• Hair breakage is usually temporary.
• It may appear differently on certain hair types.
• There are several causes of hair breakage.
• Prevention is better than ‘cures’
• You don’t need to spend a lot of money to fix it.

• Introduction
• What is hair breakage?
• What does hair breakage look like
• Signs and quick self-checks
• Main causes
• Heat tools: smart settings and timing
• Prevention habits that actually work
• Fast fixes vs long-term repair
• When to see a pro
• Summary and next steps
• FAQs

If your hair is prone to breakage, you understand the constant struggle to maintain its health.

All hair types can experience hair breakage at different times and for various reasons, including hard water, diet, stress, medical conditions, and hair products.

Fortunately, it is usually temporary, and there are ways to combat hair breakage and restore your luscious locks to their former glory.

In this blog, we will outline the signs of hair breakage, common causes, tips for prevention, fast fixes, and how to combat brittle, breakable hair.

When hair breaks easily, it doesn’t grow as long, strong, soft, or shiny. Instead, it is brittle, dry, dull, and thin. It tends to ‘snap’ rather than shed, so you may see short broken pieces or hair rather than long strands when it sheds. Hair that has shed at its natural stage will still have the root attached.

@belallure #hairbreakage #hairshedding #hairloss #shedding #hairgrowthjourney #hairlossremedy #hairlosssolutions ♬ dont bryson tiller sped up - xxtristanxo

People will experience hair breakage differently depending on their curl pattern. It may cause frizziness, coarseness, or tangling. It may be all over the head or concentrated in a particular place, such as the crown, top of the head, or at the ends.

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Hair breakage can look like:

Uneven lengths:

@absasf1 my ends. #fyp ♬ be my baby by the ronettes - jules ౨ৎ

Split ends & white dots:

@afsennah Split ends and white dots (also known as trichorrhexis nodosa) on your hair are signs you need to get a trim as soon as possible to prevent further hair breakage and hair thinning🙅🏻‍♀️ #hairgrowthjourney #hairgrowth #hairtransformation #trichologist #hairtok ♬ Let Me Think About It - Ida Corr & Fedde Le Grand

Frizz:

@alreadyathatgirl You can see all of the levels of frizz 🤌🏼#hairstyle #frizzyhair #hairtok ♬ original sound - vicmram

If you aren’t sure if your hair is damaged (new hair growth can sometimes resemble hair breakage) try these quick checks:

1. Carefully pull a few hairs from different areas of your head.
2. Examine the ends for fraying or unevenness; healthy ends will be smooth and tapering.
3. Run your fingers from the root to the tip of the strands to see if you can feel coarseness or uneven patches, which could indicate breakage.
4. Compare an older strand with newly grown hair to see if it feels rougher.

You can test the elasticity of your hair using the stretch test (damaged hair will have low elasticity).

@sumans.waves Reply to @jxhidden hope this helps! 💕#proteinoverload #moistureoverload #curlyhair #wavyhair #stretchtest #lowporosityhair #highporosityhair ♬ Them Changes - Thundercat

The comb test will help you see if you have damaged cuticles, which can lead to further breakage.

@hairbylima THE COMB TEST😱 Would your hair pass this test? 😵‍💫 Watch til the end to see the new results 🤩 Prepped with #k18hair Color & post treatments using #Truss • #hairbylima #trussprofessional #hair #combtest #njsalon #njhair #njhairstylist #colorcorrection #haircut #roughcut ♬ Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!(Edit) - Scotty & Wilcox

There are a few common causes for hair breakage, each with its own treatment/solutions, as follows:

Internal

Hair breakage can be a sign of an internal issue in your body. Medical conditions, pregnancy, menopause, stress, ageing, and a lack of vitamins and minerals, particularly iron and protein, can cause damage to your hair.

You can combat this kind of hair breakage by eating a protein and iron-rich diet, managing your stress levels through mindfulness and yoga, or seeking treatment for the underlying condition.

Why Hormones Play a Role in Hair Loss

Hormones play a huge part in the health of our hair, from increased shedding in perimenopause to exacerbating male pattern baldness. We have explored this topic more fully in a previous blog.

Environmental

The sun and cold can both contribute to hair breakage. Dry heat, high humidity, and low humidity can all dry your hair out, leaving it vulnerable to breakage.

Hydration, moisturising, and protective hairstyles can help with this type of breakage.

Chemical

From dyes. Perms, relaxers, and styling products to shampoos and conditioners, the chemicals we use on our hair can take a toll.

