Five Ways to Stop Hair Breakage for Natural Hair

Natural hair is prone to breakage and requires a lot of care to ensure that it remains strong and moisturized. Even with the perfect natural hair care routine, excess shedding and breakage can happen. The key to long and healthy natural hair is to find a good balance between maintaining moisture and reducing breakage. Once you’ve mastered these two concepts, you’ll be able to see a noticeable difference in your hair and how it retains length. If you’re tired of picking hair clumps out of your combs and clogging your shower drain, this post is for you. I’ve rounded up five ways to stop hair breakage that have helped me in my natural hair journey.

Deep Condition Your Hair Regularly

As I mentioned in my previous post, deep conditioning is an essential part of the wash day process. Deep conditioning reduces breakage and shedding by improving the hair’s elasticity and increasing hydration levels. Here are my three FAVORITE deep conditioners: Shea Moisture, Aunt Jackie’s, and Garnier Whole Blends.

Use a Cotton Shirt or Microfibre Towel to Dry Your Hair

Drying your hair with a towel is a recipe for disaster. The towel fibres are intended to absorb moisture from our bodies to help us dry off quickly. They do not have the same benefits for your hair. The rough fibres can cause single-strand knots and breakage while soaking all the wonderful products you’ve just applied to your hair. A great alternative to the towel is a regular cotton t-shirt or a microfiber towel, though I prefer the t-shirt method.

Detangle and Style Your Hair in Sections

This one may seem like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised that not many people implement this. Separating the hair into sections while washing, applying product or styling allows for you to have more control resulting in fewer tangles, reduces breakage and ensures each hair strand receives attention and care. I work with four sections and I use clips to hold the rest of the hair while I focus on each section.

Wrap Your Hair with a Satin Scarf or Bonnet

Invest in a silk or satin scarf, bonnet or pillow to cover and protect your hair while you’re sleeping. Silk is gentle on the hair and allows for reduced friction on your hair while you sleep. It is also non-absorbent so it won’t soak up the products, moisture and natural oils from your hair. I use a similar silk bonnet to this one.

Detangle Your Hair Using a Wide-Tooth Comb

A wide-tooth comb allows for effective detangling with minimal hair loss. Since ditching the brushes and small combs and switching to a wide-tooth comb, I’ve noticed less breakage when I am detangling my hair. I use a comb similar to this one that I can hang in my shower. Once you have implemented these five simple things into your natural hair care routine, you should notice a huge difference in your hair. Take your time and be patient. As always, limit the amount of heat you use on your hair and try low-manipulation styles often. If you must use heat, in this post I share tips that can help you prevent heat damage. Related Posts:  How to Moisturize Natural Hair Using the LOC Method The Best Natural Hair Care Routine for Beginners

---