THE SCIENCE OF HAIR BREAKAGE – UNDERSTANDING AND PREVENTING

THE SCIENCE OF HAIR BREAKAGE – UNDERSTANDING AND PREVENTING

It doesn’t matter if it’s a few strands or a hefty chunk, any amount of hair breakage or damaged hair can be stressful – especially if your hair is a vital part of your look. If left untreated, damaged hair will only get worse and can cause harm to your hair follicles (the pore that surrounds the root and strand of the hair) leading to reduced hair growth and hair loss.

Naturally, the topic of potential hair loss can be anxiety-inducing, but there’s a way to stop hair breakage through your styling habits and the products you use. If you’re starting to notice constant flyways, split ends or seriously dry hair no matter how much hair oil you use, your hair may be damaged. Our expert trichologist Salem having years of experience is sharing  helpful tips and treatment options to teach you how to stop hair breakage and make your hair strong.

What Is Hair Breakage

Hair breakage happens when the actual strand shreds. Most times, you won’t notice full hairs on the ground but instead little pieces of hair. Always confirm with your dermatologist to evaluate if that hair breakage is causing shedding or permanent hair loss. Think about split ends; it’s hair that is so damaged that it begins to break and shred at the bottom of the strand. Split ends are a sign of hair breakage that needs to be trimmed to keep the strand from tearing up to the root. Where and how hair breaks depend on several different factors, more on that below

 

What Causes Hair Breakage?

One of the main causes, if not the main cause, of breakage is how you style your hair. Things like heat styling, aggressive brushing or combing hair, sleeping on wet hair or rough fabrics that create friction and constantly pulling your strands into too-tight styles can all cause hair breakage. Too much tension on the hair shaft (the actual strand), can cause inflammation at the root and weaken strands to the point that they eventually break off.

Hairs around the hairline are also more fragile than hairs on other areas of the scalp, making your edges more vulnerable to breaking off if not properly cared for. There are a few things that can put this particular area at risk. Habits like too much tugging while styling, traction from pulling hair back into overly tight hairstyles and using products with drying ingredients like alcohols and sulfates can also weaken hair around the edge of your face. When styling hair, use Root2tip’s Honey Rain Juice that is best applied on dry hair so strands stay sleek when styling and hydrated with the aloe, Shea butter and honey formulation.

How to Prevent Hair Breakage

When it comes to stopping hair breakage, it’s all about the prevention plan. While you can’t outright fix damaged hair, you can stop damaging your hair further so it grows healthy and strong. Follow these tips from Root2tip to prevent your hair from breaking.

Keep Your Hair Moisturised

One of the main reasons your hair is breaking off could be that you aren’t applying enough moisture to it. It’s especially important to heed this rule if your hair is curly because it’s prone to brittleness and breakage. If your hair is in need of extra moisture, try a repairing hair treatment like the Quench Moisturising breakage creme which ensures hydration to alleviate dryness and improve hair's elasticity, reducing the risk of breakage.

Target Split Ends Early

If your ends are frayed and splitting already, it might be time to sit in a salon chair and get those strands trimmed. However, you can prolong this expensive visit through the daily use of a hair oil that will nourish ends and keep them hydrated. Targeting your ends, apply a nourishing oil like the Root2tip’s Root Energizer Scalp Oil which has ayurvedic hair growth extracts like amla and brahmi.

Go Easy on the Heat

Blow-drying and flat ironing hair on a regular basis can take its toll on strands, ultimately causing damage. While air-drying hair is the best option, it’s usually not feasible for curly hair that takes longer to dry. When you do use a hair dryer, pick up a diffuser attachment to eliminate the amount of direct heat your curls are getting. If you absolutely must use heat, do so on the lowest heat setting and always apply a heat protectant before using a hot tool

Shampoo Correctly

On the subject of shampooing, make sure you’re doing it right. You’ve probably been washing your hair your entire life and don’t need to be told how to do it now, so let this part be a refresher to confirm what you already know. It’s key to use a sulfate-free shampoo (or even a co-wash) that doesn’t have harsh, stripping cleansers that dry out hair. We recommend using Root2tip’s Stimulate and Cleanse SLS Free Hair Shampoo which washes and cleanses your hair without breaking it.

