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Discover the top 13 reasons why your hair is breaking and learn expert-backed solutions to restore healthy, strong, and breakage-free hair naturally.
Hair breakage can be incredibly frustrating. Whether you’re transitioning, relaxing, coloring, or wearing tight hairstyles, understanding what’s causing your hair to snap and how to reverse the damage is essential. This article reveals the 13 most common causes of hair breakage and exactly how to stop it before it gets worse.
1. Damaging Hair Products Chemical-laden products such as relaxers, dyes, and perms strip hair of natural oils, making it brittle. Even shampoos with high pH levels can roughen the cuticle and cause breakage.
Best Practice: Switch to sulfate-free, pH-balanced hair products.
2. Nutrient Deficiencies Lack of essential vitamins like biotin, iron, zinc, vitamin D, and vitamin A leads to weaker hair strands. On the flip side, over-supplementation (especially vitamin A or selenium) can also cause damage.
Best Practice: Maintain a balanced diet or consult a health professional for safe supplementation.
3. Thyroid Imbalance Both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism can affect your hair growth cycle, resulting in thinning or shedding.
Solution: Regular blood tests and proper treatment can reverse hair thinning caused by thyroid issues.
4. Tight Hairstyles (H2) Ponytails, braids, and buns that pull on the scalp can cause breakage or even traction alopecia, especially in textured or coily hair.
Tip: Alternate hairstyles and avoid tight tension on your scalp.
5. Disordered Eating Eating disorders like anorexia or bulimia result in malnutrition, which disrupts the hair growth cycle.
Reminder: If you or someone you know struggles with disordered eating, seek professional medical help.
6. Chronic Stress Ongoing stress elevates cortisol levels, which negatively impacts your hair follicles and may result in shedding.
Solution: Incorporate stress-relief routines like journaling, yoga, or scalp massages.
7. Over-Brushing or Wet Combing Vigorous brushing or detangling while wet can lead to mechanical breakage.
Pro Tip: Use a wide-tooth comb with conditioner when detangling.
8. Trichotillomania This OCD-related disorder causes individuals to pull their hair compulsively, damaging follicles and causing visible thinning.
Treatment: Therapy, medication, and mindfulness techniques can be effective.
9. Hair Extensions Misuse Wearing extensions or weaves too tightly or for too long causes strain and weakens the natural hair.
Best Practice: Choose lightweight options and give your hair regular breaks.
10. Trichorrhexis Nodosa This condition weakens the hair shaft, making it break easily near the roots. It may be hereditary or caused by heat and chemical use.
Care: Avoid heat, perms, and opt for ultra-gentle products.
11. Over-Styling with Heat Daily use of flat irons, curling wands, or blow dryers strips moisture, making strands fragile.
Pro Tip: Use heat protectants and limit styling to 1-2 times per week.
12. Trichothiodystrophy A rare genetic disorder causing hair to grow without structural proteins, resulting in easy breakage.
Note: Medical management is required. Consult a dermatologist for evaluation.
13. Chlorine & Swimming Pools (H2) Frequent swimming in chlorinated water dries out the hair shaft and accelerates breakage.
Solution: Wet hair before swimming, wear a swim cap, and rinse with fresh water afterward.
Hair Breakage vs Hair Loss Breakage occurs along the hair shaft, while loss happens at the root. Understanding the difference helps target the right solution.
How to Repair Hair Breakage
- Stop harsh treatments immediately
- Deep condition weekly
- Avoid tight styles
- Eat nutrient-rich foods
- Use breakage-targeted hair products (like Fylisca’s Repair Oil)
When to See a Specialist If your breakage persists after 6–8 weeks of care, consult a dermatologist or trichologist to rule out underlying medical conditions.
Conclusion Most hair breakage is preventable and reversible. The first step is identifying the cause. With the right habits, your hair can grow stronger, healthier, and more beautiful than ever.
