Friday, May 20, 2011

Hair breakage 101


     Everyone loses some hair daily but if you notice that you're losing more hair than normal, you've got to check it! It might be shedding or breakage. If you see long hairs with the hair bulb, this is probably shedding. This is caused by stress, hormones, change in diet, pregnancy, etc. You can reduce this by taking a good oral supplement, eating fruits and vegetables, taking adequate protein in your diet, checking your stress level.
     On the other hand, if you see shorter strands, your hair is breaking. The main causes of hair breakage are:

  • Too much moisture (or not enough protein)
  • Too much protein
  • Excessively dry hair
  • Over-processed hair
  • Excessive or inappropriate manipulation
     If you have been conditioning your hair every week and it's still breaking like crazy, check the ingredients in your staple conditioner(s). If there is no protein in the conditioner, then you might be suffering from excess moisture! Yes, this can make hair break too. What you need to do is to deep condition with a protein conditioner. Afterwards, tweak your regimen by using a light protein conditioner at least once or twice a month. I use Organics Root Stimulator Replenishing conditioner as my light protein conditioner once a week.
     On the other hand, it you condition your hair weekly and your conditioner has proteins in it, you might be suffering from protein overload. If you comb your hair and it snaps immediately or breaks as soon as you touch your hair, your hair probably has too much protein. What you need to do is to clarify your hair and follow up with a moisturizing conditioner. Continue using ONLY moisturizing conditioners until your hair stops breaking. Afterwards, limit your use of heavy protein conditioners to once a month or even once in two months. Use only light protein conditioners frequently. If you want to know about light and heavy proteins, read this.
     If you don't moisturize your hair especially your ends often, this can also cause breakage. Simple solution: deep condition and aim to moisturize your hair more frequently. You can also baggy your ends.
     In addition, if you use brushes on your hair, this could cause breakage.

     
     Opt for wide-tooth combs or even finger-combing. I prefer to finger-comb my hair. 
Excessively tight weave-ons and braids can also cause hair breakage. So can keeping them in for longer than 4 weeks. Bonding hair directly to your scalp or hair can also cause hair breakage. You have to be careful when taking down your hair extensions. 
     Other reasons for hair breakage are over-processing, relaxing previously relaxed hair and coloring hair. Try not to let your relaxer stay in your hair for longer than the recommended time. While doing a touch-up, don't let the relaxer touch previously relaxed hair. When you wait at least 8 weeks between touch-ups, it's easier to see the demarcation between new growth and previously relaxed hair. This heps to prevent 're-relaxing' those previously relaxed areas.
     If your hair is still breaking, see a good stylist! They might recommend something else!

Dr Fomsky  


Related articles:
Causes of hair breakage

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