Skip the Damaging Hair Style

Braiding your hair too tightly and having hair undergo constant chemical changes (such as hair dyeing, hair relaxing, and perming) can cause damage to your hair. Too-tight protective styles can pull at your scalp and cause hair damage. When wearing your hair in a braided style or one that uses hair extensions, make sure your hair isn’t being tugged too harshly  as this can damage your hair follicles and lead to permanent hair loss. We recommend against wearing protective styles or hair extensions for longer than two to three months.

What Hair Care Products prevents hair Breakage?

Hair Mask - Thick hair masks coat damaged strands in various nutrients to pump hair full of moisture. The goal here is to leave a high protein and hydrating mask on your hair for several minutes before washing it out to let the nourishing ingredients penetrate deep into the hair shaft to strengthen brittle hair. Our expert trichologist Salem suggest using Root2tip’s Triple Protein Strengthening Hair Mask with natural ingredients that strengthen and nourish all hair types, without any harmful mineral oils, parabens, or silicone. Our unique blend of silk, wheat, and henna hydrolyzed protein extracts is designed to give you strong, healthy hair that can withstand daily styling and manipulation. Whether you have curly, straight, relaxed, colour-treated, natural, breaking, damaged, dry, brittle, or chemically coloured hair, our treatment is suitable for all hair types. After just one use, you’ll notice a significant improvement in the strength, suppleness, and overall health of your hair.

Moisturising Cream - Scientifically, your hair contains water. The hot air and cold air we are exposed to drains moisture from our hair leaving it dry. It further causes hairs to break. We recommend using Root2tip’s Quench Anti Breakage Moisturising Creme which is an intense moisture cream, to wraps moisture around each strand and penetrates the hair fibre to leave it rehydrated from the first use. If you have naturally curly hair, this gorgeous light but rich creme, will define your curls, provide moisture and eliminate frizz. Afro / relaxed hair types will experience silky soft hair with this moisture creme. Its unique blend of ingredients ensures hydration to alleviate dryness and improve hair’s elasticity, reducing the risk of breakage. With regular use, you can enjoy healthy, hydrated, and bouncy hair.

Leave-In Conditioner - A popular styling product, leave-in conditioners are exactly what they sound like — a nourishing hair product similar to a conditioner that doesn’t get rinsed from the hair. Leave-in conditioners are ideal for those who want a lightweight product that won’t weigh hair down. It leaves curls looking defined and moisturised between washes while the formulation keeps hair from breaking further. We Recommend using Root2tip’s Honey Rain Juice. The ultimate leave-in-conditioner is for dry, frizz-prone hair of any texture. You will be amazed as tangles and knots are released with a few sprays of this amazing high-performance eco formula. Perfect for hydrating your thirsty strands daily. There is no product build-up, just great-feeling hair.

Sandwich Moisture Method: The concept of the “Sandwich Moisture Method” is to layer different products with varying consistencies to create a long-lasting moisture barrier for your hair. This approach is effective for all hair types, whether your hair is naturally curly, straight, or relaxed. It helps combat dryness, promotes softness, and maintains the health and appearance of your hair, especially in adverse conditions like the cold and dry winter weather. We recommend using Root2tip’s Breakage Defense Kit which will help your hair to retain health, break less and become stronger.

Super Food Cream – The Hairshake is a superfood cream moisturiser that provides your hair with essential minerals, vitamins, and nutrients that get lost over time. The moisture-rich blend of Superfoods of Avocado and Hibiscus will power up and instantly reinvigorate tired strands from the very first use.  Designed to increase elasticity and rebalance moisture in dry fragile textured hair, our first edition Hairshake is the sweet treat for your hairs.

In conclusion, preventing hair breakage and maintaining strong, healthy hair is within your reach. By adopting good hair care practices, using the right products, and being mindful of your styling habits, you can protect your hair from damage and enjoy the beauty of vibrant, resilient locks. Remember, it’s not about fixing damaged hair, but about preventing further harm and promoting your hair’s natural strength and vitality. So, follow these tips from Root2tip, choose the right products, and embrace your best, beautiful hair. Visit www.root2tip.com for a wide range of products.

 

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