It doesn’t matter what kind of hair you have or what products you use because, as ladies, we all have the same problem when it comes to our bathrooms, clothes, floors, and cars… Hair. Is. Everywhere.
There’s no need to be anxious about your natural hair breakage and shedding, though. We’re here to share what’s normal for shedding and what’s not for breakage, so you can have the hair of your dreams.
The good news? Shedding whole strands of hair (from the root) is a normal part of your hair’s renewal cycle. It’s completely natural to lose 50 – 100 hairs a day, so there’s no need to stress about moderate shedding (at least until cleaning day).
Breakage, on the other hand, poses a bigger issue.
Some breakage is bound to happen, but when it goes untreated, it can actually keep your hair from getting longer, holding color, and looking healthy. Hair breakage happens when the ends of your hair begin to shred and split – continuing to cause damage.
If you’ve noticed little pieces of hair on your floors, it’s likely you’re struggling with breakage.
It’s important to be aware of the issue, so you can avoid the long-term damage that breakage can cause. Excessive and untreated breakage can affect hair length, appearance, and even difficulty in styling.
To avoid all of it and keep your hair at its best, we’re here to share how you can prevent and treat breakage, starting with the very basics of your hair care routine.
What Causes Hair Breakage and Shedding?
Scalp & Hair Dryness
Moisture is your hair’s best friend, just as dryness is its enemy. Dryness can be caused by dry weather, excessive heat, the wrong hair products, or simply the right hair products used in the wrong way.
Without adequate moisture in your hair, your strands can become brittle and dehydrated, making it easy for the ends of your hair to break and fray.
Skipping Regular Hair Trims
If you haven’t got your hair cut in a while, you’re probably dealing with some level of split ends.
That’s okay – it happens to the best of us! As long as you take care of it, you should be fine. Remember, split ends are a warning sign before worse breakage can occur. Regular trims can get rid of those split ends and keep your hair healthy.
The longer you go without a haircut, however, the more likely your split ends will develop more breakage. Splits in the strands of your hair can travel up the hair shaft, creating a larger and larger divide. That’s why it’s so important to trim them before this process begins.
Wait too long, and you’ll be forced to chop more hair than usual to get rid of the worsening split ends and breakage. (Nobody wants that.)
Aggressive Hair Care
Your daily hair routine may seem harmless, but in reality, you could be causing hair damage from the moment you hop in the shower. Towel drying, aggressive brushing, and even styling with elastic hair ties can leave your hair vulnerable to breakage and shedding.
It’s important to remember your hair is delicate and should be treated as such.
Preventing Natural Hair Breakage and Shedding
Use the Right Products
The best way to prevent breakage and shedding is to keep your hair healthy and moisturized with the right products.
When looking for shampoos or conditioners, try to avoid products that are sulfate-based or high in acidity or pH. These products strip natural moisture and oils from your hair and can lead to dryness and potential breakage. Instead, look for products that are sulfate-free with neutral pH levels.
Facetté offers a wide variety of hair care products from conditioners to shampoos to oils and more that keep your hair hydrated and healthy. Our team would be happy to help you find the right one! Get in touch here.
Routine Hair Trims
We all LOVE to be pampered at the hair salon, but setting aside time to get hair cuts and trims regularly can feel like a hassle. If you want to avoid breakage, you need to see your stylist more frequently.
Those split ends will only get worse until they’re cut off. Procrastinate too much, and you may need 3 inches chopped instead of 1 inch.
To prevent this, you should start scheduling regular hair trims.
While breakage doesn’t prevent your hair from growing, it can prevent your hair from getting longer. Growth happens at the root, but you need your hair to stay in one piece in order to see it get longer.
That’s why we swear by regular trims. These remove damaged and dead cells from the ends of your hair and allow for healthy growth moving forward.
Being Gentle With Your Hair
If you continue to notice breakage and shedding in your hair, it may be time to get back to the basics and assess your hair care routine to see if it’s truly aiding in healthy hair growth.
Here are some habits to avoid:
- Towel drying your hair.
The textures within regular bath towels are harsh on your hair and can also strip natural oils from your strands. We suggest air drying your hair or using a microfiber hair towel for a gentler drying process.
One of our favorites? The Aquis microfiber hair towel (available at Facette).
- Aggressive hair brushing.
When your hair is wet, it is more vulnerable to breakage and shedding.
We recommend using a wide-toothed comb to brush your hair straight out of the shower instead of a normal brush. Once your hair is dry, make sure you are not brushing your hair from top to bottom, rather start with the last few inches of your hair and work your way up.
- Prolonged use of elastic hair ties.
Lazy hair days happen, but certain hair ties are better than others.
Next time you’re getting ready for a workout, an errand, or you simply don’t want to style your hair, reach for a claw clip, a scrunchie, or a hair coil instead of an elastic hair tie.
Hair ties can pull on hair cuticles and cause hair breaking and shedding. These alternatives, however, but function the same and don’t add strain and pressure to your hair. Not to mention, claw clips, scrunchies, and hair coils won’t create awkward ponytail kinks in the hair.
Fixing your daily hair routines is a great start to prevent and avoid breakage and shedding.
Still Need Help?
What’s special about your hair is that it is unique to you! If you still need help navigating your hair type to prevent natural shedding and breakage, come see us for a consultation, cut, or specialty treatment. We’d love to help. Get in touch today to book!
