Hair breakage can be hard to avoid in a busy modern lifestyle. We expect a lot from our hair, but the truth is, the more we subject our hair to, the more likely hair damage can compound and result in hair that feels dry, weak or simply seems to not grow longer anymore. As a hairstylist with two decades of experience working with high-profile clients, I’ve seen it all and I know that breakage is often the result of habits we don’t even realise we’re repeating.
The good news is, that with a few intelligent shifts in your routine, it can be possible to stop hair breakage before it spirals into severe damage. It’s a combination of prevention and repair - and if you’re already noticing the signs, don’t panic - here’s what you need to know.
What is Hair Breakage and What Causes It?
Hair breakage happens when a strand of hair snaps somewhere along its length, rather than falling out naturally from the root. It’s not the same as our hair shedding cycle (which can vary depending on our health, emotions, age and other factors), but more of a sign of too much wear and tear from strands that have been weakened by repeated stress.
So, what causes hair breakage? Often, it’s a perfect storm of multiple factors: heat styling, chemical processing, rough brushing, tight hairstyles, dehydration, or even something as simple as a too-rough towel-dry after a shower. These factors can strip the hair of moisture, weaken its internal structure, and eventually cause it to snap.
Over time, this damage can build up, especially if breakage is happening alongside thinning or slow-growing hair, which can lead to noticeable and potentially dramatic changes in overall density.
What Does Hair Breakage Look Like?
Breakage can be subtle at first. You might notice short wispy pieces that refuse to behave or seem to stick out from the rest, frayed, brittle ends that tangle up easily, or a head of hair that simply doesn’t seem to grow past a certain length. At the hairline, breakage can blend in with your baby hairs, a good way to check is to closely analyse the ends of those shorter strands – if they taper into a point they’re likely to be new strands growing in, but if the end is jagged or blunt, that’s a good sign that is a strand that has given up and broken.
How to Prevent Hair Breakage Before It’s Too Late
Prevention is the most powerful approach – making your natural hair stronger and taking extra good care of what’s already grown out.
First, adopt gentler habits. Practice mindful hair brushing – gently detangle your ends before moving higher, brush at half the speed you instinctively want to and never yank or pull through your strands. Switching to a silk pillowcase can help reduce brittleness over time. Turn down the heat on your styling tools and always use a heat protector. Swap out your tight or sharp hairbands, for chunky silk scrunchies. Most breakage happens when we’re rushing, so build careful rituals that slow you down and support your hair in the process.
If you want to go the extra mile, we now have biotech that can (for the first time) impact the quality of your hair before it even leaves your head. LLLT (or Low-Level Light Therapy), commonly known as red light therapy for hair growth, has been shown to charge up your follicles at the cellular level making them work harder to grow healthier, stronger, more resilient hair. In just 10minutes a day, Red Light Therapy to the scalp can have your hair growing better in as little as 16 weeks.
How to Fix Hair Breakage
If you’re already dealing with damaged hair, the goal is to restore both moisture and strength. Look for a pre-shampoo bond-building treatment that is designed to work internally as your foundation (this will make your hair immediately stronger) and then combine with softening, and conditioning products like moisture masks or leave in creams and serums which will minimise brittleness, and therefore reduce further tangles, breakage and roughness. Products that contain nourishing oils will smooth and protect the cuticle, helping your hair bounce back before it snaps.
Reducing heat styling and switching your hairstyles so you’re not using a tight hairband in the same place every day will help future proof your hair. Be careful with colouring too - never overlap strong chemicals like bleach or relaxers and try to evolve your hair colour plan gradually rather than regular dramatic transformations.
Top Products to Prevent and Fix Hair Breakage at Home
+ Olaplex No.0 and No.3: Layer these two for 10-20 mins before shampooing your hair – this will dramatically and immediately reduce the chance of breakage due to hair weakness.
+ Philip Kinglsey Elasticizer: Another pre-shampoo treatment but this one is the gold standard for smoothing and softening dry or brittle hair – for best results alternate these first two treatments every few shampoos.
+ CurrentBody Hair Growth Helmet: My go-to for future proofing the health of your hair before it's even grown out of your head! It's surprisingly easy to implement a 10-minute-a-day habit – you’ll see noticeable results in as little as 16 weeks.
+ Evo Head Mistress: This Cuticle Sealer Leave-in is light enough for all hair types, it’s like a beautiful skincare serum for your hair and will give your hair flexibility minimising risk of breakage.
+ Virtue Healing Oil: A nighttime ritual of a few drops of this clever Keratin-laden serum will absorb into your hair overnight ensuring the ends of your hair remain supple and resilient.
Hair breakage can be stressful – especially if you don’t notice until it’s severe, but ensuring you’ve implemented even just one of each of these ‘prevention’ and ‘cure’ tips will set you up for success and your future hair will thank you.
Tom Smith is a renowned hairstylist, trend consultant and CurrentBody’s resident hair care expert. Currently serving as the Creative Director at Billi Currie salon in London's Marylebone, Tom has become a trusted name among celebrities, beauty editors and clients; celebrated for his innovative approach to haircare.