Try to leave 8-10 weeks between a significant chemical style change, such as permanent colour or a perm.

Mechanical

Overbushing and excessive use of styling tools can cause friction and tension in the hair, causing it to break.

As trichologist Kate Holden explains:

“Heat and chemicals are often the first things we blame - and for good reason. But another major cause of damage is mechanical tension: pulling, clamping, or dragging the hair with tools or styling methods that apply too much physical force. Over time, this tension weakens the cuticle, leading to breakage, thinning, and frizz - especially in fine, ageing or hormonally fragile hair.”

Far from the old wives’ tale of achieving 100 strokes each time you brush your hair, you should only brush or comb your hair when you are styling it.

Frequent heat styling at high temperatures can contribute to breakage, due to a combination of heat damaging the hair’s cuticle and the tension from clamping and dragging through the hair, causing friction.

• Start with the lowest temperature and increase as needed for your hair type.
• Always use a heat protectant cream or spray when heat styling.
• Take fewer passes to style your hair if possible.

Holden says: This is where tools like the KEEO Genius Pro+ make a difference:

“KEEO gives users control - not just over temperature, but over tension too. Its contoured plates glide through the hair with up to 70% less tension, reducing stress on the fibre. For those experiencing hormonal changes or hair that’s thinning with age, this kind of technology offers a gentler, more considered way to style - without compromising on results. As a hair health expert, I can tell that the Genius Pro+ wasn’t just made to style hair - it was made to protect it too.”

We always say prevention is better than a cure. Here are our six habits to adopt to stop hair breakage before it occurs.

1. Switch to a pH-friendly wash routine with a pH-balanced clarifying shampoo and conditioner.
2. A weekly mask packed with natural goodness will nourish your hair.
3. Use a good heat protectant and carefully manage the temperature you style your hair according to its curl pattern, texture, porosity, and condition.
4. Use a chelating shampoo, salon treatment, or natural chelating agent, such as apple cider vinegar, to remove mineral buildup.
5. Get regular trims - split ends can travel up the hair shaft, leading to further breakage.

A quick fix can help your hair look stronger and healthier, but long-term care and lifestyle changes will provide long-term benefits.

Fast Fixes

• Cut off the dead ends.
• Air-dry your hair when possible.
• Use a bond repair occlusive, such as Revolution Haircare 10 Bond Restore Lamellar Water 150 ml.

Long-Term Changes

• Find ways to reduce your stress levels.
• Increase the protein iron, biotin, and omega-3s in your diet.
• Wear a swimming cap when in chlorine.
• Change hairstyles often.
• Find the best products for your hair.

Products

• A good thickening shampoo & conditioner, such as the Absolute Collagen duo
• Use a leave-in hair treatment overnight, such as Redken All Soft Moisture Restore Leave-in Treatment.
• Try emollients such as Noughty To The Rescue Intense Moisture Treatment 300ml
• Ceramides, such as Nutri-Therm Hair Serum, provide a lighter protective barrier to calm frizz and distressed hair.

Products like these cannot repair broken hair, but they can help your hair appear thicker, fuller, and stronger while you work on healthy new hair growth.

Two-Week Reset

1. Hydrate and increase your nutrient intake
2. Reduce smoking, alcohol, and sugar intake.
3. Eat breakfast and healthy snacks to maintain energy for hair cell reformation.
4. Invest in a silk pillow case or bonnet.
5. Try heatless styling methods.
6. Switch up your hairstyle frequently.
7. Avoid overbrushing
8. Detangle gently with a spray and wide-toothed comb.
9. Experiment with bond restore products to find what works best for you.
10. Limit chemical treatments such as colouring and perms to encourage new growth.

If you notice a marked change in your appearance or health, including your hair, you should always consult your doctor to rule out anything more serious, such as a thyroid problem or other medical condition.

If symptoms persist or escalate, such as your scalp becoming drier or sudden diffuse breakage, you should book an appointment with a dermatologist or trichologist, who will be able to advise on your specific condition.

Don’t worry if your hair is breaking rather than shedding, it is common and can generally be fixed fairly quickly and simply. Once you have identified the cause, be it internal, environmental, chemical, or mechanical, you can start making changes accordingly. Reducing stress, boosting your nutrients, and smarter styling can all make a big difference.

We hope these tips and tricks have helped you stop the hair breakage cycle. Take this as your sign to invest in your hair with a two-week reset plan, tracking your progress with photos or videos so you can see how far you’ve come.