Hair breakage and hair shedding may look similar when you see the strands of hair on your bathroom floor but they are two totally different things. Hair shedding is a normal process of the growth cycle, while hair breakage is cause for concern. If you are not able to tell the difference, don't worry because you are in the right place! Let's take a look at the difference between the two below:
Hair that is shedding is normally long strands and often has a bulb on the ends. If this is what the hair on your floor resembles, you should be in the clear. Breakage looks more like shorter hairs, but they could sometimes be longer depending on the cause of the breakage and where the breakage happened. Hair that is breaking will never have a bulb on the ends.
There are a few reasons why your hair will suffer from breakage and how to stop it.
- Overlapping of chemicals- This is one of the main reasons why I do not recommend anyone do their own relaxers, as it almost always results in overlapping. Overlapping is when you apply relaxer or color to hair that has already been relaxed or colored. This results in weakening the hair, and can cause the hair to be damaged. The end result is hair breakage. When applying your own relaxers it is very hard to see the line of demarcation (line where the new growth meets the already processed hair). This line is the weakest spot in the hair and overlapping causes hair to be more prone to breakage in that spot. While you may not experience hair breakage the first time you overlap, you are still causing damage and over time breakage can occur. To prevent and fix damage caused by chemicals, use the by L. Jones Creamy Custard Reconstructive Treatment. The protein inside makes the hair stronger and can stop additional breakage from occurring, while the moisture inside keeps the hair soft and manageable.
- Heat damage- Too much exposure to flat irons and curling irons, as well as having the temperature up too high is another cause for breakage. I recommend using heat on the hair no more than once per week after it has been shampooed. Also, always use a styling tool with an adjustable temperature gauge (like this one) and keep it on the lowest setting that your hair will allow. Having the tool up too high can cause hair breakage even when you only use heat once per week. When using heat, be sure to use a heat protectant (like this one). It is also a good idea to opt for styles where no heat is required when possible.
- Dry hair- When hair is dry it becomes brittle and is much more prone to damage. Always keep your hair moisturized by deep conditioning, using leave-in, and even using moisture creams, and drink at least 48 ounces of water daily! After all, water is the number one hydrator, so drink up!
- Straining hair styles- Any hairstyle that puts strain on your hair by pulling it too tight causes hair breakage. Braids, sew-ins, and ponytails are notorious for causing breakage around the edges. Be extra careful to the sides and edges of the hair when wearing these styles as the edges are the weakest part of the hair. It doesn't take much for them to break, and takes even longer for them to grow back. Continuous trauma to the edges of the hair can lead to alopecia, in which the hair may never come back. When wearing any type of protective style, be sure to use the by L. Jones Silky Growth Oil as well as the Cooling Hair Mister Braid Spray around the edges to keep them moisturized which reduces chances of breaking.
Hair breakage is 100% preventable. Taking better care of your hair will prevent it and can also stop it. So the next time you see excessive amounts of hair on your floor, analyze it to see if your hair is shedding or breaking, then take the proper action to get your hair back to its healthiest state.
Here is the video to go with this post:
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