If you find strands of hair in your brush or shower drain, this might not mean that your hair is falling out. Instead, your tresses could be breaking off mid-strand. Many women experience hair breakage daily, but avoiding some key styling mistakes can prevent most of it.
Why Hair Breaks
The outer layer of the hair shaft that protects the inner filament, or cortex, is called the cuticle. According to hair care products maker Pantene, normal cuticles are smooth because they contain a layer of fatty acids, which naturally give hair its smooth and silky feel. Using chemicals or excessive heat to style your hair or over-brushing it can strip the cuticle of this fatty layer, leading hair to become weak and brittle. Beneath the cuticle, the cortex makes up the heart of each strand of hair. A healthy cortex is stronger than steel, according to Pantene, but when damaged by chemicals and heat, it loses its ability to retain moisture, leading to dry hair that is likely to break mid-strand.
Overhandling
Brushing or combing for too long, teasing, back-combing and vigorous shampooing can fray the cuticle, making hair weak. When shampooing, Dr. Paul McAndrews, from the American Hair Loss Association, recommends using fingers to gently cleanse the scalp instead of scrubbing. He also suggests combing hair with a wide-toothed comb when it's dry before entering the shower to minimize tangles, since wet hair is most prone to breaking. Look for conditioners that contain dimethicone. Brush just enough to style your hair, ignoring the old "100 strokes" rule.
Heat Styling
According to Pantene, the cells of the cuticle separate and break when exposed to high heat, leading not only to breakage, but causing hair to lose its smoothness and shine. To minimize heat damage, McAndrews recommends using a lower setting on your blow dryer and holding it at least 6 inches from your hair. Let your hair air dry about 50 percent before blow-drying, blow air down the hair shaft instead of in all directions, and use a vented brush. Pantene recommends turning down the heat on your flat iron or curling iron. Using a leave-in conditioner weekly can also protect heat-styled hair.
Processing
Chemical treatments weaken the hair shaft and lead to breakage. Dying your hair lighter than your natural color causes more damage than darkening it, according to McAndrews. Perming it more damaging than coloring, so you should only perm your hair every four months, and never perm and color less than 10 days apart. You should only re-color your hair every four to six weeks, and the longer you go in between, the better. Instead of coloring all over each time, only apply new color to roots when you can.
Pulling Too Tight
When wearing a tight ponytail, the rubber band around your hair creates pressure, which can cause hair to break. McAndrews recommends using hair pins and clips with rubber-coated edges. Anything that puts tension on the hair for extended periods, such as extensions or braids, can actually pull it out by the roots, so ask your hair stylist to start over if braids feel too tight or use temporary clip-in extensions instead of those sewn in to your own hair.
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