Breakage & split ends

Hair isn't living tissue, so once a strand is damaged it can't heal itself. Conditioners and protein treatments can hold split ends together and make damaged hair behave better — but only until the next wash. The real fix is to remove the causes: high heat, bleaching and relaxing, rough brushing of wet hair, and tight styles. Trim away ends that are already split.

Breakage is different from hair loss: broken hairs snap along the length, while shed hairs come out from the root. If you're seeing patches or thinning at the hairline, read about traction alopecia and hair loss.

Common signs

• Short, snapped hairs along the lengths or around the hairline
• Split or frayed ends, often lighter in colour
• Hair that feels weak or stretchy when wet

What usually helps

• Condition every wash and detangle wet hair gently with a wide-tooth comb, working up from the ends.
• Blot hair with a towel or T-shirt instead of rubbing.
• Lower the heat: low or medium settings, a heat protectant, dryer kept moving about 15cm away, straighteners only on dry hair.
• One chemical service at a time, and stay within a few shades of your natural colour (American Academy of Dermatology).
• Keep ponytails, braids and buns loose, and use covered hair ties without metal joins.

Washing: Shampoo the scalp, not the ends, and always follow with conditioner.

Build your routine with this concern →

Read the full guides

• Conditioning and detangling without breakageShampoo cleans the scalp; conditioner protects the lengths. How conditioner works, where to put it, rinse-out versus deep conditioning, and how to detangle wet hair with…
• Safe heat styling: dryers, straighteners and curling tongsHeat changes hair, and more heat does more damage. What the research says about dryer distance, straightening wet hair and heat protectants — and the simple habits that…
• Colour-treated and bleached hair: safer dyeing and aftercareHair dye reactions are fairly common, so the NHS advises testing a dye at least 48 hours before you use it. How to dye more safely, why bleached hair behaves differently…
• Traction alopecia: hair loss from tight stylesConstant pulling from tight ponytails, buns, braids, weaves and extensions can thin the hairline. Caught early it's reversible — here's how to spot it and style more saf…
• Sleep and hair: silk pillowcases, satin bonnets and night-time careSilk and satin are hugely popular for protecting hair overnight, especially curly and coily hair. Here's what's known (very little), what's sensible, and how to avoid ni…

Ingredients worth knowing

• Proteins (hydrolysed keratin, wheat, silk…) Evidence: CosmeticConditioning and temporary "repair" for damaged or bleached hair
• Silicones Evidence: CosmeticSmoothing, detangling and shine in conditioners, serums and heat protectants
• Oils (coconut, argan, olive, mineral) Evidence: CosmeticPre-wash treatments, shine and softness — and descaling in some medicines

Not medical advice. This guide is general information from the sources listed, not a diagnosis or a substitute for a pharmacist, GP or dermatologist. If you are worried, or symptoms are severe or not improving, get advice. Read our health information policy.

Sources

1. D'Souza P, Rathi SK. Shampoo and conditioners: what a dermatologist should know? Indian J Dermatol 2015 pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
2. Gavazzoni Dias MF. Hair cosmetics: an overview. Int J Trichology 2015 pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
3. American Academy of Dermatology – Teaching your child healthy hair care habits aad.org
4. American Academy of Dermatology – Coloring and perming tips aad.org
5. Lee Y et al. Hair shaft damage from heat and drying time of hair dryer. Ann Dermatol 2011 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
6. Christian P et al. The effects of water on heat-styling damage. J Cosmet Sci 2011 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov