Hair Breakage: Causes and Treatments
Hair breakage can be a trivial issue for some but it is something that should not be taken lightly. Studies have shown that hair breakage is becoming a more frequent cause of hair loss. Most women and men alike have suffered from this condition at certain points in their lives. The good thing about it though, is that it can be prevented and treated.
The hair is made up of many layers. The outer layer is referred to as the cuticle and is composed of dead cells that lay on top of each other. These layers of cells serve as a protection for the cortex, which is the hair’s middle layer and is made up of coiled proteins which generally compose the hair strands. When the hair’s cuticle wears out, hair breakage and split ends happen.
Hair breakage can be due to a lot of causes. It may be caused by stress, poor diet, over styling, and overlapping chemical treatments. Whatever the cause maybe, hair breakage is a serious problem which can lead to permanent hair loss if left untreated.
Where the breakage is occurring can help you identify the cause of hair breakage which in turn can help you determine the best method of treatment for it. Is the breakage prominent on the crown? Is it mainly at the ends? Is it at random? Knowing where it occurs is the first way to treating hair breakage. If the breakage is concentrated at the ends, it may be due to too much use of heat styling implements. Limit the use of these for a while and see if your condition improves. Also, it might help if you put extra conditioning at the ends. This will keep them from being susceptible to dryness and breakage. If you notice that the breakage is mostly at the crown, this might be due to some hair accessories that can pull the hair. Clips and bands can trap the hair and pull them off. Opting for loose and less constricting hair styles can lessen hair breakage. If the breakage occurs almost anywhere, this may be due to frequent chemical treatments that may have weakened the hair strands and made them more vulnerable to breakage. Regular conditioning and limiting hair treatments to twice a year can solve this problem. Also, adopting a low maintenance hairstyle may help reduce your trips to the salon for treatments. Layered hair is more prone to breakage compared to one length hair. This is why one length hair is strongly recommended by hair experts.
The best way to stop hair breakage is to go easy on hair products and limit the frequency of hair treatments. Chemicals can be harsh to the hair. Chemically-damaged hair calls for longer and more expensive treatments. Regular use of plant-based products such as olive oil and cocoa butter is recommended to maintain the natural moisture balance of your hair. Another important thing you have to do is to have a healthy and well-balanced diet. The food we eat is from where the hair gets most of its nutrients from so it’s just right to load up on vitamins that are good for the hair such as vitamins A and E.
Author Bio: Kristy is a professional stylist and writer. Need help choosing a new hair iron? Make sure to check out our list of best rated hair straighteners. Read reviews on professional irons at http://hairstraightenersreviews.com
Category: Medicines and Remedies
Keywords: curly hair, hair care, hair styling, flat irons, hair straightener, hair treatments