Hair shedding and hair breakage both cause us to lose hair but they aren’t the same though they tend to be confused quite often. They have different causes, different results, and different ways to manage and reverse them. So it’s important to understand which one you’re experiencing so that you can properly address it.
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What’s the difference between shedding and breaking hair?
When you’re experiencing one or the other it probably doesn’t seem that important which is because you’re losing hair and want it to stop. But as I alluded to it is really important. Both have different causes and different ways to attack the issue.Ok. here’s how to tell which one you’re experiencing. Take a look at the hair leaving your head. If it’s the full length of your hair strands, and you see a tiny white bulbous thing on the end your hair is shedding. That white bulb is essentially the root of the hair strand so the whole strand has come out hence the hair is shedding.
Related read: 6 Ways To Reduce Hair Excessive Shedding
If you’re seeing hair shorter than the length of your hair strands it's breakage. Hair breakage can happen at any point in your hair strand. In my experience with relaxed hair, the ends, and the line of demarcation (where relaxed and natural hair meet) are the places that tend to break the most. Ends don’t shed. They break.
What causes shedding and breakage?
Now shedding isn’t always a cause for concern because we can normally shed anywhere from 50-200 strands of hair a day. It’s just a normal part of being alive.When shedding does become an issue when you’re shedding more than you typically do and/or the hair is coming out in clumps creating bare spots on your scalp. This is usually called excessive shedding and can be caused by any number of things such as a change in diet, medication, allergies, or stress.
When your hair is breaking there isn’t much of a normal state. Admittedly I don’t see a few strands breaking here and there as a significant cause for concern though they should be addressed. Hair breaks mainly due to how it’s treated and when it’s in a weakened state.
What can be done to minimize or stop breakage and shedding?
Truth bomb here. You’re never going to completely and forever eliminate one or both but you can minimize breakage and shedding and even stop them for a while. Here are some things you can do.To minimize hair shedding, you can try some things, but it's important to keep an eye on whether the shedding changes because a lot of what causes excessive shedding is internal or medical. Consulting with a medical professional is your best option if you’re seeing a lot of hair coming out of your head on a consistent basis.
Related read: 3 Common Causes & Tips For Excessive Hair Shedding
If you’re experiencing slightly more shedding than normal doing things like hair rinses with green tea, black tea, or coffee has been said to help. Additionally, doing things like rubbing your scalp with garlic or using garlic shampoos has been effective for some.
To minimize hair breakage there are several things you can do when it comes to the products you use, how you use them, and how you handle your hair
So now that you know more about hair breakage and hair shedding would you be able to tell them apart if one of them was happening to your hair?
- Make sure your hair is free from product buildup
- Keep your hair moisturized
- Stay away from heat styling tools
- Don’t wear tight hairstyles
- Handle your hair with care
- Determine if your hair needs more or less protein
So now that you know more about hair breakage and hair shedding would you be able to tell them apart if one of them was happening to your hair?
I love it..now I knw my hair is shadding
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