We all want thick, lustrous, healthy-looking hair â so itâs easy to be a little bummed out by a hairbrush full of your strands. Ditto split ends and those short, snapped-off hairs around your face. But is hair fall and breakage something you just have to put up with? Hell, no!
While some hair shedding is normal, too much can indicate damage from colour or heat, an unhealthy diet, or even an over-reliance on your signature high pony. Sound familiar? Then it might be time to start making amends with your mane â and this article will tell you where to start.Â
To discover 7 steps to reducing hair breakage for lush and bouncy locks, read on!
WHAT CAUSES BREAKAGE & HAIR FALL?
Firstly, letâs not panic. A handful of hairs left in your brush is nothing to freak out about. Shedding is a natural part of the hair growth cycle and, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, the average person loses around 50-100 hairs a day.Â
However, heat styling, colouring, chemical treatments, and excess brushing can cause more shedding â as well as hair breakage1. Hormonal factors can play a part, and more permanent hair loss can also be triggered by harsh haircare products, tight hairstyles, genetics and medications2.
So if youâre noticing more hair in the drain than normal, itâs time to take stock.
STEPS TO REDUCE HAIR LOSS FROM BREAKAGE
If youâre experiencing a hair fall tsunami, itâs a good idea to see a doctor. But if you suspect itâs your own haircare routine thatâs to blame, there are some easy steps you can take to learn how to stop hair shedding and breakage.
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#1 Show your scalp some love with a scalp scrub
Weâve said it before, and weâll say it until it sinks in. Healthy hair starts at the scalp! Product residue, excess oils and dead skin build-up can lead to an irritated, itchy, flaky, and inflamed scalp. Just like the skin on your face, your scalp will benefit from regular and gentle exfoliation. Using a scalp scrub will remove build-up, boost cellular turnover, and help strengthen the hair follicles.Â
Try: Our Deep Clean Scalp Scrub to hydrate, soothe and stimulate the scalp with coconut oil, peppermint oil, and caffeine. Removing dead skin cells and impurities with coconut shell and AHAs, it helps balance the scalp to create an ideal environment for hair growth.
#2 Use an intensive hair mask to repair and strengthen damaged strands!â¨
If youâre struggling with an increase in hair fall, a hair mask is the one product you CANNOT live without. Packed with nourishing ingredients, these strand saviours can replenish lost moisture, fight frizz, boost shine and detangle hair. Hydrating and soothing a dry scalp, strengthening weak or damaged strands, and making unruly locks much more manageable.Â
However, not all hair masks are created equal. If you suspect your hair loss is caused by damage, skip your weekly hydrator and go straight for a repair-focused formula. Such as? Our Sweet Repair Hair Mask.Â
Bursting with botanical goodness and powerhouse actives, our most advanced mask is clinically proven to repair hair in 5 minutes. How does it work? Itâs all down to the very best, hair-loving ingredients.
Biomimetic Ceramides: Mimicking the hairâs natural ceramides, Biomimetic Ceramides reinforce and smooth the hair fibre with lipids. Keep the hair cuticle flat, they help smooth hair and enhance its ability to endure wear and tear over time. They also promote elasticity and moisture retention â making them the nemesis of brittle, breakage-prone strands.Â
Vegan Keratin Complex: Our plant-based chain of amino acids replicates the performance of keratin to give hair much greater strength and elasticity. Smoothing down the hair cuticle and reducing moisture loss, it helps tired old strands look full and glossy.Â
Hyaluronic Acid: Dry hair is more susceptible to damage and breakage, so hyaluronic acid is a no-brainer. Providing hydration, moisture, and softness, it helps tighten the cells of the hair cuticle. Resulting in volume and shine, while avoiding any frizz.
Vitamin Rich Tropical Fruit Complex: Rich in fatty acids and ultra-penetrative, Coco & Eveâs signature ingredient, raw virgin coconut oil, has been shown to reduce protein loss â which helps in reducing hair breakage and hair fall. Bananaâs another anti-shedding hero of the formula, and the mask also contains avocado, guava and rambutan. All loaded with lock-loving minerals, nutrients, amino acids, and antioxidants.
Oily hair? Avoid applying the mask to your scalp and concentrate on the mid-lengths and ends only.
#3 Supercharge your mask by wearing it overnight
More is not necessarily more when it comes to masking. Instead of masking every day (which is NOT advisable), try sleeping in your mask overnight for an ultra-intensive hit of reparative goodness. Wrap your masked-up hair in a silk scarf or microfibre wrap to increase absorption of the hydrating and strengthening ingredients.Â
But if you prefer not to sleep in a mask, donât stress. Clinically proven to reduce hair damage by 65%, breakage by 71%, and split ends by 56%, our Sweet Repair mask delivers plenty of anti-hair-fall benefits in just 5 minutes!
#4 Look at your diet and lifestyle
Itâs not just your addiction to the bleach bottle that could be causing hair problems and breakage. Your diet is also super important for strong, healthy strands â and certain nutrient deficiencies are known to cause hair loss3.Â
To give your hair a head start, make sure youâre eating a well-balanced and nutritious diet. This should include protein, omega-3s, iron and zinc â with eggs, fatty fish, spinach, nuts and dairy appearing on your plate.Â
Stress can also trigger hair loss4, so commit to stress management practices. And ensure youâre getting plenty of good quality sleep.â¨
#5 Change your shampoo and conditioner
Harsh, drying, chemical-packed hair products can also leave your strands brittle and prone to breakage. Itâs important you always use the right products for your hair type and avoid over-washing.Â
Also, make sure youâre using a sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner. Why? Because these cheap foaming agents can rob your hair of precious moisture. While also causing irritation to the skin on the scalp.Â
Try: Our sulfate-free Super Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner. With ResistHyalTM Hyaluronic Acid technology and no devolumising silicones, they deliver 26 times more hydration to dry and depleted locks.
#6 Limit heat styling
Look, weâll never try and get between a gal and her straightening iron. But thereâs definitely something to be said for limiting your heat styling. Our tip? Cut down on blow dry time with our Microfibre Hair Towel Wrap â and air dry whenever you can to give hair a break.Â
When you do want to rock some tousled waves or poker-straight strands, make sure you always use a heat protectant. Like our Miracle Hair Elixir, which protects strands against heat up to 220°c to minimise heat stress and breakage.
#7 Avoid the same tight hairstyle every day
Wearing the same hairstyle each day isnât just super boring. It can also contribute to hair breakage and legitimate hair loss. How? If you constantly tie your hair up super-tight or tug on it, you could end up with a type of hair loss known as traction alopecia. Hair elastics can also cause damage to the hair shaft. So make sure you loosen things up from time to time by using snag-free hair accessories like our Scrunchie and Claw Clip!
A final word on hair breaking and shedding
A little hair fall is nothing to worry about. But that doesnât mean you have to put up with it! If youâre experiencing an increase in shedding and breakage, give these tips a go. And make sure you address any heat or chemical damage with our Sweet Repair Hair Mask. Â
And if things donât improve in a few weeks? Something more serious could be causing your hair loss. We recommend seeing your doctor or hairdresser to explore whatâs going on.
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References
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/327188#number-of-hairs
- https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/hair-loss/insider/shedding
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325026
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/expert-answers/stress-and-hair-loss/faq-20057820
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Written By: Pip JarvisÂ
Edited by:Â Iris
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