Do You Know The Difference Between Breakage And Shedding?

Hair breakage and shedding can definitely be misconstrued. Either way, you just realize that you are losing hair, and want it to stop, however the only way to stop it is to identify your problem.

You must know how to differentiate between these two problems in order to tackle the issue. Something as small as shedding, breakage, or hair loss needs to be resolved before it gets out of hand and hinders your hair growth and retention.

What is shedding, exactly?

Shedding is simply hair that has reached the end of its growth cycle and has been released by the scalp. You can pretty much tell if your hair is in fact shedding if the tiny, white “root” or bulb is attached to the hair.

Our hair naturally sheds, of course and it takes about 130 days for a new strand to come in its place. Shedding shouldn’t be a major concern because it is a sign of a healthy hair growth process.

If you are experiencing excessive shedding it can be typically tied to medical concerns and you may want to consult a medical professional if you feel that your shedding is higher that your normal average.

Of course, there are plenty products and remedies out there that claim to stop shedding, but not every one of them work for every hair type so it is safer to seek professional help.

What is breakage?

Breakage, on the other hand, is not natural. Hair breakage does not come from the root of your scalp but tends to start towards the end of the strand or even in the middle (this is known as mid shaft breakage).

Breakage is a sign of hair abuse or lack of moisture and it can also be caused by sun exposure or overly treating your hair with protein.

To stop breakage, you will need to handle your hair with care this means avoiding heavy manipulation, limit the use of chemicals, limit the use of heat, and protect your hair generally and at night.

Breakage can also come about because the hair is extremely dry. To rectify this you will need to add a daily moisturizing routine to your hair care. After washing your hair, seal in the moisture with a hair butter, whipped shea butter makes a fantastic sealant. On non-wash days use a water-containing leave-in conditioner and follow that up with a small amount of sealing butter to ensure that the moisture is locked in. You should see a huge decrease in your breakage a few days after starting this routine.

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