Finding too many loose hair strands than you're happy with after combing or washing your hair? We feel you. We all want thick voluminous hair so it can be a little distressing when you see those precious strands going down the drain.
Now before you start stressing about finding a way to put a stop to all that hair loss, it is important to understand the root cause. See, when your hair falls off, it is often a result of either shedding or breakage and in this article, we're going to break down both causes. Read ahead to know the difference between breakage and shedding and finally figure out which one is filling up your comb with loose hairs.
What Is Shedding?
Shedding is a natural part of the hair's life cycle. It occurs when a strand of hair reaches the end of its growth cycle also known as the telogen phase. This causes the hair to fall out from the scalp on its own, resulting in the shed pieces of hair you may notice when you comb or wash your hair. Not sure what the hair growth cycle is? Let's break it down. See, every strand of hair on your head goes through three main phases namely the anagen ( growth phase) catagen (transition phase), and the telogen phase which essentially signifies the end of the hair strand life cycle.
Now, since the shedding is simply a normal occurrence, it is generally not caused by any external factors and is nothing to worry about. In fact, it is a sign of healthy follicles. On average we all shed 50-100 strands of hair per day. However, it is possible for shedding to be increased by certain hormonal factors. This can include normal imbalances, health issues, or postpartum symptoms in women.
What Is Breakage?
Breakage is just what it sounds like. It is weak or damaged hair that breaks off as a result of external and environmental factors. Breakage can be brought on by many different things but it most commonly occurs when the hair is over manipulated, lacks moisture, is not handled with care, and is over-processed with chemicals or heat.
Usually, the hair does not simply break off after one bad hair mishap. It is often a gradual process that starts with the hair becoming weak, forming knots and split ends before eventually breaking off when left unchecked.
What Is The Difference Between Shedding And Breakage?
The main difference between shedding and breakage lies in the root causes. Shedding is natural while breakage is caused by unhealthy hair practices. However, the best way to differentiate between the two is to look at how they appear. Shed hair usually has a white bulb at the base/root of the strand. This white colour is caused by a lack of melanin in the follicles once the hair is at the end of its growth cycle. On the other hand, broken hairs will often have knots, and split ends and often feel very brittle. So, if you want to determine if your hair is shedding, pay attention to the colour at the ends.
Additionally, shed hair is usually longer than broken hair. So another great way to tell if you have shedding or breakage is to compare the length of the fallen strands to the average length of your hair. If most of the hair are short and uneven pieces, then they likely broke off at different points on the hair.
How To Fix Shedding
As we already mentioned, shedding is a natural sign of a healthy scalp and hair. It is not caused by any particular thing so there is no real way to fix it. All you can do is embrace it and try using our Strengthening Oil to strengthen the hair from the follicles and minimise excess shedding. However, if you notice your shedding is way beyond normal and venturing into the hair loss territory, then be sure to consult a medical professional as it could be a sign of underlying medical conditions.
How To Fix Breakage
- Moisture
Your curly and coily tresses need adequate hydration to be able to maintain their elasticity, otherwise, they will break off. So, the best way to minimise breakage is to moisturise your at least twice a week with our Manuka Honey Leave-in Conditioner. You can also use our Everyday Curl Refresh when you want an easy hydrating hair spray.
Additionally, it is important to seal the moisture into your hair with our Hair & Scalp Oil to ensure long-lasting hydration. This is especially crucial if you have highly porous strands.
- Protein Treatments
Protein treatments are great for restoring the hair’s vitality and health. They help fill in cracks along the cuticle, essentially strengthening the hair from the inside and preventing breakage. However, protein treatment should not be done too often to avoid protein overload on the hair. It is best to do them no more than 2-3 times a year.
- Trim Your Ends
If you notice most of your breakage occurs at the ends of your hair, trimming them off is one of the best ways to fix the problem. This will give your hair a much-needed reset and prevent any split ends you have from moving further up along the hair strand.
- Handle Your Hair With Care
When you have fragile curls and curls, it is important to treat them like precious cargo if you want them to remain healthy. Whether you are styling, detangling, or washing your hair, it is important to always handle it gently. Never detangle your hair when it is dry, always work from the ends to the roots, and never try to tug at your hair with too much force.
- Reduce Manipulation
Placing too much physical and mechanical stress on your strands will make them weak and over time result in breakage. the best way to prevent and minimise breakage is to avoid over-manipulating your hair. This means taking a break from styling your hair every day or every week and also avoiding hairstyles that put too much tension and stress on your strands.
- Deep Condition
Using a deep conditioner like our Manuka Honey Deep Conditioning Mask is another great way to tackle breakage. The rich and deeply nourishing formula of the conditioner will strengthen your hair, deliver intense moisture, and prevent breakage. For best results, be sure to deep condition weekly or at least twice a month.
Breakage and shedding can both appear similar at first glance but they are very different. As you must have gathered from this article, one is natural and the other is a side effect of bad hair care practices. So, when you notice you are getting more hair fall than you're comfortable with, take some time to really examine your hair and figure out what is causing your hair loss. This will help you figure out your next cause of action and ensure your tresses get the proper care they need.