If you color your hair, use hot tools, or tie it up daily, you may have noticed some not-so-great changes in your strands. Split ends, a brittle texture, and tangling can all be signs of damaged hair. But don't worry; you're not alone! These issues are pretty common; they're just our hair's way of telling us that it needs a little extra care.
Think of these signs of damage as a cry for help from your hair. To get your strands back to their healthy state, you need to treat the root of the problem. Quick fixes won't do the trick. That's why we researched to identify the signs of hair damage.
Below, you'll find seven signs of hair damage that you should be on the lookout for.
1. Dry or brittle hair
If your hair constantly feels dry, damage to the cuticle layer may be to blame. When the hair’s cuticle layer is damaged, moisture can more easily escape, leading to a brittle or straw-like hair texture. Plus, if you try providing your dry hair with moisture, hair can’t retain it as well — creating a cycle of dryness. Another way to tell if this is happening is: Your wet hair dries quickly.
2. Hair feels thick at the root and thin at the ends
As we mentioned earlier, hair damage results from a missing or inconsistent cuticle layer, which typically happens near the middle or ends of your hair, as these areas tend to be most exposed to damage. The hair may feel thin and rough when the cuticle layer is missing or disrupted. You may notice this when you run your fingers through your hair or simply see the ends appear thin or split.
3. You notice more shedding
Are you noticing more hair left on your brush, on your pillow, or even in the shower drain? Damaged hair is more prone to breakage, which means your hair can shed more easily.
4. Your hair is more tangled than usual
When the cuticle layer is disrupted, hair strands are more likely to get caught on other strands, leading to excessive tangles. That said, curly hair and long hair are also prone to tangles, so just because your natural hair is difficult to detangle, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s
5. Your hair is not growing
Dullness is a sign of hair damage. Hair with damaged cuticles will lack the smoothness and shininess of a smooth cuticle layer and properly moisturized hair. Damage that shows itself with dullness could be caused by pollution, UV rays, product buildup.
Now that you know how to tell if your hair is damaged, you can keep your hair healthy and strong by reading our article on 5 tips for preventing damage and breakage in hair.