All about broken hair
Amiga, in previous chapters we have told you tips to differentiate broken hair from the famous "baby hairs", which are a total trend thanks to celebrities like Rosalia, Rihanna or Camila Cabello. Now, if you don't have baby hairs, and what you have is broken hair, pay attention, baby, because this is of interest to you, and very much so!
First things first, what does broken hair look like? A broken hair fiber is usually rough and dry to the touch, as well as having split ends and a lighter shade, making your hair have an uneven length and does not look healthy at all. These broken hairs can appear all over the hair, both at the roots and at the mid-lengths and ends, and it's very easy to spot them, we swear!
Brief reminder of hair fiber structure
Dear, we remind you that the hair fiber is mostly composed of proteins, the most abundant being keratin, as well as water, lipids, melanin and other minerals and trace elements.
On the one hand, four keratin fibers, linked by disulfide bridges, ionic bonds and hydrogen bonds, form a flexible spiral that gives the hair its shape and provides strength and flexibility. On the other hand, lipids, specifically 18-methyl eicosanoic acid present in the cuticle, protect the fiber from external aggressions and form a hydrophobic surface on the hair, reducing its porosity and increasing its resistance to damage. And, my friend, these two main components of hair are the crux of the matter.
Causes of hair breakage
Okay, if you're wondering what things can break your hair, we're sorry to tell you that anything from bad brushing to sleeping with wet hair can irreversibly damage your mane. Bestie, we're going to tell you all about it, so...LET'S GO!
👀 Dyeing, bleaching or permanent straightening: these types of hair treatments carried out in styling salons (or not) often have a very alkaline pH that allows them to open the cuticle and break all types of bonds in the hair fiber. And, obviously, this spoils your hair like crazy.
🧖🏽♀️ Use of heat tools (flat irons, curling irons, hair dryer, whatever): high temperatures also have the ability to break bonds, with ionic and hydrogen bonds breaking reversibly, but not disulfide bridges, which are the ones that shape your hair. Therefore, when you abuse this type of tool, your hair loses shape and the lipid barrier that protects the fiber is gradually eliminated, favoring the appearance of frizz.
😱 Brushing wet hair or going to sleep with it: hair when wet is much more fragile and sensitive to breakage, so brushing it when you get out of the shower is a mistake. Not to mention going to bed with wet hair, as it increases friction between the fibers, making them break more easily. Don't forget that water damages the hair from the inside, lifting the cuticle and causing the fiber to swell and increase in diameter.
👱🏼♀️ tight hairstyles and use rubber bands: we already know that the "clean look" and the "sleek bun" a la Hailey Bieber are pure trend this fall, but...did you know that doing very tight hairstyles breaks your hair? And yes, the elastic bands of all life have also been taking a toll on your mane since time immemorial.
💧 Not keeping your hair nourished: hair with very dry ends will ALWAYS tend to break, and you know it.
✨ Abusing protein products: protein products are a MUST if you have damaged hair, BUT using too many protein products in the same hair routine can lead to protein build-up, making the hair stiff, and stiff hair is much easier to break.
Tips to prevent hair breakage
1️⃣ Avoid as much as possible hair coloring, bleaching and Japanese straightening, and if you do have these types of treatments, accompany them with hair fiber rebuilding treatments such as Sublime 10-31 or our brand new Bae Berry.
2️⃣ If you are going to use styling tools, it is crucial to use a thermal protector such as South Bondiwhich will also help to keep your hair nourished from mid-lengths to ends.
3️⃣ Brush your hair dry before getting in the shower, and always use a conditioner or mask to facilitate post-wash detangling such as Tasmania Mask o L'Essentiel Mask.
4️⃣ Avoid super tight hairstyles, and use silk or satin hair ties, or replace them with hair claws (hair clips for friends), which are very trendy. 5️⃣ Apply your favorite finishing hair oil to the ends every day, we recommend our Cotton Lust which is loaded with ingredients that protect the hair and keep it nourished.
6️⃣ And, last but not least, get your hair cut periodically, because as your hair grows, if you have split ends, the fiber will break upwards, and next time you'll have to cut a lot more! You no longer have an excuse, it's time to take care of your hair the way it deserves!
