What should you know about brittle hair in men?

Brittle hair snaps, frays, or breaks instead of stretching and returning to shape. Frequent hot-water washing, blow-drying, straightening, bleaching, colouring, and vigorous towel drying can weaken the outer hair surface. Tight styles, helmets, hats, or repeated rubbing may add friction. A dry or inflamed scalp can change hair-care habits and make breakage more noticeable. Brittle strands are different from hair shedding from the root, although both can occur together.

A clinician may consider scalp inflammation, nutritional problems, thyroid or other health conditions, and medicines when breakage is persistent or widespread. The hair texture alone cannot identify the cause.

Wash with lukewarm water and a mild shampoo, focusing cleanser on the scalp rather than scrubbing the lengths. Use conditioner through the mid-lengths and ends, detangle with a wide-tooth comb, and blot with a soft towel. Limit high heat and use the lowest practical setting. Avoid repeated chemical processing until the hair feels stronger, and trim visibly split ends. Do not start high-dose supplements without discussing them with a clinician; a supplement helps only when its ingredients address a genuine need. Hair Supplement Therapy may be discussed as part of an individual plan.

Arrange a dermatology assessment if breakage continues despite gentler care, appears suddenly, or comes with scalp pain, redness, scaling, sores, marked itching, or patchy hair loss. Seek prompt medical advice for hair changes accompanied by fatigue, weight change, unusual cold or heat sensitivity, or other new health symptoms. Take a list of medicines and hair products, and note when the change began.

Could this be shaft breakage, root shedding, or both? Could my scalp findings, medicines, diet, or another health condition contribute? Would examination or blood tests help? Which products and styling practices should I pause?