Hair Breakage Around the Face: Causes, Prevention, and How to Fix It

Key Takeaways:

• Hair breakage around the face is commonly caused by tension, heat styling, and dryness, especially along the hairline where strands are finer and more fragile.

• Tight hairstyles and repeated friction can lead to breakage that may resemble thinning or early hair loss near your temples.

• Increasing moisture, reducing mechanical stress, and adjusting styling habits may noticeably reduce breakage within several weeks.

• Persistent breakage around your face may signal an underlying issue, such as traction alopecia, nutritional deficiency, or hormonal imbalance.
  

Hair breakage around your face is a common concern, especially when short, uneven pieces appear along the hairline or temples. Because these hairs are often finer and exposed to more styling stress, they’re particularly prone to damage. 

It’s usually reversible, however. Although you can’t repair a broken hair shaft, you can change your habits to protect new hairs. 

Below, we’ve unpacked 10 frequent causes of hair breakage and provided science-backed tips for getting the luscious, full hair of your dreams.

Hair breakage around your face occurs when strands near the hairline weaken and snap rather than shed from the root. This typically results in short, uneven hairs along the forehead, temples, or sideburn area.

Common signs include:

• Shorter hairs that look wispy

• Split or frayed ends near the hairline

• Increased brittleness compared to hair at the back of the scalp

Because these hairs frame your face, breakage is often more noticeable, even when overall hair density is unchanged.

Hair breakage around your face reflects shaft damage — not follicle loss — and is often preventable.

Your hairline is uniquely vulnerable to breakage due to both genetics and daily habits.

Contributing factors may include:

• Finer hair diameter. Hairs with a smaller diameter may be naturally thinner and less resilient.

• Frequent manipulation. Styling, brushing, and touching may concentrate stress on the front hairline.

• Environmental exposure. Sun, wind, and dry air may disproportionately affect exposed facial-framing strands.

Over time, repeated stress may weaken the hair shaft, increasing the likelihood of breakage.

In short, hair around your face breaks more easily because it experiences more stress and has less structural strength.

Hair breakage can be caused by many factors. 

1. Heat Damage

If you rely heavily on heat styling, blow dryers, curling irons, or hair straighteners, you may want to dial down the heat.

Research indicates that excessive heat can damage the hair shaft, leading to breakage. A 2025 study using laboratory models of heat exposure shows that repeated blow-drying can damage the hair cuticle, and that higher temperatures are associated with more severe hair damage.

Beyond hair dryers and styling tools, a hot and dry climate may also damage hair and cause more breakage over time.

How to fix it: If you need to use heat tools, reducing the temperature, increasing the distance between your hair and your hair dryer to at least 15 cm, and using a heat-protectant product may help keep those strands healthy.

2. Chemical Damage

Chemical treatments to bleach, color, perm, or relax your hair may cause chemical damage.

Chemical treatments may damage the hair cuticle, the protective layer of the hair shaft. This may lead to:

• Breakage

• Frizzy hair

• Weak and brittle hair

• Loss of volume

How to fix it: Wherever possible, try to opt for gentle hair treatments, like low-ammonia or ammonia-free hair dye. If you can’t avoid chemically treating your hair, try to space your treatments out and use deep-conditioning hair masks to counteract the drying effects.  

Read more about how to repair chemically damaged hair. 

3. Harsh Hair Care Products

There are plenty of ingredients out there that can be bad for hair health.

Sulfates — like sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate, and ammonium lauryl sulfate — are found in many shampoos. Although sulfates can be helpful for clarifying your scalp once in a while, overusing them may lead to dry hair.

Overwashing your hair may also strip your hair of natural oils, leaving your hair dry, brittle, and frizzy.

How to fix it: Avoid using a formula with products that irritate your scalp. If you use a sulfate or clarifying shampoo, follow it with a conditioner to restore moisture. A hairstylist can recommend hair products that suit your hair type. 

4. Tight Hairstyles

Tightly pulled hairstyles like ponytails, buns, and braids are common causes of hair breakage. They can lead to traction alopecia, a form of hair loss caused by prolonged or repetitive tension on the hair. The hair loss may be initially reversible if you stop wearing tight hairstyles. However, if the strain continues over a long time, the hair follicles can become permanently damaged, leading to irreversible hair loss.

Signs of traction alopecia include hair breakage or thinning wherever your hair is pulled tightly.

How to fix it: Loosening your hairstyle may help if you do it right away. Ponytails, buns, and braids are okay, but try not to make them too tight. Be gentle when you take your hairstyles out, too — don’t pull roughly on your hair ties.

5. Brushing Your Hair Too Much

Remember the old adage about brushing your hair 100 strokes before bed? You may want to hold off on that. Excessive brushing can put too much tension on the hair shaft and cause breakage. 

It’s also a good idea to be careful when detangling knots in your hair.

How to fix it: Try not to be too rough when brushing your hair. If you need to detangle your hair, use a wide-tooth comb and consider using a leave-in conditioner or detangling spray to make the process smoother and minimize damage.

