What Causes Hair Breakage? 10 Causes and How to Fix It

Have you been noticing broken hairs around your hairline, split ends, or more hair strands than usual in your hair brush? Don’t panic. There are many causes and — luckily — many fixes.  

So, what causes hair breakage? Plenty of factors can come into play, including heat damage, chemical treatments, tight hairstyles, over-brushing, and stress.

Below, we do a deep dive into the causes of hair breakage and share how you can stop it from happening— plus how to bring back a healthy head of hair. 

Before we explore the causes, what does hair breakage look like? You might notice split ends, broken hairs around your hairline or along the hair shaft, or more brittle, breakable hair. You could also just notice thinning hair or hair loss.

Hair breakage can be caused by many factors — and you might find that more than one may apply in your situation.

Here’s what could be to blame.

1. Heat Damage

If you rely heavily on blow dryers with brushes or curling irons and flat irons (we are, too), you may want to dial down the heat.

Research indicates that high heat can damage the hair shaft.

One study showed a hair dryer causes more surface damage than natural drying — and the higher the heat, the more damage it causes.

Beyond hair dryers and styling tools, a hot and dry climate could also lead to damaged hair and more hair breakage.

2. Chemical Damage

If you get chemical treatments to bleach, color, perm, or relax your hair, you could cause chemical damage.

This can lead to:

• Hair breakage

• Frizzy hair

• Weak and brittle hair

• Loss of volume

• Less shiny hair

Plus, if you color or bleach your hair, your hair follicles may be extra sensitive to high heat. Not exactly what you had in mind when you booked that hair appointment, right.

3. Bad Hair Care Products

Believe it or not, there are plenty of ingredients out there that are bad for hair health.

You want to make sure you’re not using a formula that’s too drying and avoid any products that irritate your scalp in any way.

And there’s such a thing as hair that’s too clean. Excessively cleaned hair can be harsh, rough, dull with frizz, and prone to tangling, so using a clarifying shampoo on the daily is a no-go as well.

4. Tight Hairstyles

Listen, there’s nothing like an Ariana Grande-style ponytail to snatch a face. But there’s also nothing like an Ariana Grande ponytail to cause hair breakage. Seriously, ponytail hair loss is a real thing!

Tightly pulled-back ponytails, buns, and braids are common causes of hair breakage. They put a lot of tension on your hair, causing — at best — hair breakage and — at worst — traction alopecia.

This type of hair loss is initially reversible once you stop going for tighter styles, but when you constantly put your hair strands under strain and stress, it can cause permanent hair loss.

Look out for signs of traction alopecia like hair breakage around your face or thinning hair wherever your hair is pulled tightly.

Wondering how to fix breakage in front of your hair? Loosen those hairstyles, girl.

5. Brushing Your Hair Too Much

Remember the old adage about brushing your hair 100 strokes before bed? Yeaaa, you may want to hold off.

Excessive brushing can put too much tension on the hair shaft and cause breakage and damage.

When you brush your hair, try not to be too rough when detangling or combing.

6. Strong-Hold Styling Products

Using excessive amounts of strong-hold hair products — think sprays, gels, waxes, etc. — can tug and pull on your hair follicles, which can contribute to hair breakage.

Plus, combing these products out of your hair subjects it to even more stress and strain, and increases that risk.

7. Aggressive Towel Drying

Do you step out of the shower and dry your hair with a rough towel rub? You might want to consider hitting pause on that habit.

Rubbing your hair aggressively can cause hair damage and — you guessed it — breakage.

The same goes for any other time you might aggressively rub or pull on your hair, like when washing or styling it.

8. Stress

While stress may not directly cause hair breakage, it can sometimes lead to hair loss. If your hair has looked thinner recently, consider the reasons why.

Things like a sudden illness or a toxic boss can stress you out enough to make your hair fall out. This type of excess shedding after a stressful event is known as telogen effluvium.

Telogen effluvium usually results in sudden hair thinning across your entire scalp, which will have you finding more hairs on your pillow, in the shower, or on your hairbrush.

Our guide on how to handle stress might come in handy.

9. Thyroid Disorders

One study showed that people with thyroid conditions can have altered follicle function, which can appear as dull, dry, and brittle strands.

