How To Prevent Hair Breakage

First aid for damaged hair: If your locks are starting to look strawy and brittle, it’s time to take action. What causes hair breakage and how do you put an end to split ends? Our guide gets to the bottom of the matter and provides tips and solutions to get your hair back to its good old healthy self in no time…and ensures it remains that way.

It is well known that beauty comes from within. This is no different with our hair. If it’s healthy and getting all the nutrients it needs, it will look stunning! But what if this isn’t the case even though you’re doing everything you possibly can? What if hair breakage is affecting your otherwise smooth, shiny, flawless mane? You have to find the causes and take effective measures against them – for long-term healthy hair.

What is hair breakage?

There's a widespread misunderstanding that we'd better debunk right away. Many people believe that hair breakage and split ends are the same thing. Wrong! Split ends is the name given when the ends of the hair are broken and begin to split. Hair breakage, on the other hand, is more severe structural damage. It can be recognized by small white dots that indicate that the hair is broken. These fractures can occur not only at the ends, but all over the hair, making it look brittle and strawy. In principle, hair breakage can affect any length and any type of hair, although long hair is more susceptible due to having a longer ‘lifespan’ than shorter hair and also having more surface area.

What causes hair breakage?

Make sure you don't commit any of these hair sins

As a rule, hair breakage is caused by external influences that dry out the hair, reduce its flexibility, and attack the surface structure. In addition to environmental factors, hair breakage can also be caused by stress due to too much styling as well as lack of care. Here are some of the causes:

Intensive or incorrect brushing, teasing, or aggressively combing wet hair
Pressure, e.g. from elastic bands or hair clips
Frequent coloring because this opens up the cuticle layer
Chemical treatments, such as perms
Heat: direct sunlight, but also styling tools such as hair dryers, curling irons, or straightening irons.

What are the solutions?

Once the hair is broken, the damage is unfortunately irreparable. But don't worry, the first sign of superficial damage can be stopped in its tracks and with the right care you can prevent hair breakage. Here are some tips:

Towel drying: Wet hair should always be gently patted dry, never rubbed. Wet hair can break more easily and therefore requires extra care. Expert tip: Instead of classic towels that can roughen the cuticle layer, hair experts swear by soft cotton shirts. Use an old t-shirt to dab your hair dry instead of a towel: they are gentle and don’t remove moisture from your hair.

Keratin care: Ask your hairdresser for a keratin treatment. This is a straightening procedure from Brazil, in which the hair is enriched with keratin. This elastic protein is the natural main component of our hair and rebuilds it from the inside. The result: strong hair that is smooth and supple. Keratin treatment is suitable for all hair types and lasts up to four months.

Another tip for the daily beauty program: there are also shampoos and conditioners that contain keratin and, if used regularly, can protect against hair breakage.

Mask treatment: Treat your hair in the form of a hair mask. The intensive cream contains active repair ingredients that make the hair healthy and supple again. In addition, most masks contain rich oils that provide moisture.

Brunette woman holding the ends of her hair

Regular trims are super important to keep your hair in tip-top condition!

Trim the ends: Get a trim every six to eight weeks. This removes split ends and leaves your hair looking fresh and healthy again. Since the ends are the oldest part of our hair and have already experienced a lot, they require extra care. Oils provide dry ends with moisture and important nutrients.

More than hot air: Opt for a hair dryer with ion technology. They extract less moisture from the hair because the ions split the water molecules in the hair and make them smaller. In addition, these types of hair dryers seal the outer cuticle layer of the hair, which also adds shine.

Styling with ceramic: When buying straightening irons or curling irons, make sure that the appliances have a ceramic coating. This ensures that the heat is more evenly distributed, and enables the styling tools to glide more smoothly through the hair due to decreased friction.

Carefully brushing: When brushing your hair, always start at the ends. This way, you don’t make any tangles worse by adding more strands from the top of your head. Take your time too when untangling knots so you don’t rip your hair. The gentlest choice for hair: natural bristles.

Keep your cool: Always apply heat protection to your hair before blow-drying and styling. This is a must! High temperatures can damage the structure and cause hair breakage. Opt for styling tools with different heat settings so you can give your hair a rest every now and then.