Your Question, Answered: Why am I waking up next to my hair? Hair Breakage 101

Everyone has some hairs shorter than the others. Maybe they are just growing in. Maybe they broke off. If you seem to have an unusual amount of shorter-than-you’d-like-them hairs, here are some possible causes and some definite remedies...

Breakage can occur from a wide range of stresses. Some more common ones are poor nutrition, heat styling, poor-quality shampoos and conditioners, chemical processes and mechanical means.

Make sure you eat a well-balanced diet rich in proteins and vitamins A, C, E and B3 among others. We’re not nutritionists, but we do hang around Big Bear Natural Market a lot!

If you are heat styling your hair every day with a blow drier, curling wand or flat iron –STOP! Too much heat will make your hair dried out and brittle. Consider letting your hair go an extra day or two between styling with heat. This is where a dry-shampoo like Big Sexy Hair will come in handy. Sprayed at the root, it will absorb excess oils that will weigh your hair down and make it look greasy. (BSH is available at ZSS for $18.)

Substandard shampoo can actually damage your hair by stripping it of all natural oils and completely drying it out, thus making it more likely to snap off. Make sure you are using high quality shampoo and conditioner like L’Oreal Absolute Repair Shampoo ($18), Conditioner ($21) and Masque ($28) or AVEDA Damage Remedy Shampoo and Conditioner ($24 each).

Also, you should strongly consider coming to Zanya Spa Salon for a deep conditioning treatment, such as a powerdose, once week. (Powerdose: $15. Buy a series of 6 and pay for 5.)This will help stop the damage cycle and even begin to repair damaged hair cuticles. Over time, your hair will become more resilient and regain its healthy shine and bounce.

Chemical processes can be killers in the wrong hands. If you are coloring your hair at home and you are seeing breakage, you may be doing it too frequently or allowing it to process for too long, especially if you are lightening your natural color. Professional color products have high-power conditioning agents built right in to actually improve the condition of your hair through the color process. Additionally, by having a Zanya professional do your color, you can be sure that your hair will not be over processed. Color services at Zanya Spa Salon start at just $40.

You may be breaking your hair off by brushing it too vigorously when it is wet. Your hair is vulnerable when wet and the chances of damaging it are greater just after the shower. Towel dry your hair and allow it to dry naturally a bit before you even put a comb too it. Then only use a wide toothed comb and gently work out any knots from the bottom of the hair up. Never yank or rip the comb through your hair. Every time you do this you are either breaking it off or pulling it out or both, and over time this will add up to a lot of damage.

And, if you own a metal brush for styling your hair, throw it out right now. Go ahead; we’ll wait ‘til you get back……..Good girl! We’re proud of you. That thing gets so hot when you are blowing your hair dry, that it weakens every hair it touches and, you guessed it - it frizzles them right the heck off.

Also be careful of ponytails using ponytail holders and elastic bands. Don’t wear a ponytail every day or every night before bed in the same spot on your head. This puts too much stress on the same hairs over and over again.

And, watch the purse strap, honey! If you have long hair and you wear your purse on your shoulder, be very careful to move all of your hair out of the way BEFORE you put that strap over your clavicle! If you yank it out after the strap is on it – breaking will occur – every time. Rae and Aileen have noticed this more times than they’d care to discuss on their clients’ otherwise stunning locks.

This of course is not a complete course syllabus to Hair Breakage 101, but it is a start. Feel free to speak with your stylist if you are noticing breakage and ask them what they would advise. They are, after all, coiffeuses extraordinaire!