Having beautiful hair is something we all want. Normally, a person sheds about 50 to 100 hairs every day. In cases of hair breakage, the number of hair being shed daily increases significantly. Hair breakage can be limited by having a healthy diet, limiting the use of hair care cosmetic products and avoiding unhealthy and hazardous hair care practices at the same time. What are hair breakage causes?

What Causes Hair Breakage?

Common causes include:

1. Devices for Hair Care

We all regularly use blow dryers, flat irons or curling irons. However, a good thing to know that all these devices for hair care can damage our hair. The warmth produced by these devices penetrates the hair shaft, making it become more vulnerable and prompt to hair breakage.

2. Cosmetic Products 

Using bleaches, dyes, perms or curl relaxers on daily basis will lead to a hair breakage as well. These cosmetic products for hair care contain hydroxide ions and peroxide ions, both harmful for the hair.

3. Accessories for the Hair

Other common hair breakage causes are hair accessories. Using hairpins or rubber bands to style the hair daily will lead to their breakage. In order to prevent such a thing, choose clips or loose fitting barrettes instead. Also, it is very important to style the hair differently by placing hair accessories in different areas of the head so the same hair does not get constantly damaged and prone to breakup.

4. Too Much Grooming

Grooming the hair too much is another common cause of hair breakage. Instead, you should gently massage the hair with shampoo and conditioner while having a shower or a bath and groom the hair carefully and slowly in order to prevent its damage.

5. Improper Comb

If you use a thin tooth comb, it is a great possibility that your hair will get damaged and mechanically break up. Instead, use a wide and seamless tooth comb.

6. Styling the Hair While Still Wet

While your hair is still wet you should avoid using brushes or combs. Instead, you need to style your hair using your fingers while they are still wet in order to prevent your hair from getting damaged and break up.

7. Styling the Hair in a Tight Ponytail

I guess everyone loves to style the hair in ponytails every now and then. However, styling the hair in a tight ponytail will cause stress at the hairline, eventually causing hair breakage as well.

8. Pulling Hair Constantly

One of common hair breakage causes is pulling the hair constantly. If you have the tendency to twirl your fingers in your hair, you should better stop doing so as it will damage your hair, causing more stress to the hair.

9. No Hairdressers

If you are a person who does not go very often and gladly to hairdressing salons, skipping regular haircuts when it’s necessary will make your hair weak, damaged and prone to hair breakage. It is especially important to cut your hair regularly so you can get rid of the split ends, making sure your hair remains healthy and beautiful at the same time.

10. Losing Weight

If you lose too much weight suddenly over a short period of time, hair breakage can occur. Losing more than 15 pounds can lead to hair breakage for several months. However, there is nothing to worry about as the health of your hair will resolve and get back to normal within a couple of weeks or months.

11. Low Protein Diet

Low protein diet is a great contributor to weak and thinner hair, even hair loss. In order to avoid hair breakage, make sure that your daily diet includes proteins, as hair is mostly made up of proteins, keratin.

12. Nutrient Deficiencies

Vitamins are very important for overall health, including the health of our hair. Common hair breakage causes are nutrient deficiencies, especially deficiencies of vitamin E, vitamin B, and iron. In order to prevent your hair from breaking, you should make sure you are getting enough vitamins with your daily diet.

Foods rich in vitamin E are spinach, salmon, or nuts. Foods rich in vitamin B are milk, bananas, poultry, meat, or broccoli. Foods rich in iron are organ meats, pumpkin seeds, soybeans, or iron -fortified cereals. The above mentioned food types and many other packed with vitamin E, vitamin B or iron should be part of your daily diet.

13. Hormonal Changes

Hormonal changes which usually occur during pregnancy and menopause are another common hair breakage cause. The hair tends to get dry and brittle at the same time. The hair can get damaged too if you recently started taking birth control pills.

14. Sleeping

Yes, sleeping has a great impact on your hair as well. If you are a wild sleeper, there is always the possibility of getting your hair damaged from the friction with the pillowcase. In these cases, hair breakage is more likely to appear on the back of the head.

15. Stress

Being constantly stressed out plays a great role on the health of your hair, leading to a reduced hairline and frontal hair breakage.

16. Sun Overexposure

One of many hair breakage causes is sun overexposure. During the warm summer months, the hair is more likely to get damaged due to sun exposure, compared to winter months.

17. Cold Weather

Yes, cold weather can damage the hair too, making them dry and brittle at the same time, stripping all the nutrients out of the hair.

18. Certain Diseases

If you have problems with hair breakage this could be a sign of a disease, such as hypothyroidism, or even eating disorders like anorexia nervosa and bulimia.

How to Stop the Hair Breakage

• Avoid using a blow dryer when it is not necessary.
• Use only low to medium heat when blow drying your hair.
• Keep the blow dryer about 8 inches away from your hair.
• Squeeze out the excessive water from the hair before blow drying.
• Avoid using hair dyes when it is not necessary.
• Avoid overexposure to the sun.
• Avoid chlorine as much as possible as it will cause your scalp to become itchy and flake, breaking up the hair as well.
• Avoid styling your hair in a tight ponytail or braids.
• Avoid washing your hair every day.
• Choose shampoos that are gentle on your hair and don’t contain harsh chemicals.
• Use a hair conditioner that contains vitamin E when washing your hair.
• Moisturize your hair regularly using a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner.
• Use protein treatments for the hair to prevent hair breakage.
• Deep condition your hair every now and then using hair masks. Mayonnaise, olive oil, and coconut oil are great for this purpose.
• Trim your hair regularly every 4 to 6 weeks.
• If your hair tangles, use a conditioner which detangles the hair and prevents it from breaking.