If you feel like you’ve been trying to grow out your hair for ages but still aren’t seeing results, then you may be suffering from unresolved breakage.

So what exactly causes hair to break and, more importantly, what can you do about it? 

Well, we’ve put together the most common reasons for hair breakage, as well as the easy-to-implement solutions for each. Check out our list below to see if you can identify your issue. However, keep in mind that there could be more than one factor working against your hair.

What’s causing your hair breakage?

It’s too dry

When your hair is dry it often becomes brittle and breaks. If your hair is lacking moisture, then it’s also lacking the strength it needs to survive. The Strength & Hydration Hair Journey is designed to help put moisture and strength back into your hair.

It’s too hot

Heat can also suck the moisture out of your hair, so if you spend a lot of time in the sun you might be putting undue stress on your scalp. That’s why it’s important to make sure you’re always using sun protection designed for your hair.

It’s possible the heat is not coming from Mother Nature but rather from your styling tools. Do you blow-dry your hair every day and then grab your hottest curling or flat iron to finish it off? Eek! Your hair is simply not going to do well with that kind of treatment. 

Step back from your go-to routine and rethink how you style your hair. If you really want long and healthy hair, you’re going to need to cut back on the hot tools.

Friction

Another common offender that can pop up in even the most unlikely of places is… friction. Whether it’s in your bedroom, bathroom or at the office, friction is everywhere wreaking havoc on your hair. Fortunately, there are a few easy swaps you can do to lessen its impact.

Let’s start with your nighttime routine. Unfortunately, cotton pillowcases are notorious for their hair-breaking friction and most of us spend at least 8 hours a day on them. Instead, opt for a satin or even silk case for a friction-free night of sleep.

Next, we’ll move into the bathroom. Towel drying and vigorously rubbing your hair is a definite no-no. Instead, try an old cotton t-shirt. It’s a great substitute to your towel and instead of rubbing, try gentle blotting and squeezing.

Finally, your clothing. Have you ever had a shirt collar or scarf that seemed to create knots in your hair? Well, it’s doing more than that—it’s weakening the strands and even breaking some off. (Not to mention the breakage that will happen when you try to detangle the mess back there.)

The obvious solution here is this—if you encounter these kinds of tangly messes often, stop wearing the clothing that’s causing it.

Your shower ritual

Though washing your hair might seem harmless, it could also be the cause of some serious damage. From the products you’re using to how you’re lathering your scalp, there are plenty of ways to unintentionally sabotage your hair in the shower.

That’s why we recommend taking a look at these shower tips to see if there’s a better way to care for your hair when washing it. Two big changes you can make the next time you shower is to cleanse your scalp only (not the ends of your hair) and condition from the midpoint to the ends for a soft, healthy finish.

Your products

Are you using the right products for your specific hair type? You might not be selecting the things you need to support your hair goals. 

We recommend looking for natural hair products that don’t contain harmful chemicals. You might need to try a few different ones until you find what really works for you.

Your diet

Believe it or not, your diet plays a huge role in the health of your hair. This includes how much water you’re drinking and even the foods you choose to snack on.

To build strength, you’ll want to start by adding more protein, antioxidants, and vitamins into your diet. We suggest this Barley with Apricots, Hazelnuts, Chocolate, and Honey recipe. It’s a delicious way to start your day or as a pick-me-up snack when that mid-afternoon hunger hits. 

Not only is it packed with hair-healthy ingredients, but it even has chocolate in it!

Final thoughts

If you’re wanting to grow out your hair, then you need to make sure you’re first supporting it from the inside out. If it seems like your hair just isn’t growing, then it might be breaking off and you’ll want to make sure you’re addressing those issues.

And once you solve the problem, you’ll definitely start seeing the results you’ve been waiting for. Remember hair grows, on average, half an inch every month, so if you’re able to remedy your breakage then you could easily grow six inches this year alone.