How to Stop Hair Breakage Naturally – Tips & Remedies

Hair breakage is a frustrating hair concern experienced by many people all over the world. With the proper care, you can strengthen your hair and lower the chances of breakage. You can prevent hair from breaking by using natural, gentle hair products and avoiding heat styling tools. Continue reading this article to learn how to stop hair breakage, which also mentions a few natural remedies for hair breakage.

What Is Hair Breakage?

Hair breakage occurs when the individual hair strands become weak and break easily. It can be caused by things like excessive use of heat styling tools, chemical treatments, tight hairstyles, etc. This common hair concern, if not dealt with properly, can be very frustrating. That’s why looking after your hair and avoiding breakage is key to keeping it strong and healthy.

What Causes Hair Breakage?

The many common causes of hair breakage include lack of moisture in hair, washing hair with hard water, health problems, stress, and even your genes. Here are some important reasons behind hair breakage to help you identify what is causing your hair to break and to take the necessary steps to prevent it:

• Overstyling: Frequent use of heat styling tools like flat irons, curling wands, and blow dryers can make your hair dry and brittle. Using styling tools with high heat can harm your hair, making it weaker and more prone to breaking.
• Tight hairstyles: Tightly pulling your hair into styles like braids, buns, or ponytails, especially if done often or for long periods, can cause it to break. Constant tension on the hair can make it fragile and result in breakage.
• Chemical-based products: Chemical treatments like hair dye, perms, and relaxers, when used frequently on your hair, can damage it over time. These harsh processes can weaken the hair from within, increasing the chances of breakage. Switching to chemical-free treatments and products can help protect and strengthen your hair strands.
• Brushing wet hair: Combing or brushing your hair while it’s still wet can make it more likely to break. Wet hair also gets tangled more easily, and pulling through those knots roughly can lead to damage and breakage.
• Nutritional deficiencies: Not getting enough key nutrients like protein, iron, vitamin D, vitamin C, or biotin in your diet can make your hair weak and more likely to break. Eating a healthy, balanced diet and taking health supplements can help keep your hair strong and reduce breakage.
• Lack of moisture: When your hair doesn’t have enough moisture, it becomes dry, rough, and more likely to break. Dry hair is weaker and can easily split or snap. The outer layer of your hair (the cuticle)might also get lifted, making it even more vulnerable to damage. To avoid this, use moisturising hair products like nourishing oils and try to limit the use of heat styling tools.
• Hard water: The minerals like calcium and magnesium contained in hard water can build up on your hair over time. This buildup will result in dry and rough hair, and there is an increased chance that it is more likely to break. Try using a clarifying shampoo or installing a water softener to help protect your hair from the damage caused by hard water.
• Medical conditions: If you suffer from health issues like thyroid problems, iron deficiency, or autoimmune disorders, they can affect your hair health. These conditions may disrupt the normal hair cycle and make strands weaker, leading to breakage. So, it is highly important to treat the underlying health condition to improve your hair health and protect it from further damage.
• Stress: Too much stress can upset your hair’s normal growth pattern, leading to slower growth, more hair falling out, and easier breakage. Stress hormones may cause hair to shed earlier than it should, making it look thinner and more fragile. Practising stress-relieving activities like meditation, deep breathing, or regular exercise can go a long way in keeping your hair healthy and strong.
• Genetics: In some cases, the cause of your hair breakage may be linked to genetic factors. If you inherit traits like fine hair or a naturally weaker hair structure, then your hair is more likely to break. Even though this cause of hair breakage is not under your control, you can still prevent hair breakage by using gentle hair care routines to keep it nourished and healthy.

Tips on How to Stop Hair Breakage

Here are some of the most significant tips on how to stop hair breakage:

Opt for a Gentle Shampoo

Shampoos with harsh chemicals as ingredients can strip away your hair’s natural oils, making it dry, brittle, and prone to breakage. Instead, use a mild, herbal shampoo that’s free from chemicals like sulfates and parabens. It can help maintain your scalp’s balance and keep your hair soft, strong, and healthy.

Deep Condition Your Hair Regularly

Deep conditioning can prevent hair breakage, as it provides intense moisture and nourishment from within. It can strengthen the hair shaft, making your strands softer, smoother, and stronger. Using natural hair masks or deep conditioning oils will provide hydration to your hair and thus reduce the chance of breakage over time.

Use a Wide-Tooth Comb

A wide-tooth comb is gentle on your hair and helps to detangle it without pulling it harshly or causing stress. This type of comb is especially useful when your hair is wet, as it’s more delicate and prone to breakage in this state. Start combing from the ends and then move your way up to avoid unnecessary hair damage.

Protect Your Hair While Sleeping

The friction between your hair and a cotton pillowcase can lead to tangles, dryness, and breakage. So to prevent hair breakage, use a silk or satin pillowcase, as these fabrics are smoother and much gentler on your hair. Tie your hair loosely in a braid or bun style before bed to avoid tangles and keep it protected overnight.

