3 Types of Hair Breakage & Why You Should Know About Them
It’s important to understand the different types of hair breakage, why they happen, and what you can do to keep your hair healthy. Read along to avoid these common mistakes and understand what you can do to prevent these common hair breakage issues from happening to you.
Types of Hair Breakage
There are 3 main types of breakage.
•Chemical
•Physical
•Emotional
Emotional?.. Really?… Yes!
We will get into each of these and explain how and why they happen, and how you can prevent them.
Chemical Breakage
The most commonly known type of breakage is Chemical breakage. Chemical breakage can happen in a number of ways. From lightener, box color, relaxers, chemical straightening systems, and more. It can also be a combination of these together that will create more breakage.
Let’s start with a lightener.
If you overlap lightener with too strong of a developer or leave it on for too long, you can damage the hair to the point that it gets gummy when wet and brittle when dry.
By gummy, I mean, have you ever over-cooked a noodle to the point where it starts falling apart?
Sort of like that, but it’s your hair.
The same can happen when you lighten box color that contains metallic minerals. If you’re not careful and upfront with your stylist, there is a potential for serious damage when the time comes to put your hair in foils.
A chemical reaction between the metallic minerals and the lightener can cause your hair to break and could even start smoking in the foils. Products such as Sun-in also contain chemicals that are damaging to your hair. Not to mention the Sun itself! Which can cause split ends, dryness, and breakage.
For those with naturally textured hair, be cautious of at-home relaxers or your stylist overlapping the product onto previously relaxed hair. The same can be said about chemical straighteners/smoothers for all hair types and even perms. Overlapping can weaken the hair to the point it breaks or snaps off. Perms can be over-processed and “melt” your hair.
This isn’t to say “don’t do it”, but more of a “be cautious,” do your research and ask questions to your stylist.
Here are a few ways you can prevent chemical breakage:
1. Avoid box color.
2. Get regular haircuts.
3. Find a stylist that best fits your specific hair needs.
4. Be honest with your stylist about your hair history.
5. Follow the product recommendations from your stylist.
If you already have chemical breakage, here are some steps you can take to repair your hair:
1. Strengthening treatments such as Olaplex no. 3
2. Get a fresh cut to take off some of the damage.
3. Deep conditioning treatments such as Redken Extreme Mask and Biolage Hydrasource Conditioning Balm
Biolage Hydrasource Conditioning Balm
Physical Breakage
Now, on to physical hair breakage. This type of breakage can come from the following:
- Hair ties
- Your brush/comb
- Put your hair up when it’s wet.
The hair tie you use is just as important as how you use it. The hair ties with the metal attachment or the elastic ones that are glued together are not recommended! These will get caught in the hair can break or snap your strands if not removed carefully.
The growing number of baby hairs around your front hairline and the nape of your neck can also be attributed to wearing a ponytail too often or too tight.
Slicking your hair back is stylish, but be gentle with those baby hairs.
The brush you choose right out of the shower and on your dry hair is very important. If you’re using the improper brush or brushing/combing too aggressively, there is a chance for breakage or pulling your hair out entirely.
Deep cleaning your brushes has many benefits. Build-up of old products, hair oils, dust, and even bacteria can be on your brush! When you put all of those things on top of freshly washed hair, it can make your hair look dull or oily. For those who have a super oily scalp, this could be a contributing factor.
Clean your brushes about once a month with a pea size of shampoo and rinse underwater. This will get your brush free of bacteria and reduce the build-up of natural oils and products being put back into your hair. Clean bushes keep your hair looking luxurious.
If you have wavy hair, a wet brush or a wide-toothed comb will do the trick. For those with naturally textured hair, skip the brush altogether and use a wide-toothed comb instead. The best brush for wet hair is a paddle brush by Wet.
You can also opt to toss out your old brush! It’s okay to let go of the one you’ve had for 10 years and get a new one. We must protect the strands!
Furthermore, try not to put your hair in a bun or ponytail when it’s wet. Hair has about 50% more elasticity when wet. In this state, the hair is more fragile and is more prone to breaking.
To prevent physical breakage, Opt for a scrunchie, a clip, or styling your hair in a slightly loose braid. Put the hair tie at the end of your braid instead of wearing it in a bun. That will greatly reduce the risk of snapping or breaking your hair, especially when it’s wet.
Scrunchies – they have other color options as well
If you are unsure about what brush to use or if you should be using a brush at all, ask your stylist.
Emotional Breakage
Last but certainly not least, there is emotional or “stress” breakage. This one is tricky…
This type of stress comes from within and you may not consider that this would be something that can affect your hair. That divorce you went through last year, the loss of a loved one, stress from major surgery, having a child, etc. All kinds of major life stressors can affect your locks.
The main area where we observe this type of breakage is localized from the front hairline to the nape of the neck around the ears. While this is not the only sign, it is the most common. This is usually gradual and can happen 3-6 months after the END of a major stressor. In some cases, you may not even notice until you see new hairs coming back in. Starting a new vitamin routine such as hair skin and nails or biotin can increase hair growth. Certain medications prescribed by your doctor can go either way in increasing or decreasing hair growth.
On average, your hair is 3 months behind your body. This means if you start vitamins specifically to help your hair, please be patient. You will see the results! Hair can possibly be shed after having a baby. This type of shedding is absolutely normal, and there should be no cause for concern. Keep taking your multivitamins to grow strong, healthy hair. Preventing emotional breakage can be fairly simple.
When you notice you are overly stressed, Take a few extra moments to relax, breathe and reflect. However that best fits your lifestyle. Being happy and healthy keeps your hair happy and healthy! Lastly, you are more than welcome to set an appointment with us here at Blondies. We can help you relax with a cold drink and some good tunes, while providing a thorough consultation. Your stylist will form a personalized plan to guide you to the healthy hair of your dreams!
If you have any questions regarding your hair and products better suited for your hair, ask your stylist.
If you liked this blog, or want to learn about more topics, let us know!