Why does hair break? 7 common causes

Do you feel like your hair can no longer gain length? That your ends are fragile, split, or break easily?

Breakage is one of the most common hair problems. It can be caused by several daily habits: heat, friction, detangling, chemical treatments, or even overly aggressive handling.

The good news? Small changes in your routine can make a big difference.

Here are 7 common causes of hair breakage and ROYAL solutions to help preserve the hair fiber.

1. Excessive heat use

Hair dryers, flat irons, and curling irons are part of our routines, but repeated exposure to high heat can weaken the hair fiber.

Over time, hair can become drier, less flexible, and more prone to breakage.

The ROYAL solution

Before every heat styling session, use the ROYAL 10-in-1 Treatment to prepare and protect your hair.

Also remember to adjust the temperature of your tools to the condition and thickness of your hair. Hotter does not necessarily mean more effective!

2. Brushing hair from the roots to the ends

It is something we do almost automatically… but it can put a lot of tension on the hair.

When you start directly at the roots, knots must pass through the entire length before reaching the brush, which can create more tension and promote breakage.

The right technique

Always start with the ends, then gradually work your way up to the roots.

Work in small sections and take the time to gently untangle knots.

A small change in technique that can make a big difference!

3. Rubbing the lengths with shampoo

Contrary to what you might think, it is not necessary to vigorously rub the lengths to clean them.

Shampoo is primarily intended to cleanse the scalp. When you rub the lengths between your hands or vigorously friction them, you increase friction between the hairs and can weaken them.

The right method

Apply the shampoo to the scalp and massage gently with your fingertips.

When you rinse, the lather that naturally glides over the lengths is usually enough to clean them without needing to rub them.

4. Sleeping with wet hair or on a surface that creates a lot of friction

Did you know that your hair spends several hours each night in contact with your pillow? Repeated rubbing can create friction, especially on already weakened lengths and ends.

Also avoid sleeping with wet hair. When wet, hair is more vulnerable and more likely to stretch, tangle, and break due to friction and movement during the night.

The solution

Before going to bed, make sure your hair is completely dry. A satin pillowcase can also help reduce friction during the night and allow hair to glide more easily over the surface.

You can also tie your hair very loosely or braid it before going to sleep to limit tangles.

5. Repeated chemical treatments

Coloring, bleaching, perms, and other chemical treatments can alter the structure of the hair.

When repeated too frequently or performed on an already weakened fiber, hair can become more vulnerable to breakage.

The right approach

Adapt your routine to the actual condition of your hair and prioritize treatments that help maintain its hydration, flexibility, and strength.

And above all, leave enough time between treatments when your hair needs it.

6. Hair that is too dry and dehydrated

Hair that lacks flexibility is generally more vulnerable to daily mechanical damage.

Brushing, detangling, styling, friction… all these actions become more difficult when the fiber is dry and rough.

The ROYAL solution

Incorporate a leave-in treatment into your routine, such as the ROYAL 10-in-1 Treatment .

It helps to add softness, flexibility, and ease of detangling while preparing the hair for styling.

7. Overly rough daily handling

Breakage does not always come from a single major factor. It can also be the result of several small actions repeated every day.

Elastics that are too tight, aggressive brushing, hair tied in the same place all the time, rubbing your head with a towel, or detangling too quickly… all these actions can increase tension and friction on the fiber.

A few habits to adopt

• Dry your hair by gently pressing it rather than rubbing it.
• Avoid elastics that are too tight.
• Always detangle from the ends toward the roots.
• Use a satin pillowcase.
• Apply a leave-in treatment before detangling and styling.
• Handle your hair gently, especially when it is wet.

Key takeaways

Hair that breaks does not necessarily mean it is "bad" or that it can no longer grow. Most of the time, hair grows at the roots, but the lengths break before they can retain their length.

By adopting good habits and handling your hair more gently, you can help preserve the fiber and maintain longer, smoother, and stronger lengths.

To discover the full range of Royal products, visit royalbotox.com