oil works great as an overnight mask. Start by warming up a small amount of oil in your palms to help release some of the nutrients and then apply to dry hair. Make sure to focus on the extremely dry and broken parts of your hair which tend to be where your hair feels the most stress. Leave in overnight and awake to softer hair. This oil works while you’re sleeping to help strengthen your hair. No need to rinse either! Just wake up and style. This oil is so lightweight that you can repeat this process up to three times a week.

Silk pillows
When thinking about treating our hair right, we often forget about the little things. One of the little things that can often be an afterthought is the type of pillow we are sleeping on. We all love our fleece blankets in the winter and our cotton sheets in the summertime. However, these rougher fabrics can really be doing and number on your hair. One secret that frizzy-haired gals have been keeping close to the vest is the use of silk pillowcases. Silk is the perfect fabric for your ultra-sensitive hair. It is soft enough to offer a comfortable sleep while also being smooth enough to not tangle or knot up your hair. Making a small change like switching out the type of pillowcase you use can make all of the difference when it comes to your broken strains. So, if you find that you wake up every morning with a serious case of bad head, consider making the switch to a more hair-friendly pillowcase.

Mashed banana
Banana’s are full of great vitamins that are perfect for a pre-workout boost. But, they also give your hair the same fight. This is because the proteins and rich potassium found in a banana will help to smooth down frizz while also helping to rebuild distressed tresses. All you need to do is mash a medium-sized banana in a bowl with a fork. This works best if you use a banana that is slightly past its ripping age so that it mashes smoothly. Thin out the mashed banana with a little bit of cold milk. Milk is also full of healthy vitamins and tons of hair worthy calcium. Add this mask to slightly damp hair and leave to sit for up to two hours. Make sure to follow up with a good conditioning shampoo and rich conditioner.

Shea butter
Shea butter is so popular among the beauty community because of how great it is on every part of your body. This, of course, includes your hair! This is because this bold cream has tons of vitamin E in it. Vitamin E is the key ingredients in most body, face and hair treatments. This is because this special vitamin works to repair dry and cracked skin as well as hair that is breaking. However, shea butter does tend to be a little bit thick, so you will want to dilute it in order to make a mask that your thirst hair will drink up.

Take a few tablespoons of shea butter, you may need more or less depending on how thick or thin your hair is. It should also be noted that this mask may not be great for thin hair since it is so thick. Next, drizzle some of your favorite hair healthy oil in order to thin out the mask slightly. Our favorite hair oil to use for this mask is a nice rich argon oil. Next, focus this mask on the mid-shaft of your hair and work down. Because this is such a thick and heavy mask you want to avoid the top of your hair altogether. Leave this creamy mask in your hair for up to 3 hours and follow up with a strong rinse. It may take multiple rinses in order to get it all out, but it will be totally worth it.

Source: Beauty and Tips