What happens to the hair
The cuticle is an outer layer of flat scales arranged like tiles. It protects the protein core from moisture loss and mechanical damage. Each bleaching, straightening with an iron, combing wet hair and rubbing against fabric lifts and chips the scales. When the protection is broken, the rod dries out, loses elasticity and, with the slightest tension, splits at the end or breaks off along the length. The longer the hair, the more impacts it has had to endure, so the ends always suffer more.
- The cuticle protects the hair shaft
- Damage to scales leads to dryness
- Splitting ends and breaks along the length
- Long hair suffers more
- When hair becomes brittle, it remains in the skin
External reasons
In the first place are chemical procedures: lightening, frequent coloring, chemical straightening and perm. Next - thermal treatment: hair dryer at maximum temperature, iron and curling iron, especially on wet hair. Mechanically, hair is damaged by combing immediately after washing, tight ponytails and buns, metal elastic bands, extensions, and aggressive towel wiping. Dry air, hard water, salty and chlorinated water, and intense sun add harm. Usually there are several reasons, and they accumulate.
- Lightening and frequent coloring
- Iron, curling iron, hot hair dryer
- Combing wet hair
- Tight hairstyles and tight elastic bands
- Extensions and tight weaves
- Sun, chlorine, sea water
- Hard water and dry air
Internal reasons
If the hair breaks along its entire length, and the care is gentle, it is worth looking for a systemic cause. Most often, this is an iron deficiency, which manifests itself long before anemia, as well as a lack of protein during strict diets and sudden weight loss. Diseases of the thyroid gland play a significant role: when its function decreases, the hair becomes dry and brittle, and when it increases, it becomes thin. Less common are zinc and vitamin D deficiency, the consequences of serious illnesses and taking certain medications. Rare hereditary disorders of the structure of the rod are possible in children and adolescents.
- Iron deficiency and low ferritin
- Lack of protein in the diet
- Hypothyroidism and thyrotoxicosis
- Zinc and vitamin D deficiency
- Consequences of severe illness and fever
- Taking certain medications
- Hereditary hair shaft defects
Survey
The trichologist examines the scalp and the hair itself, including under magnification: trichoscopy allows you to see the nature of the breakage, the condition of the mouths of the follicles and signs of inflammation. It is separately assessed whether this is really fragility or just loss - all tactics depend on this. The mandatory minimum laboratory examination includes a complete blood count, ferritin and serum iron, TSH; According to indications, zinc, vitamin D and other indicators are added. In case of focal fragility with peeling, a scraping is taken to exclude fungal infection.
- Examination of the scalp and hair shafts
- Trichoscopy
- Differentiation between fragility and loss
- General blood test
- Ferritin and iron
- TSH
- Scraping for focal lesions
What helps
A split end will not heal under any treatment, so the first step is to trim the length every 2-3 months. The following regime works: washing with warm, not hot water, using a balm or mask for length after each wash, combing dried hair with a wide-tooth comb from ends to roots, refusing to iron or using it at a low temperature with thermal protection. Tight hairstyles are replaced with soft ones, and the pillowcase is replaced with a smooth one. At the same time, identified deficiencies are corrected under the control of tests. The first results are visible after 2-3 months, full results - after six months.
- Regular trimming of ends
- Conditioner or mask for length after washing
- Combing dry hair from the ends
- Minimal heat styling and thermal protection
- Soft elastic bands and loose hairstyles
- Sun and chlorine protection
- Correction of iron deficiency and treatment of the thyroid gland