Hair Breakage 101: What Causes It & How to Stop It

At Color Wow, we’re obsessed with solving hair problems—and hair breakage is a big one. Nothing is more frustrating than seeing short, snapped-off strands on your bathroom counter, pillowcase, or in your brush. 

Unlike shedding, which is a normal part of the hair growth cycle, breakage is a sign that the structural integrity of your hair has been compromised. The good news? With the right care and our cutting-edge, science-backed formulas, breakage doesn’t stand a chance.

What Is Hair Breakage?

Hair breakage happens when strands frizz, fray or snap anywhere along the shaft. Unlike shedding (which is a normal part of the hair cycle), breakage leaves jagged, uneven ends and thin, brittle strands.

It is a clear sign that the hair’s external protective barrier and internal structure is compromised.

The most common signs of hair breakage include:

• Short, uneven pieces sticking out from hairstyles
• Dry frayed, split ends
• Hair that snaps off when brushing, washing, or styling
• Thinner-looking strands that have lost mass, diameter and density

Is Hair Breakage Normal?

Hair is naturally exposed to daily stressors—whether from styling, the environment, or simple wear and tear. Some level of breakage is unavoidable over time, but that doesn’t mean it should be excessive or ignored.

A strand here and there might be normal, but if breakage is visibly impacting hair length, volume, or texture, it’s a red flag that deeper care is needed.

What Does Hair Breakage Look Like?

Breakage is not always easy to spot. Sometimes, it appears as frizz or flyaways, making hair look rough and unruly.

Other times, it’s very obvious, such as when a ponytail feels significantly thinner or long strands suddenly hit mid-length... as if they’re shrinking!

A key way to differentiate between the signs of hair breakage and natural shedding is by examining the root ends of fallen strands:

• If a white bulb is present at the root, it is shedding.
• If the ends are jagged and broken, it is breakage.

What Causes Hair Breakage?

Understanding hair breakage causes is key to preventing future damage and keeping strands strong. Several factors can contribute to hair breakage, including:

Excessive Heat Styling - High temperatures weaken the hair’s protein structure, making it brittle.

Chemical Damage - Bleaching, perms, and relaxers strip the outer protective cuticle, leaving hair vulnerable.

Rough Brushing & Styling - Brushing too aggressively can cause breakage. If you're wondering why your hair breaks off when you brush it, it's likely due to excessive friction, improper tools, or hair that is already weakened.

Tight Hairstyles - Braids, ponytails, and buns that pull too tightly can lead to breakage.

Lack of Moisture - Dry hair loses suppleness, resilience and elasticity... becomes fragile and prone to snapping.

How to Fix Broken Hair (Treatments That Work)

If you're wondering what to do for hair breakage, the key is using targeted treatments designed to rebuild and strengthen the hair from within.

1. Strengthen with Dream Cocktail Kale-Infused – Unlike traditional bond-building treatments, this leave-in, heat-activated formula goes deep inside the hair shaft to reinforce internal sulfur bonds, instantly making hair stronger and more resilient. 

Clinically proven to reduce breakage by 50% after just one use.

2. Hydrate, Defrizz, Fortify with Money Mist – Ultra-lightweight, multi-tasking leave-in conditioner instantly restores hydration without build-up or heaviness.

Light but powerful formula fortifies, helps keep hair smooth and flexible to resist future snapping.

3. Detangle with Snag-Free – This pre-shampoo treatment is a game-changer for dehydrated, fragile curly hair. With a nourishing blend of oils, it creates slip for easy combing and damage-free detangling.

Use before shampooing for a deeper, fresher clean without snags and snarls.

4. Reverse the look of hair damage with Dreaming Advanced Repair and Resurfacing Treatment - This masque works in minutes to refinish, polish and smooth hair’s surface. 

With moisturising and strengthening properties, Dreaming is clinically proven to provide 83% less breakage and 28% greater elasticity.*

*Average results of independent lab testing. 

How to Stop Hair Breakage (Prevention is Key)

If you're wondering how to prevent hair breakage, the key is adopting the right habits and using targeted products that reinforce hair strength.

✔ Use Heat Protection Every Time

Never blow-dry your hair, or use hot tools/rollers, without protecting your hair from exposure to heat.

Because using heat protection is so essential to maintaining strong, healthy hair and vibrant colour, Color Wow puts heat protectant into every conditioning, treatment and styling formula we make (excluding Dream Filter and Root Cover Up).

✔ Reduce Overwashing & Use a Gentle Shampoo

Color Security Shampoo is a 100% clean, sulfate-free formula that leaves no buildup, ensuring healthier, stronger hair over time.

✔ Brush Hair Gently

Using a wide-tooth comb or soft-bristle brush while working from the ends up reduces unnecessary tension and prevents breakage.

✔ Avoid Tight Hairstyles

Loose, protective styles can reduce friction and minimize breakage, but overly tight braids can stress the hair shaft and lead to snapping.

✔ Get Regular Trims

Trims remove damaged ends before they lead to further breakage. Keeping up with trims is essential in avoiding hair breakage.

✔ Use a Silk Pillowcase

Traditional cotton pillowcases create friction that can cause snapping. Switching to silk helps hair glide smoothly and prevents breakage while sleeping.

Final Thoughts on Handling Hair Breakage (the Color Wow Way)

What sets Color Wow apart is our approach to supporting optimal hair health. Traditional products often rely on heavy silicones, greasy oils or stiff fixatives that disguise breakage problems rather than helping to repair and prevent damage. 

Our formulas are different—engineered to work inside the hair fiber, reinforcing bonds and strengthening strands from within. And to help smooth and repair hair’s surface, restoring natural barriers and reinforcing hair’s vital structural integrity from root to tip. 

With ingredients scientifically designed to prevent and repair breakage, our solutions deliver long-term resilience and restoration without buildup or residue.

By using Color Wow’s breakthrough technologies and following expert-recommended practices, hair breakage can be minimised so your strands can look and feel optimally healthy and responsive: supple and manageable with glossy, vibrant colour.

Your Hair Breakage FAQs Answered

What makes hair break?

Hair breakage happens when strands become weak and snap instead of shedding naturally.

The most common causes include excessive heat styling, chemical treatments like bleaching and colouring, rough brushing (especially on wet hair), tight hairstyles that pull on the strands, and a lack of moisture or protein that leaves hair brittle and prone to snapping.

Does braiding your hair help prevent breakage?

Braiding can help prevent breakage if done correctly. Loose braids reduce friction and tangling, making hair less likely to snap, while overly tight braids can cause stress on the hair shaft and lead to breakage.

To protect hair, it's best to keep braids loose, use a silk pillowcase to minimise friction, and apply a lightweight leave-in conditioner like Money Mist for added hydration and flexibility.

Does stress cause hair breakage?

Stress can absolutely contribute to hair breakage. Elevated stress often leads to poor nutrition or habits like excessive hair pulling or aggressive brushing, which further damages hair.

How should I style my hair to prevent breakage?

To prevent hair breakage, it’s important to use thermal protection before heat styling, avoid tight hairstyles that put strain on the strands, brush gently using a wide-tooth comb, and limit heat styling when possible.