6. Strong-Hold Styling Products

Using excessive amounts of strong-hold hair products like sprays, gels, and waxes makes hair rigid. When stiff hair gets styled, it can tug and pull on hair follicles, which may contribute to hair breakage.

Additionally, combing these products out of your hair subjects it to even more stress and strain.

How to fix it: Go au natural once in a while, if you can. Or select hair styling products that have a weaker hold. And be gentle when getting the products out of your hair.

7. Handling Your Hair Aggressively

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 – especially when it’s wet and more prone to breakage – can cause hair damage.

The same goes for any other time you might aggressively rub or pull on your hair, like when washing or styling it. Be gentle when removing your hair elastic, and consider using a satin scrunchie when wearing your hair up — it reduces friction. 

How to fix it: The American Academy of Dermatology suggests drying your hair by wrapping it in a towel. Alternatively, pat your hair dry gently or let it air-dry. Also, be gentle when washing or styling your hair!

8. Stress

While stress may not directly cause hair breakage, it can sometimes lead to temporary hair loss. And yes, stress-related hair loss is a real thing. 

Trichotillomania is a medical condition in which you pull or tug at your hair in response to a stressful or traumatic situation. Although trichotillomania doesn’t only affect the hairs around your face, those are often the easiest hair to reach.

How to fix it: Our guide on how to handle stress might come in handy. But if you’re so stressed your hair is falling out — or you’re pulling it out — it’s a good idea to speak with a medical professional as soon as possible. 

9. Skipping Hair Trims

Regular trims help keep split ends at bay. Split ends can lead to your hair breaking. Plus, it can also make your mane look frizzier. 

If you want to DIY your haircuts, go ahead! But make sure you use sharp scissors designed for cutting hair.

How to fix it: Get a regular trim. Your hairstylist can advise you on how often to trim your hair, as it'll depend on your hair type and condition. .

10. Poor Diet

What you eat can impact your hair health. Important nutrients for maintaining healthy hair growth include:

• Protein

• Zinc

• Iron

• Biotin

Lack of these nutrients may lead to brittle, thinning hair prone to breakage. Certain nutritional deficiencies may even lead to temporary hair loss. 

How to fix it: You can generally get enough of these nutrients by eating a balanced, healthy diet. For more advice, take a look at our list of foods for healthy hair.

But if you would like some extra support, consider using a hair vitamin. Our biotin gummies contain biotin and other vitamins that are important for hair health.

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.

When your hair is wet, the cuticle is more prone to breakage. 

If you’ve got straight hair, let it dry a bit before gently combing it with a wide-tooth comb.

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

Try not to tug or yank at your hair when brushing it.

Additionally, try not to go to sleep with wet hair, as the friction from your pillow may make it frizzy and lead to breakage. Instead, wait until your hair is dry and sleep on a satin or silk pillowcase to minimize damage. Those materials avoid some of the friction of cotton.

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 15 cm (or 6 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.

If you use heat tools like flat irons or curlers, a heat protectant product might help reduce damage. 

Use Hydrating Hair Care Products 

Hydration is the key to healthy hair and it may reduce breakage. 

To keep your hair moisturized and nourished:

• Use a conditioner after every shampoo. 

• Opt for products that suit your hair type (curly, straight, dry, or oily). 

• Try a deep conditioning hair mask once every 1 or 2 weeks.

• For extra dry hair, try a leave-in conditioner or hair oils to reduce frizz.

Your ideal hair products will depend on your hair type, texture, and concerns. 

“Everyone’s hair is unique and it’s important to find the regimen that works best for your hair type,” says Knox Beasley, MD, board-certified dermatologist and medical advisor at Hims & Hers. “Once you know your hair type, you can start to look for products designed for that type of hair.”

We offer a range of hair care products for women designed to target specific hair concerns without compromising on hydration. 

For example, our volumizing shampoo can give your hair more body. And if you’re concerned about hair loss, our hair loss shampoo and conditioner are full of nourishing ingredients.  

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

In most cases, hair breakage around your face is caused by tension, heat, dryness, or over-styling of fragile hairline strands.

Gentle hair care, regular trims, and a healthy hair routine may make a huge difference in reducing breakage.

If you need a little help figuring things out, start a consultation with a healthcare provider today.  

Is hair breakage around my face the same as hair loss?

No. Hair breakage involves snapping along the shaft, while hair loss occurs when strands shed from the follicle. Hair breakage is often reversible. While you can’t necessarily repair a broken hair shaft, you may change your habits to prevent new hairs from breaking as easily in future.

Can tight ponytails cause hair breakage around my face?

Yes. Repeated tension from tight styles is a common cause of breakage and can lead to traction alopecia over time.

What’s the difference between broken hairs around my face and baby hairs?

Baby hairs, which grow on your hairline, are naturally shorter. They’re different from broken hairs, which may be the same thickness as the rest of your hair, but broken. 

Compared to broken hairs, baby hairs are often thinner, lighter, and closer to the skin.  

Because baby hairs are more fragile, they may be prone to damage.  

Does stress cause hair breakage around the hairline?

Stress doesn’t directly cause breakage but may contribute to behaviors or conditions that weaken hair, such as hair pulling or shedding disorders.