How to prevent hair breakage

Your hair may be your crowning glory, or a source of concern. Hair that is fragile and prone to knotting or breaking can be an indication of poor diet or ill health. Regardless of the cause of damaged hair, there are a few simple solutions to help stop hair breakage.

The cause

The hair can break during washing, drying, brushing or styling. There are several causes of weak hair; you may simply be genetically predisposed, you may be using the incorrect products for your hair type or you may simply have damaged your hair through heat styling.

The store-bought solution

Hair is made of protein, so a good solution to damaged hair is to use a nourishing shampoo and conditioner that is rich in protein. It's a good idea to use a clarifying shampoo once every two weeks, as it will strip the hair of product build up allowing the nourishing shampoo and conditioner to be more effective. Hair masks provide intensive nourishment. There are many hair masks on the market that treat all kinds of hair damage from dryness to split ends.

The home remedy

Treatments for damaged hair can be easily whipped up at home. Mayonnaise is the traditional home remedy for glossy hair. The primary ingredients in mayonnaise are eggs and oil, a perfect combination to feed and condition the hair shaft. Apply olive oil to your hair, paying special attention to the tips. Leave on overnight, wash thoroughly and condition as normal. Be sure to rinse your hair thoroughly as olive oil is very viscous and any residue will make your clean hair look oily. Mashed avocado is a quick and easy hair solution. Simply apply the mushy pulp to your hair as you would with an ordinary mask.

The additional solutions

Your diet will affect the look and feel of your hair. Ensure that your diet has an appropriate amount of protein in it as well as good fats, such as those found is avocados and olive oil (as mentioned above, these aren't simply good to eat, they are also good to apply directly to the hair). Getting your diet right won’t provide you with a quick fix, but it is a long-term solution. To increase the efficacy of a hair treatment wash your hair, towel dry, apply the treatment and leave for 30 minutes. Rinse thoroughly and apply conditioner as normal. To help avoid further hair damage use a heat protection product when you use a hair straightener or curling iron. Use a natural bristle hair brush, and wide tooth comb to smooth out tangled hair. Regular hair cuts will rid the hair of dry damaged ends helping to keep it sleek and tangle free.