Dealing with Breakage
Dealing with hair breakage? We got you!
HOW TO SPOT BREAKAGE
In an ideal world, our hair is strong, healthy and happy. But in the real world, sh*t breaks. Whether itβs your nails, car, that vase you just filled with fresh flowers or even your hair!
It's important to be able to identify breakage so you can form a plan of attack. It's also important to remember that our hair sheds on a daily basis, between 50-100 hairs a day which is totally normal. Normal shed hairs tend to be about the same length of your hair and have tiny white bulbs at the end. Whereas, hair breakage is shorter than the usual length of your hair strand and feels drier and more brittle than usual.
Keep an eye on your hairline too as those "baby hairs" might actually be breakage. Whilst baby hairs or new hair growth, will all be short in length, broken hair strands will be varying in length and have a drier texture to the rest of your hair.
CAUSES OF HAIR BREAKAGE
Whilst we all love colouring and experimenting with our hair, this can make it more prone to breakage. Bleaching in particular can be a huge culprit when it comes to breakage. If you start to see those little 'baby hairs' after a bleaching session, then breakage has most likely happened.
Heat styling can also contribute to everyday breakage. Using straighteners, dryers and other styling tools can all be causing breakage. As can harsh styling (think of that Bella Hadid style bun) as this all pulls tightly on your hair line, causing breakage.
GO SULPHATE FREE
If you're not already using a sulphate free shampoo, then now is the time to start. And if you're suffering with hair breakage then now is the time to read those ingredient lists and make sure all of your haircare is sulphate free.
Sulphate is known to strip your hair of its natural moisture and protein. And that protein loss from excessive exposure to sulfates weakens your hair, making breakage more likely.
We love the whole Davines range as they are all sulphate free, meaning there's an option out there for every hair type. If you have coloured hair, we would recommend the Davines MINU shampoo and conditioner which eliminates build-up and dirt without stripping your hair of its oils or colour!
And if youβre suffering with dry hair, we would recommend the Davines MOMO range which tackles dry, static, stressed hair with noticeable results after the first wash. Itβs also a great option for those who suffer with frizz as it contains sweet almond proteins that bond with the keratin in hair. This forms a protective layer against environmental aggressors tackling the causes of static-ridden, stressed strands!
DON'T SKIP THE HUMECTANTS
If you don't know about humectants, then get to know. Humectants are a staple skincare ingredient that have just entered the haircare world and we're here for it!
When it comes to breakage, hair is often lacking moisture which humectants bring back to your hair. Humectants promote water retention by attracting water molecules from the air and bringing that moisture back in to your hair. A brand doing humectants right is Olaplex!
OLAPLEX IS YOUR NEW BESTIE
Olaplex is the ultimate hair care MUST HAVE if you're experiencing hair breakage, or if you're colouring your hair to prevent any breakage. We can't get enough of Olaplex and the entire range is pretty life changing tbh.
If you've never tried out Olaplex before, we would recommend starting out with the No.3 Hair Perfector which contains Olaplex's patented technology in one of it's highest concentrations in a take home product. The innovative formula works on a molecular level to revitalise and regenerate dry, damaged strands that have been broken due to chemical, thermal and mechanical effects.
The Olaplex No.6 and No.7 are some of our personal faves here at Samantha Cusick London! We love mixing these products togehter in the palm of our hand and applying to wet hair before styling. They are a match made in the haircare heavens as they protect against heat whilst also stregnthening the condition of your hair from the inside out. What's not to love?
SILK IS YOUR OTHER NEW BESTIE
If you're suffering with breakage, silk really is your new bestie! From pillowcases to scrunchies, the slippery smooth texture will help prevent tangles, frizz and hair breakage.
We love this 100% silk pillowcase which is not only great for your hair but also your skin due to the antibacterial properties of pure silk. Silk scrunchies are also a must to prevent breakage. We love these ones which come in all the cool girl neutral colours making them cute to just wear around your wrist too. We recommend buying a multipack because your friends WILL steal them!
IT'S TOTALLY NORMAL
Hair breakage is a pretty common thing that most of us will experience at some point in our lives. If youβre currently experiencing breakage, just remember breakage is totally normal!
WHEN TO MAKE THE CHOP
And whilst all of these tips will SERIOUSLY help your hair recover and prevent any future hair breakage! If your hair is REALLY suffering with breakage towards the ends, the best thing to do is become Becky with the good hair and book in for that much needed cut.