9 Easy Ways to Stop Natural Hair from Breaking

The great satisfaction that comes with having healthy natural hair is unmatched and it all starts with proper natural hair care. Walking down the street, to the office, or to school, and getting the compliment "I love your hair" or "How do you make it look so good?".

Having healthy natural hair begins with preventing hair breakage. Often, people fail to understand why they are experiencing hair breakage, and they don’t pay attention to it. If you notice that your hair is snapping easily or has split ends, your hair may be breaking, and you should be paying attention to it. 

Generally, hair breakage does not occur at the hair root but at any point above the root, from the hair strand ends up to the hair shaft. People often confuse hair breakage and hair loss. The difference between hair loss and hair breakage is that hair loss occurs at the root of the hair. Hair breakage can, however, result in hair loss if you don't take good care of your hair. Also, one may experience hair breakage or hair loss even though one takes proper care of their hair. 

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In general, hair breakage occurs when the hair is overheated or overprocessed, so avoid using hot combs and hot curling irons. Ringworm, a fungal scalp infection, can also result in hair breakage. On the other hand, hair loss may result from stress, environmental changes, poor nutrition, or generally neglecting one's health. Stress, whether physical, mental, or emotional, can cause hair loss. Hair loss is not always a sign of terminal illness.

Have you been experiencing hair breakage, and you somehow found yourself on this page searching for a solution? There is no need to worry as hair breakage is not a permanent hair condition, and you can have your natural hair back in no time. All you have to do is adopt some new healthy hair routines and avoid some practices.

Natural Hair Care: 9 Easy Ways to Stop Hair from Breaking

Detangling

Natural hair is naturally curly, and some hair curls are thicker than others, so it’s essential to detangle often. However, avoid detangling dry or thoroughly wet hair, it tends to be fragile in this state. The best time to detangle your hair is when it is damp. Using a detangling brush is healthier for your hair than using your fingers.

The appropriate process to follow while detangling is gently combing your hair from its tips down to the root with a wide mouth comb or a detangling brush; You can accomplish adequate detangling during deep conditioning. During this process, your hair becomes vulnerable and fragile so applying oils such as coconut oil, olive oil is also vital. Detangling the hair while damp or moisturized helps to reduce pain while using a detangling brush.

The best way to prevent your natural hair from tangling is by wearing two-strand twists.

Avoid towel drying or hairdryers.

After a wash day, a lot of people unknowingly dry their hair unhealthily. To dry their hair, most people wrap a towel around it but keep tugging at the ends, resulting in split ends. A cotton towel is not the best choice as it causes damage; an old T-shirt or a microfiber towel would be a better choice. They gently dry the hair without damaging it.

Natural hair is sensitive to heat, so a blow dryer, especially one with high heat, can damage and break the hair. When it comes to type 4C hair, it may be tempting to use a blow dryer to reduce frizz, but the heat can also cause irreversible texture changes. You should instead air dry your hair after properly moisturizing it with leave-in conditioners and hair oils.

Moisturizing

Moisturizing your natural hair at least once a week reduces the chance of breakage. Maintaining your hair's hydration is essential in order to ensure that it receives the necessary nutrients for better, healthier growth. Your hair needs nutrients just as much as your body. These essential nutrients can be supplied in oils such as coconut oil, shea butter, jojoba oil, etc.

Hair that is dry is fragile and breaks easily; moisturizing the hair helps it retain its moisture and flexibility. It is also crucial to maintain a hair schedule in order to keep the hair healthy. In addition to leave-in conditioners, moisturizing conditioners can also moisturize the hair. 

Braiding before shampooing and conditioning

It seems like a hassle, right? Here's the thing, you don't need small braids or to ask someone to braid your natural hair on a wash day. Just braid your hair into jumbo braids or twist it into two-stand twists before shampooing. This method prevents your hair from breaking and prevents tangles while massaging it with your fingers.

