Summer is here and the last thing any of us want to worry about is hair breakage and hair loss. We want our tresses flowy with the best beach waves achievable. However, hair breakage and hair loss can make us feel less confident in ourselves and we feel like we don’t measure up to our own standards of beauty and hair care.
Be kind to yourself and don’t let the following recommendations overwhelm you. Healthy hair doesn’t happen overnight so take your time and enjoy the process. You already are incredible and possess insurmountable beauty!
Before we chat about hair care, let’s go over the difference between hair loss and hair breakage.
Hair Loss vs. Hair Breakage
Hair loss occurs at the root of the hair strand. This causes entire hair strands to fall off. According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association, we naturally lose up to 100 hair strands per day. If you notice some hair shredding, just know that this is completely normal. Hair breakage, on the other hand, occurs anywhere else on the hair shaft (i.e. at the middle or the end). This is where parts of a strand breaks off rather than the whole strand from root to end. I have found that the majority of hair breakage is caused by how we manipulate our hair.
Some Causes of Hair Loss
- Nutritional deficiencies
- Trauma-psychological or physical
- Heredity
- Medicines (i.e. Some birth control pills)
- Significant Hormonal changes (i.e. after giving birth, menopause)
- Tight protective styles/chemical treatments
Causes of Hair Breakage
- Heat damage
- Bleaching/Coloring hair
- Lack of Moisture/Dryness
- Split ends
- Diet
- Over-washing
After seeing the causes, it can be overwhelming because there are many ways we can blame ourselves for what we aren’t doing right with our hair. But, take a breath, and remember to take it one step at a time and know your beauty isn’t dependent on how you care for your hair. If you think you may have hair loss or hair breakage, please don’t panic. Just start by chatting with your doctor or dermatologist concerning the best ways to treat hair loss and breakage. Below is a fun hair care routine you can follow to reduce both hair loss and hair breakage. This routine will help to revitalize your hair. Have patience with yourself, adapt the routine to make it your own and watch the amazing results!
Hair Care Beauty Routine
Shampoo only your scalp! This will still allow the shampoo to flow over the rest of the hair without drying out the hair too much. Try to use clarifying shampoos as they remove dirt and residue without stripping the hair of its natural oil (i.e.Native Vegan Strengthening Shampoo).
Do condition and deep condition all of your hair. Conditioning helps to restore the moisture in your hair that may have been lost during the shampooing process. Buy products like Botanic Hearth Keratin Conditioner for your hair that have water listed as the first ingredient. Water is the best thing for your hair and we want to use products that reflect that.
Dry your hair with a microfiber towel. Cotton towels absorb a lot of water which causes our hair to be too dry. Using a microfiber towel will retain most of the moisture your hair needs.
Blow drying? Try using the cool setting on your blow dryer to prevent hair damage. This as well as air drying are great hair care alternatives to prevent you from hair damage. However, if you must use heat, use a good heat protectant prior to drying to avoid hair breakage.
Trim your hair every 3-4 months. Trimming helps your hair to grow and helps to prevent or put an end to split ends.
Keep your hairstyles loose. Tight hairstyles can cause hair breakage and hair loss so try loosening your styles. For braids and protective styles, be gentle when manipulating the hair to avoid losing your edges.
Have a healthy diet. Eating fruits and vegetables helps our hair get the nutrients it needs. Taking vitamins like Biotin can also help with hair loss and hair breakage.
For curlier textures:
- Everyone has natural hair oil called sebum. This oil begins at the roots and works its way down to the ends. For curlier textures from 3a to 4c, the sebum often gets trapped in the hair coils before reaching the end of the hair shaft. This causes a lack of moisture and can create breakage. Therefore, oil needs to be added to the hair to prevent dryness and breakage.
- LOC= Liquid + Oil +Cream. Try using the LOC method to help keep moisture in and dryness out.
- Use a silk bonnet and/or pillowcase to prevent hair breakage from happening.
- Also try these amazing products:
Enjoy creating your own hair care routine to help prevent and reduce hair loss and damage! You deserve a break from breakage!
About the Author:
Tori Humphreys is a passionate woman who loves writing, singing, and making spontaneous puns. She is a wife and mother of two incredible boys. She earned a B.A. in Pre-Counseling from Moody Bible Institute. Currently, Tori is working towards her Life Coaching Certification. Her mission is to help others feel confident about themselves and to assist people who may feel stuck somewhere along their journey of life.
Hannah is a radio/podcast host, blogger, and mental health therapist who loves Jesus and fashion. Her work revolves around betrayal trauma and the eldest daughter population.
