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In part one, we discussed Over Bleaching/over Dyeing, Under Moisturising, Over Cleansing with Commercial Shampoos, Lack of Protein/Too Much Protein. To see part one, go here.

Carried over from part one, we talked about too little protein and how hair can lose its strength or elasticity if the protein/moisture level is not right in the hair. Over moisturising can lead to hair that stretches, and eventually breaks, sort of like gum  (as opposed to normal hair that stretches slightly then snaps). To reverse the process, a protein treatment is necessary to restore the hairs strength.  Try coconut milk, eggs.  Another option for strengthening is Cassia for those that know their hair isn’t a fan of protein. For blonds, Cassia can brighten up and add more gold tones. Henna also has strengthening properties, but it does add red tones to the hair.

General Rough Handling

The following acts can contribute to hair damage:
Not keeping hair out of the way:  Hair can easily get caught under bag/bra straps, in seat belts, under our arms, under someone else or a pet, in jewelry, around buttons, in Velcro/zippers, in car doors or any door (eek!); Hair can get caught anywhere!  If you want to grow your hair and have less damage in general, be aware of your hair and make sure to move it out of the way or wear a protective updo.

Here is some further reading on how to take care of your hair:

Handling Hair When Wet

This is a huge one!  When hair is wet, it is at its weakest, so if you brush or roughly handle your hair when it is wet, it will stretch and break.  Do not rub your hair with a towel. Instead, gently blot it and let it air dry.  If you cannot stand to wait for your hair to dry, use a blow dryer on  the COOL and low setting.  For those that cannot stand having wet hair trail down their backs, gently tuck your hair into a silk sleep cap to keep it out of the way.

Incorrect Brushing and Brushing Tools

Brushing incorrectly can cause hair breakage as well. So don’t tear your brush from top to bottom through tangles, instead, take a small section of hair and start combing in a downwards direction from the ends and make your way up.  To ease the detangling process, use a detangler like Sweet Mimosa butter, any oils, or a mixture of water and aloe vera gel. Teasing and backcombing are very damaging to hair as this action goes against the natural cuticle causing the cuticle to stand up and look pine cone-y.  Our hair resembles a shingled roof, with the cuticles being the shingles,  so make sure to comb (or brush with a hair-safe brush) in one direction only!

Check out the combs and brushes you’re using.  Some combs are made from molds which leaves a seam on the edges that can scrape against the hair and break it. Not only do cheaper combs with seams scratch the hair, but some of them can have very sharp tines which can scrape the scalp.   Also, some cheaper ball-tipped brushes are not very hair safe, either.  They can grab the hair and cause tangles.  Do not detangle with a boar bristle brush as it will just cause more tangles.  Always detangle with a comb before using a boar bristle brush.  Brush and comb your hair slowly.  Also, plastic combs can create static on dryer hair. Combs made from Celluloid or horn are the best for static-prone hair.

Unsuitable Hair Accessories

Check your hair accessories to make sure that there are no rough edges or that your hair cannot get caught on them.  To find out if your hair accessory is too sharp, gently run some pantyhose over the accessory.  If the pantyhose runs, then the accessory is not suitable for hair.  Elastics with metal joiners can hurt the hair as well.  Choose all cloth bands (or cut your own from the legs of a pair of old tights). Rubber bands are not suitable as they grip onto the hair and cause the hair to stretch and be pulled out from the scalp.  Other unsuitable hair ties are the very thin and tight ones.  These actually have the ‘cheese cutter’ effect on the hair and can cause weakened spots which eventually leads to breakage.

Other acts that can contribute to hair damage are:

  • Sweaters/shirts with small necks that get pulled over the hair and can cause damage. If you want to wear a tight-neck sweater, consider applying a scarf or silk sleep cap before putting the sweater on to protect the hair.
  • Rough (glittery) nail polish-  Glitter can indeed snag the hair. Apply a clear top coat to smooth the glitter down.
  • Rough nails/cuticles- file your nails until they’re smooth and soften the cuticles with oil over night to prevent hair snagging.
  • Jewelry- Clasps on necklaces, rings. bracelets and even watches can snag the hair.  Make sure you remove the jewelry before handling/washing your hair.
  • Doing the exact same hair style over…and over (and over) again: This alone can cause weak spots on the hair causing breakage.  Try to vary your style every day.
  • Tight hair styles- over tight hair styles can cause traction alopecia (hair follicle trauma that causes balding from excessive tight hair styles). The hair doesn’t need to be pulled back tightly.

Stay tuned for part three of the four-part series: Growing your Hair and Preventing Breakage!