Excessive hair washing, styling products, and blow-drying are common reasons for brittle hair. Hormonal imbalances, environmental factors, and nutrition can also play a role.
This article explains the symptoms, causes, and treatment of brittle hair.
Symptoms of Brittle Hair
If your hair is brittle, you may notice that it has the following characteristics:
DryFrizzyDullSplit ends
Brittle hair is usually easy to identify. You may notice that your hair seems “lifeless” or lacks shine, is prone to breaking (split ends), and can be difficult to style.
Causes of Brittle Hair
Many things can lead to brittle hair, including how you wash and style your hair and whether you use chemicals on it. Common causes of brittle hair include:
Harsh shampoos Chemicals (e. g. , relaxers, hair color, or bleach) Washing hair too often Excessive exposure to heat (e. g. , blow drying, curling irons, or straightening irons) Exposure to dry air (e. g. , in cold months or air-conditioned homes and offices) Malnutrition or an eating disorder (e. g. , anorexia nervosa) Hormonal imbalances (e. g. , thyroid disease) Hairstyles that pull tightly on the hair (e. g. , braids, ponytails, cornrows, or weaves) Genetic conditions (e. g. , Menkes Disease/kinky hair syndrome when the body doesn’t properly absorb copper)
How to Treat Brittle Hair
If you have damaged, brittle hair, there are some steps you can take to improve your hair’s moisture and shine, including:
Washing your hair less frequentlyConcentrating shampoo on the scalp, not the entire length of the hairConditioning after every washConcentrating conditioner from mid-strand to endChoosing a shampoo and conditioner for your hair type (for example, chemically treated hair)Wearing a swim cap to protect hair from chlorine
Talk to your healthcare provider if you’ve tried at-home treatments and are still experiencing brittle hair. They can identify if nutritional deficiencies or hormonal imbalances are contributing to your dry hair and help you address these underlying conditions.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Brittle hair usually isn’t a medical concern but it can sometimes be a sign of deficiencies or hormonal imbalances. If you still have brittle hair after adjusting your hair care routine, talk to your healthcare provider. They can do blood tests to determine if an underlying medical condition, like hormonal imbalances or malnutrition, is causing or contributing to your brittle hair.
Use a hot oil treatment twice a month. Get relaxers done professionally and limit them to every two months for new growth. Use a ceramic comb or iron to straighten hair at the lowest temperature. Straighten hair no more than once a week and use a heat protectant before styling. Make sure braids, weaves, or cornrows are not too tight.
Summary
Brittle hair lacks moisture, resulting in dullness, dryness, and frizziness. Over-styling, washing, chemicals, and heat products often contribute to brittle hair. Sometimes, hormonal imbalances or malnutrition can cause it.
You can improve your hair’s moisture content by limiting hair-washing, conditioning every time you wash, and limiting how much you expose your hair to high-heat products. If simple measures don’t help, your provider may want a blood test to check your thyroid function, hormones, and vitamin levels.
A Word From Verywell
Brittle hair can be frustrating. If your hair no longer has the bounce and shine it once did, you can often repair brittle hair with the right products and by treating your hair a little kinder. A hairstylist can be a useful resource for restoring your hair’s health, but check in with your provider if your brittle hair does not improve.
