What should you know about repairing breakage in hair?

Breakage happens when the hair shaft becomes fragile and snaps, leaving short pieces, rough ends, or split ends. Frequent bleaching, relaxing, colouring, heat styling, tight hairstyles, rough brushing, and friction can weaken the shaft. Breakage is different from shedding, where a complete hair leaves the follicle. Both can happen together, so the pattern at the scalp and along the lengths matters.

Scalp scaling, itching, black dots, painful areas, or patchy loss can point to a scalp condition rather than cosmetic damage alone. Scalp ringworm and traction alopecia are examples that need medical assessment.

Pause bleaching, chemical straightening, and high heat while the hair recovers. Use conditioner on the lengths, detangle from the ends upward with a wide-tooth comb, and avoid pulling wet hair. Choose looser styles, vary where ties sit, and protect hair from rubbing during sleep. Trimming split ends improves manageability but does not heal the shaft above the cut. A clinician can examine the scalp if breakage persists or the cause is unclear.

Arrange a dermatology visit for sudden patchy breakage, scalp pain, crusting, marked scale, itching, or visible thinning at the hairline. Seek earlier care when several people or pets at home have a scaly scalp problem, since infection may need treatment and household spread can matter.

Ask whether the pattern is shaft breakage, shedding, traction, or scalp disease; which products or habits to stop; and whether examination or testing is needed.