Trim Your Hair Regularly

If you are wondering how to stop hair breakage, getting regular hair trims done can be one of the easiest ways to keep your hair healthy and strong. Trimming helps remove split ends and damaged sections, thus preventing breakage from moving up the hair shaft. Moreover, your hair will look fresh, neat, and well-shaped, which makes it easier to manage and style.

Eat a Healthy Diet

Foods containing nutrients like biotin, vitamin E, iron, and protein are good for your hair as they help to grow your hair stronger, repair damage, and allow it to stay healthy. Make sure to eat a balanced diet full of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins so that your body possesses everything it needs to support healthy hair and prevent breakage.

Use Natural Hair Dye

Most of the chemical hair dyes contain harsh ingredients like ammonia and peroxide that can damage your hair by stripping away its natural oils and proteins, resulting in dry, brittle, and breakage-prone hair. Instead, go for natural alternatives like henna powder orindigo powder, which help colour the hair, offering nourishment and strengthening benefits.

Don’t Towel Dry Your Hair

When you towel-dry your hair, the wet strands get pulled and tugged, resulting in stress and breakage. Instead, use a soft cotton t-shirt or a microfiber towel to drain out excess water. This helps reduce friction and maintain your hair’s natural texture and strength.

Avoid Heat Styling

Frequent use of heat styling tools like straighteners, curling irons, or blow dryers can damage the protein structure of your hair, making it weak and less elastic. If you still need to style with heat, always apply a heat protectant spray or serum and keep the temperature on a low or medium setting to minimise damage.

Drink Enough Water

Staying hydrated internally is equally important for your hair as it is for your skin. When you don’t drink enough water, your hair can become dry, brittle, and more prone to breakage. Drink enough water throughout the day to keep your hair moisturised from within.

Natural Remedies to Stop Hair Breakage

Here are some of the effective home remedies for hair breakage that are not only easy to use at home but are also packed with nutrients to nourish, strengthen, and rejuvenate your hair from root to tip.

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil, rich in lauric acid, can deeply penetrate the hair shaft and offer moisture and nourishment to your hair. It can strengthen the weak hair strands and prevent breakage. Moreover, the anti-inflammatory properties of coconut oil can calm an irritated scalp, creating a healthier environment for hair growth.

Aloe Vera

Aloe vera is abundant in nutrients like vitamins, amino acids, minerals, and enzymes. When applied to the scalp and hair, it helps hydrate, soothe, and strengthen the strands, preventing hair breakage and dryness.

Apple Cider Vinegar

The pH-balancing properties of apple cider vinegar help maintain your hair and scalp’s natural pH balance, which is essential for preventing dryness and breakage. It also acts as a gentle cleanser that helps remove product buildup and excess oil and thus promotes healthier hair growth.

Egg Mask

Eggs are rich in protein, biotin, and healthy fats that are all essential for strong, shiny hair. The benefits of egg for hair include repairing damaged hair, restoring moisture, providing an extra dose of nourishment to your hair, etc. The benefits of egg hair masks can be maximised by adding olive oil or honey for extra hydration.

Avocado

Avocado is another natural remedy for hair breakage, loaded with vitamins and minerals, including vitamins B, E, and K, as well as healthy fats and antioxidants. These nutrients can deeply moisturise the hair, reduce frizz, and prevent breakage.

Castor Oil

Castor oil, rich in ricinoleic acid, can help improve blood flow to the scalp and nourish hair follicles. It also forms a barrier around the hair shaft, sealing in moisture and preventing dryness and breakage.

Green Tea

Green tea contains antioxidants that can help reduce hair breakage and promote healthy growth. Use a cup of green tea as a post-shampoo rinse to refresh and strengthen your hair naturally.

Sweet Almond Oil

Sweet almond oil is lightweight and a deeply nourishing natural remedy for hair breakage. It’s rich in omega-3 fatty acids and Vitamin E, which helps to strengthen hair from the inside out, thus minimising breakage and improving overall texture.

Chamomile Essential Oil

Chamomile oil can hydrate, soften, and strengthen the hair, while its antioxidants combat damage caused by environmental stressors. It can detangle and tame frizzy hair, leaving it smooth and manageable.

Honey

As a natural humectant, honey retains the moisture of the hair. A deep-conditioning treatment prepared by mixing honey with olive oil can soften dry hair and reduce breakage.

Takeaway

From switching to natural remedies and gentle hair care products to eating a healthy diet and avoiding heat styling, these simple tips can help you strengthen your hair. If you have been wondering how to stop hair breakage, the answer lies in consistently following and making some mindful changes to your hair care routine to get healthier and stronger hair.

Frequently Asked Questions on How to Stop Hair Breakage