How to prevent Hair Breakage

    

source: photopin

 When maintaining the length of your hair or trying to grow it, hair breakage can be very frustrating.
  
      If you are having hair breakage and its so excessive that you are getting worried, then its a good thing you are reading this.

        There are many reasons why your hair could be breaking and i'm going to tackle as many as I can here.  I will also give you tips on how to prevents your hair from breaking

   
      Remember to care for and love your hair. Whenever you chose to put in hair care products. always take out time to check the ingredients, there are many ingredients that are not so friendly with the hair.
        Each and every point below is very important.

How to prevent hair breakage

source: photopin

1. Get a trim. Getting a trim will remove the dead ends of the hair. Many people believe that getting a trim is just the same as getting a hair cut, they just don't like the idea of scissors coming close to their hair, I know, I'm the same, you are not alone.
    
      If you didn't know, then let me be the one to break this news to you. If you have split ends, the best thing you can do for your hair is to get a trim, if not, that split will travel up the hair, causing damage and leading to breakage and voila! Hair loss! No length retention!
   
      Get your trimming done by a professional.  trim off at most, half an inch every 3-4 months, not more, doing more will only get you short hair, as the rate at which you trim your hair is greater than your hair growth, this is not a good thing, for those that are retaining length or growing the hair.

2. Use sulphate free shampoo. Sulphate is the same ingredient used in detergents for washing and cleaning so you can imagine how harsh it is.
     
      Now what sulphate does to the hair is, it strips of moisture from the hair cuticle, leaving your hair dry, if you've ever noticed the change in texture of your hair after using your shampoo, it feels coarse, this is because of lack of lubricant.

       After the moisure has been stripped off, the hair only produces sebum, and there's a possibility that dandruff will appear. When this sebum is produced, it's sad that it can't travel far down the length of the hair, so the ends of the hair is left dry and dry hair will only lead to breakage.

        You might see people not using shampoo but using  just honey or conditioner, and it works well. If you chose to use shampoo, use the sulphate free shampoo as it has more hair friendly ingredients.

3. Use less heat.
         I know, I know, we can't get much done without heat. Let's face it, heat damages the hair. We basically use heat for curling, straightening, drying, styling, etc.
   
      Limit your heat usage. Limit it to just special occasions. There are other ways to straighten the hair without heat. If you need to dry your hair, go for the cool drying not the hot drying. Yeah yeah, I know, hot drying is faster, yes well it's also the faster route to damage. Just love your hair and air dry it.
   
      If you want to curl your hair, say no to the curling irons and go for the rollers instead. To use rollers, your hair has to be wet, put in your rollers and let it stay on till the next day to air dry, do not stay under the dryer.

4. Say no to styling products.
         Many of us like that shiny look hair sprays give us. Hair sprays contain alcohol.
  
         Alcohol has a drying effect, you've probably noticed the crunchy texture of your hair when using hair sprays. Alcohol will dry out your hair, leaving it prone to breakage.

5. No more perms and dyes.
       The chemicals in perms are not hair friendly at all, it's effect is short term, but it's damage is long term. What the chemical does is break down the protein structure of the hair, this new state of the hair is weak and breaks easily.

        Dyes are so strong that they actually strip off colour from your hair! There are other safe and natural ways to make your hair darker or lighter

6. Protective hair styles.

       Make sure to protect the tips of your hair, its more vulnerable and prone to breakage than any other part of the hair.
    
        Don't use rubber bands to hold your hair up, use bands made of cloth, that wont bend the hair so much that it breaks

7. Moisturize and lock in moisture.
         Locking in moisture will prevent dry hair which can cause severe breakage. Moisture can be locked using shea butter.

8. Condition Regularly.
          Conditioner restores strength and elasticity to the hair, leaving your hair shiny and softer.

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