The same data also showed that thyroid hormones (T3 and T4) can impact the hair growth cycle. The study looked at follicles in vitro, but it’s plausible, as hair shaft abnormalities have been clinically reported in both hypo-and hyperthyroid patients.

Thyroid issues can also cause diffuse hair loss across your entire scalp, rather than localized hair loss around your hairline, temples, or crown.

Consider reaching out to a healthcare provider to get your thyroid checked.

10. Diet

No, your hair’s not going to suddenly snap off when you take a bite of cheesecake, but what you eat can impact your hair health.

Not getting enough of these nutrients could contribute to hair loss:

• Protein

• Zinc

• Iron

• Biotin

Psst, our biotin gummies contain biotin and other ingredients to help strengthen your hair.

Now that you know what causes hair breakage, it’s time to do something about it.

Follow these tips to stop your hair from breaking and boost your hair health.

Gently Brush Your Hair — But Not When It’s Wet

The American Academy of Dermatology recommends avoiding brushing wet hair, period.

• If you’ve got straight hair, let your hair dry before using a wide-tooth comb to gently comb it out.

• If you’ve got textured or curly hair, wait until your hair is damp — not wet — before combing it with a wide-tooth comb.

Remember, try not to tug or yank at your hair when brushing it.

Learn more about the best hair brushes you can use to ensure healthy hair.

Use a Hair Dryer the Right Way

To lessen your chances of breakage, use a hair dryer approximately six inches from the hair shaft.

Try to continuously move the nozzle so you’re not focusing too much heat on one section of your hair for too long. Try lowering the heat, too.

Alternatively, let your hair air-dry.

Use Hydrating Hair Care Products

Look for formulas that will boost moisture with hydrating ingredients like coconut oil or argan oil. Hers’ volumizing shampoo is one good option to lessen breakage, strengthen hair, and boost volume.

Using a conditioner after every shampoo can help to minimize dryness and hair damage. The use of conditioners with natural oils or silicones are important to minimize the rubbing and friction of the cuticle cells.

Check out our guide to the best conditioners for dry hair.

Minoxidil

One of the most studied hair loss treatments, minoxidil, can be an effective treatment for hair loss and thinning. Commonly sold under the brand name Rogaine®, minoxidil is a topical or oral medication that stimulates hair growth.

Though its exact mechanism of action is still unknown, it’s believed to work by encouraging more oxygen, blood, and nutrients to the hair follicles.

You can try different varieties, including:

• Minoxidil drops. In a 2014 placebo-controlled trial, researchers found that both 2% and 5% versions of minoxidil improved hair thinning. Our minoxidil 2% drops are easy to apply and can help you regrow fuller, thicker hair.

• Oral minoxidil. Oral minoxidil can be especially helpful for those who don’t respond well to the topical version. Plus, you don’t need to worry about applying anything to your hair.

Why is my hair breaking? What are all these split ends about? Why is my hair breaking off in the front?! POV: You’ve noticed hair breakage.

Don’t panic. We’ve got you. While it can take some time to restore dry ends and encourage healthy new hair growth, it is possible.

Remember these key points to prevent hair breakage and restore healthy hair:

• Be gentle with your hair. Take it easy when blow-drying or towel-drying your hair. Take a break from frequent coloring, relaxing, and heat styling. Get regular trims and switch up your hairstyles in favor of loose styles. Be gentle on yourself too — stress won’t do your hair any favors.

• Get a proper hair care routine down. Use the right hair care products for your hair type and go for moisturizing ingredients to repair damage and prevent breakage.

• Rule out underlying conditions. Talk to your healthcare provider to make sure you don’t have a nutritional deficiency or a thyroid condition that could be causing breakage. Eat a nourishing balanced diet and consider supplements to help your hair look its best.

• Consider hair thinning treatments. Hair breakage can leave your hair feeling thin. There are effective hair loss treatments available to help you get fuller locks again.

Lastly, if you think dry and brittle hair is a major concern, read our guide to learn more about steps you can take to combat this.

If you need a little help figuring things out, we’ve got you! Start a consultation with a healthcare provider today. They can recommend products, prescriptions, and steps you can take to battle breakage and regain your hair.