How To Fix Hair Breakage: Best Treatments In 2024

Are you tired of dealing with hair breakage and split ends? Whether struggling with heat damage, chemical processing, or the wear and tear of everyday styling, there are strategies to fix hair breakage. 

With proper knowledge and a little TLC, you can restore your hair’s health and reclaim the luscious locks you’ve dreamed of having. 

Read on to dive into the causes of hair breakage, explore superfoods for hair repair, and learn some practical tips to strengthen your hair.

How To Fix Hair Breakage: Best Treatments

The best way to treat hair breakage is to learn how to fix dry and damaged hair. Various treatments can target the root cause of your breakage and bring back more robust, resilient hair. Here are some options:

Keep Your Hair Moisturized

If you have dry, frizzy, and brittle hair, or you frequently treat your hair with chemicals for color or texture, you’ll need to pamper your hair periodically. Deep condition hair with a product recommended for your specific hair type to reverse the damage and moisturize your locks. 

Target Split Ends

Use a daily split-end sealer or a nourishing leave-in conditioner to smooth split ends after detangling your hair. You’ll also want to ensure you get regular trims to cut the split ends before they move up the hair strand.

Avoid Excessive Heat

Adopting healthy hair care practices to address and prevent hair breakage is essential. This includes minimizing hot tools, opting for lower heat settings when necessary, and using heat-protectant products. Try only to air-dry your hair and brush it until it’s dry. 

Use The Right Products

Moisturizing and nourishing your hair with a hydrating shampoo and conditioner or a moisturizing hair mask can improve resilience and reduce breakage. Talk to your stylist for product recommendations. Focus on repairing and conditioning hair to reverse the damage. Avoid volumizing shampoos since they work to remove oil buildup and can dry out your hair and scalp. 

Consider Supplements

A balanced diet with adequate protein, vitamins, and minerals can support hair health from within. If you have a deficiency or scalp disorder, you might also benefit from supplement usage — especially when hair follicles don’t receive proper nutrition to keep hair healthy and vibrant. Collagen, biotin, and other hair supplements might help promote healthy hair growth and prevent damage.

Of course, you’ll want to speak to your doctor before beginning any supplements. Unless you get blood work done and discover a deficiency or scalp disorder, a supplement may not be necessary. Plus, taking certain nutrients in excess can exacerbate hair issues.^[1] 

What Does Hair Breakage Look Like?

Hair breakage happens when the hair shaft becomes weak and brittle, causing hair strands to snap or split easily. It’s a common hair concern caused by various factors,^[2] including over-processing and poor hair care habits. 

Treatment for hair breakage starts with recognizing the signs, which include:

• Split ends.
• Lack of shine. 
• Frayed hair strands.
• Hair appears to grow slowly. 
• Flyaways and uneven strands.
• Decreased volume, limp, or lifeless locks. 
• Excess hair loss during brushing, washing, or styling. 
• Changes in texture, such as more rough, dry, or brittle. 

If you’ve noticed some of these signs, read on to learn what might be causing it so you change your hair care habits. 

What Causes Hair Breakage?

While we all know heat isn’t the best, there are a few other things to watch out for. The most common causes of hair breakage include

Hair Products And Styling Methods

If you’re searching for how to repair breakage in hair, you’ll want to explore the products and styling methods you regularly use. Products used for coloring, perming, or relaxing the hair contain chemicals that can weaken hair and leave you vulnerable to breakage. 

Your shampoo’s pH level^[3] can contribute to hair breakage. Alkaline shampoos can cause a negative charge on the hair, creating more friction between strands. Since the scalp and hair shaft have an acidic pH, a slightly acidic shampoo or conditioner pH of 5.5 or less might help strengthen the hair. 

Heat And Lack Of Moisture

Heat damage prevents moisture from entering the hair shaft, causing brittle strands and excessive hair damage. Over time, blow-dryers, straighteners, curling iron tools, and other hot tools can increase your risk of breakage. 

Towel Drying

Although towel drying your hair to avoid heat exposure from hair dryers may seem like a better alternative, the friction of towel drying can increase hair damage. Additionally, since wet hair breaks more easily than dry,^[4] letting your hair dry naturally is the best option. 

Diet

Nutrition plays an integral role in promoting healthy hair. Studies show individuals with nutrient deficiencies may have dull, dry, and weakened hair. Severe nutrient deficiencies may lead to hair loss.^[5] Balanced vitamin D, B vitamins, iron, zinc, and selenium are associated with hair issues.^[1]

Tight Hairstyles

Frequently tying back your hair in tight buns, braids, or other styles that use elastic bands can also lead to breakage. Tight hairstyles can break the hair away from the root. Traction alopecia^[6] is a temporary loss from regularly styling your hair with elastic ties. 

Stress

Extreme stress can also cause your hair to shed excessively, referred to as telogen effluvium.^[7] Check with a healthcare professional if you experience hair loss associated with daily stress. 

Thyroid And Eating Disorders

Finally, some health conditions can cause hair breakage. Those with thyroid disorders may notice thinning hair, excessive shedding, or bald patches as the hair becomes brittle and dry. Since thyroid hormones are required for hair follicles’ physiological growth and maintenance,^[8] hair loss may be a sign of a thyroid disorder. 

Malnutrition from eating disorders can also disrupt the natural hair growth cycle. Additionally, studies show that anorexia^[9] and other psychiatric conditions can present with hyperthyroidism.

Tips For Healthy Hair And Breakage Prevention

Consider the following tips to maintain healthy hair and prevent breakage:

• Style and comb hair gently, especially when wet and prone to breakage. Use a wide-toothed comb or soft-bristle brush for detangling. Start from the end and work your way up. 
• Reduce the use of heat-styling tools such as flat irons, curling irons, and blow dryers. Set them to the lowest heat possible and apply a heat protectant spray when using. 
• Limit harsh chemical treatments like relaxing, perming, and bleaching. Opt for gentler alternatives or professional treatment. 
• Avoid tight hairstyles that put excessive tension on the hair. Choose looser styles or use protective products to strengthen hair strands. 
• Keep your hair hydrated by choosing moisturizing shampoos and conditioners that suit your hair type. Regularly use a deep conditioning treatment or hair mask to strengthen the hair when needed. 
• Schedule regular haircuts every six to eight weeks to remove split ends and prevent hair shaft damage. Trimming hair regularly promotes healthier hair growth and prevents breakage. 
• Consume a balanced diet rich in vitamins, protein, and minerals that support overall hair health. Consider supplements for optimal nutrition if you have a deficiency or disorder. 
• Shield your hair from harmful UV rays, extreme weather conditions, chlorine, and other environmental damage. Wear hats or use protective sprays when necessary. 

The Takeaway

Treating hair breakage requires care, patience, and consistency. By implementing the tips and strategies discussed in this article, you can take proactive steps to restore your hair’s health and prevent future damage. With dedication and a well-rounded hair care routine, you can repair and strengthen your hair, paving the way for more luscious, resilient locks you can confidently flaunt.

---