A hair wash day would not be complete without deep conditioning. In this process, you unravel a braid, apply the deep conditioner before detangling, and then re-braid it. Continue this process until all of the braids are conditioned, then rinse with warm water. It may seem like a long process, but it keeps your natural hair healthy and prevents breakage. Well worth the effort!

Using the right natural hair care shampoo  

Finding the right shampoo for your natural hair can be a challenge because there are so many shampoos promising soft, healthy, and shiny locks but they don't work. So how do you know which shampoo will help to keep your hair healthy? Using a sulfate-free shampoo helps to remove hair buildup caused by styling products and dead cells without stripping hair of its delicate moisture. Your shampoo should contain moisturizers and not harsh cleansers that can strip your hair making the strands dry and brittle.

In order to avoid breakage, it's also important to apply the shampoo correctly. Shampoo should be applied to cleanse the scalp and to remove hair product build-up on the hair. You should thoroughly wet your hair with warm, not hot, water. Pour some shampoo into your palm. Rub it into your scalp until it lathers. Work the shampoo through your hair, paying special attention to the scalp. Thoroughly rinse your hair and scalp. Do this a second time.

Trimming

Have you ever been upset with your stylist for trimming your hair? Well, you shouldn't be. Your hair would have developed split ends otherwise. It's important to get rid of damaged ends. It's not a difficult task as you can do this all by yourself. You simply need to divide your hair into jumbo sections, twist them, check if the ends are split and tangled, and trim them off. In addition to preventing breakage, it gives your natural hair the space to grow.

Use natural hair care products

Excessive use of hair products can lead to hair breakage. Sometimes, it's best to use natural products since they don't contain chemicals that can weaken the hair. Using too many hair products leads to product buildup and product buildup can damage your hair and cause breakage.

The use of natural butter, like shea butter and cocoa butter, and fruit and seed oils, like olive oil, avocado oil, almond oil helps to lock in hair moisture and healthy shine.

Use of protein treatment for steaming

Healthy hair requires lots of nutrients, especially proteins. When steaming, the use of protein treatment keeps the hair strong, but this must be done moderately as the hair itself is made up of protein, and excessive use makes the hair strands inflexible and prone to breakage. It's equally advisable to use natural protein treatment for steaming. It helps restore hair nutrients and enables moisture to penetrate the hair.

Seal your ends

It is crucial to seal the ends of your natural hair as breakage begins at the ends. Moisturizing the hair from the ends to the roots gives better results. Seal the ends of the hair with a hydrating oil.

Frequently Asked Questions on Natural Hair Care

Is hair breakage and hair loss the same thing?

Hair breakage occurs at the hair strands and leads to shorter hair strands, while hair loss begins at the root of the hair, and this happens when the hair follicle is weak and falls out.

Does hair breakage lead to hair loss?

Hair breakage may lead to hair loss if it is not addressed properly and early. It is important to identify the cause of hair breakage so that it can be treated or discontinued for best results. If you are experiencing hair breakage, visit a board-certified dermatologist.

Is hair breaking a genetic condition even with proper natural hair care?   

In many cases, hair breakage is not genetic, but hair loss is. There are some rare genetic conditions that can make the hair fragile. Hereditary-pattern baldness is a common cause of hair loss. 

Is hair breakage normal?

Some hair breakage is normal, but if it becomes severe and leads to hair loss, it's advisable to see a board-certified dermatologist as it could be as a result of a health condition.

Can my diet lead to hair breakage?

Malnutrition and eating disorders can cause hair breakage and eventually lead to hair loss. Eating disorders also affect the natural cycle of hair growth.

Conclusion

As long as you treat your hair promptly, hair breakage is usually a temporary condition. Natural hair needs extra care due to its curly nature and is prone to breakage if not properly maintained. Ensure not to keep dry hair as this is one of the significant causes of hair breakage. If you follow a healthy hair care routine, your hair will always look its best.