What should you know about hair shaft breakage?

Broken hairs may look shorter, uneven, frayed, or split, and small pieces may appear on clothing or during brushing. A shed hair usually comes from the root and may have a small bulb at one end. Repeated bleaching, relaxing, perming, hot tools, rough detangling, and rubbing against fabrics can weaken the shaft. Tight styles can add ongoing pull and may contribute to traction alopecia. A scaly patch with broken hairs can point to scalp ringworm rather than ordinary styling damage.

Loosen styles that pull, vary how you part the hair, and avoid sleeping with wet hair under tension. Detangle gently from the ends upward with a wide-toothed comb. Reduce high heat, use the lowest effective setting, and follow chemical-treatment instructions carefully. Conditioner can reduce friction during washing. Trim visibly split ends if desired, but remember that trimming cannot repair damage higher up the strand. Keep a record of recent treatments and styling changes to share during an assessment.

Book a dermatology review if breakage is sudden, widespread, painful, associated with scalp scale or inflammation, or accompanied by smooth patches of missing hair. Seek prompt care for a tender crusted scalp, pus, fever, or swollen glands. Hair loss along the hairline after tight styling should be assessed early because continued traction can worsen follicle injury.

Ask whether the problem is shaft breakage, root shedding, traction alopecia, or a scalp infection; whether styling should stop temporarily; and what examination or treatment is needed. Bring a list of chemical services, heat habits, and supplements or medicines.