What causes hair shedding and breakage? The biggest challenge many naturalists worry about is breakage and this is usually caused b dryness or poor hair nourishment and it is important to have a healthy hair routine to keep your hair in check. Growing natural hair is not an easy task, it takes patience, time, and perseverance.
Breakage isn’t good but for many natural hair types, it is unavoidable and so also is shedding. Breakage in natural hair could be the cause of chemical, mechanical, or even heat-related.
The first step to getting rid of breakage and shedding is to stop manipulating your hair and if it’s due to chemicals, you should take a look at the product you are using and if it heats then it is time to give the blow dryers and flat irons a break.
Breakages and shedding are definitely going to get in the way of length retention, softness, and strong strands hence if you notice your strand is becoming constantly tangled and shredding at a rapid rate then first you need to identify the root cause and take the steps listed in this article to get it back under control.
What is shedding and what causes it?
Shedding is a more natural internal process than breakage, it is part of your natural hair cycle and in order to understand more about shedding, you need to understand hair growth. You are supposed to lose hair daily which is meant to be anywhere from 50 to 100 a day to be exact however anything more than this should be a source of concern. You should also keep in mind that there are certain stages in human life where shedding is naturally increased and conditions that can increase this hair shedding includes;
- Styling methods that place stress on the hair follicles
- Poor diet/low protein diet
- Pregnancy
- Hereditary
- Dandruff
- Crash dieting
- Illness with a high fever as a prevailing symptom
What is breakage and what causes it?
Breakage is an indication of unusually dry hair and it is also caused by other variety of factors such as low humidity, dry weather, and too much heat. Dry and brittle hair is prone to breakage and damage, it is an imbalance of forces withing the air strand and of course, some of these causes are beyond control and if you notice uncontrollable frizz, dryness, and split ends then you are really experiencing breakage.
Breakage starts when the hair’s protective layer is lifted which exposes the inner parts of the hair shaft thereby making it vulnerable and also some specific hair product doesn’t suit your hair type and in this case can cause breakage.
Hair breakage is temporary and it can be repaired and restored with the simple maintenance tips in this article.
How to Stop Natural Hair From Breaking And Shedding
Achieving and maintaining a hair-free from shedding and breakage takes time and patience, it takes having the right hair care regimen and a consistently healthy diet.
Natural hair is more prone to dryness hence the biggest culprit behind fussy natural hair is breakage and signs of breakage in natural hair include, split ends, tangles, brittle texture, and short broken off ends. Breakage gets in the way of length retention hence here are essential tips to help you maintain healthy natural hair from the comfort of your home.
1. Go Natural With Products
- POMADE FOR EDGE CONTROL & MORE: This citrus-scented shine pomade moisturizes hair & scalp, smoothes edges and controls frizz . It’s sure to become a part of your daily maintenance for beautiful, healthy hair
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One of the steps to stopping breakage and shedding in natural hair is to go natural with products especially if you are transitioning to natural hair and there are lots of natural hair products to keep your hair healthy. Oftentimes, breakage is your hair’s reaction to a styling product hence you need to pay attention to what works for your hair and what is not working, discontinue the products which are not working or causing any damages, and try going all-natural honey, aloe vera juice and water.
2. Steam Your Hair
Steaming is an important process for any hair type, this method involves using moist heat to open your hair follicle and steam treatment is extremely among naturals. Steaming natural not only limits shedding and breakage but helps revive curls and increases shine and elasticity hence you should steam for 20 to 30 minutes at a time and ensure to do it either between shampoos or every time you condition.
The moist heat from steaming also encourages blood flow to circulate which in turn stimulates hair growth. If you don’t have a steamer at home, not to worry there are few options to consider such as using your facial steamer if you do have one, hooded dryers are also effective in deep conditioning and there are home remedies that help steam natural hair while also providing it with protein.
3. Use A Leave-In Conditioner
- NOURISHES: The Combination Of Certified Organic Raw Shea Butter, Black Castor Oil And Ingredients Like Peppermint Revitalize And Moisturize Dry Hair.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
One of the main causes of breakage in nature is dryness and lack of moisture and one of the recommended ways to seal in moisture is the use of a leave-in conditioner. A good leave-in will not only moisturize your hair but detangle it thereby preventing it from damage while adding shine and strength.
Leave-in conditioners should be mixed with water and used as a conditioning spray, this is great for refreshing your strand, and using the right leave-in can help prevents breakage and seal split ends provided it is not used in excess.
4. Seal Your Ends
Dry ends are common in natural hair and the best way to keep it from shedding and breaking is to seal the ends, the ends are always the first to break as they are not nurtured as much as they should be and when it comes to natural hair hence this hair care routine is important. Be sure to seal your ends with a hydrating protectant like castor oil and dry ends often mean it’s time for a trim hence you can give it a trim yourself at home if you feel comfortable enough to do so.
5. Step Your Moisturizing Game Up
If your natural hair is always dry and brittle then it’s time to step up your moisturizing game, even more, this is a lot similar to sealing your ends but this more about adopting a technique to keep your ends from damages. The LOC (liquid + oil + cream) is a method that will save your hair from, shedding and breakage every time.
Moisturizing your hair helps to seal in moisture into your hair strands and when moisturizing your hair, you should make use an oil or pudding-like product and also use a water-based leave-in conditioner.
Final Thoughts
Moisture and protein are vital if you want to stop your hair from shedding and knowing growing natural hair si no easy task as it takes a proper hair care routine, time, and perseverance. When natural hair breaks or starts shedding, this can be really disheartening which is why we have listed tips that are focused or providing your hair with vital nourishment to stop breakage and shedding.
Preventive maintenance is also very important in natural hair hence you do not have to wait until breakage starts happening, conduct hair assessment always to see how your hair is growing to ensure to maintain your balance for as long as possible by interchanging between protein and moisture-based products.
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