Hair Breakage on Top of Your Head: Broken Hair Causes & Fixes
Breakage is a universal source of frustration in the natural hair community. It robs us of our length, complicates styling, and is difficult to control.
Though hair breakage anywhere on the head is alarming, it’s especially concerning when it pops up right at the top of your head. This article will explore what causes hair breakage at the top of the head and what to do about it.
Table of Contents
What Causes Hair Breakage on Top of Your Head?
Hair breakage on the top of your head is primarily caused by dryness, excessive use of heat-styling tools like blow dryers and curling irons, and tight hairstyles that exert undue tension on hair follicles.
Environmental factors, such as prolonged exposure to the sun’s UV rays, can weaken the hair cuticle, leading to fragility and breakage. Additionally, chemical treatments and harsh hair products strip your hair of its natural moisture and oils, making it brittle and prone to breakage.
It’s also important to note that stress and specific health conditions can disrupt the hair growth cycle, contributing to damage and breakage in this area.
Identifying the root cause of your breakage is the first step in helping to rectify it. Unfortunately, pinpointing the source of hair breakage on the top of your head can be difficult.
But trust us, we can help you out. Read on as we discuss some known causes of hair breakage on the top of the head.
Key Takeaways
- Common Causes of Hair Breakage. Hair damage often occurs at the crown area due to dryness. Damage can be caused by excessive heat from hot tools like blow dryers and curling irons. Avoid tight ponytails that cause tension. Also, mitigate exposure to harsh chemicals that can magnify breakage.
- Prevention and Care. Use regular trims to remove brittle hair and split ends. Utilize heat protectant spray before using heated tools. Minimize the use of tight styles to prevent further damage. Finally, use gentle shampoos, deep conditioners, and natural oils to maintain your hair. Two of our favorite oils are coconut oil and jojoba oil.
- Hair Type. Understanding your hair type is essential. Different hair fibers and follicles require unique care. For instance, frizzy or curly fine hair needs more moisture than straight hair.
- Diet and Health Factors. A balanced diet is important for preventing hair breakage. The American Academy of Dermatology highlights the importance of overall health in hair care.
- Effective Products and Techniques. To reduce the risk of breakage, you should avoid harsh chemical treatments. When styling, choose hair accessories like claw clips or microfiber towels. Proper drying techniques are also essential. Consider blotting excess water instead of rubbing to protect your hair’s natural oils.
Dryness
Hair dryness is one of the leading causes of breakage. While you don’t want to walk around with wet hair, every head of hair needs ample moisture to grow and thrive. There is no way around it. When hair strands don’t get enough moisture, they become weak and brittle, eventually leading to breakage.
The Sun
Sun-related hair breakage on the top of the head is common. As magnificent as it is, the sun is not so friendly to our hair and scalp.
UV rays can break down the outer layer of the hair strand, called the hair cuticle, leading to weakness and, eventually, broken hair. Because the top of your head is directly exposed to the sun, it takes the brunt of sun damage.
Heat Damage
Intricate styles may require the use of heat, and most of us rely on blow dryers, curling irons, flat irons, and other heat-styling tools to achieve certain looks.
But using too much heat on the hair can damage it. That’s because extreme heat alters the structure of the hair strand, weakening it and making it more prone to breakage.
Hair Accessories
Some hair accessories cause breakage at the top of the head. Rubber bands, tight hair ties, clips, and bobby pins are the worst offenders.
These accessories can be worn safely, but when worn too long or too tightly, they cause hair strands to stretch beyond their natural limits, resulting in breakage.
Overly Tight Hairstyles
Experimenting with new hairstyles can be a lot of fun. Yet, your hairstyle could be causing your hair to break. Pulling hair strands too tight in hairstyles like buns, ponytails, updos, and braids often leads to breakage at the crown of your head.
Stress
You may be surprised to see stress on this list, but there’s a good reason why it’s included. There is a definitive link between stress, hair loss, and breakage, and it has been scientifically proven.
Here’s the rundown: each of us has a hair growth cycle that is unique to us, but stress can throw it off. When stress disrupts your hair growth mid-cycle, you can experience breakage.
Read this article to learn more about creating a hair care routine that encourages healthy hair growth.
Split Ends
Split ends occur when individual hair strands split into two or more segments; they are composed of hair strands that have been damaged somehow.
Damaged hair strands are not as strong and elastic as healthy ones, which makes them more prone to breakage. The hard truth is that split ends don’t just go away.
If left unaddressed, they split further up the hair shaft to the mid-lengths of the hair and top of the head, leading to more extensive breakage. If your split ends are mainly situated at the top of your head, that’s where you’ll notice the most breakage.
How Do You Get Rid of Hair Breakage on Top of Your Head?
In the interest of full disclosure, you should know that there is no way to fix hair breakage that has already occurred. Once a strand has broken off, that’s it – there is no way to restore that strand.
The only proper solution to treat hair breakage is to trim your damaged hair, focusing intently on the areas where breakage has occurred. The goal is to even out the areas where hair has broken off.
If you’re not experienced enough to do this yourself, schedule an appointment with a professional stylist for the best results. A fresh haircut will give you a clean slate, preparing you for hair breakage prevention, which will be discussed in the next section.
How to Prevent Future Hair Breakage
Preventing hair breakage at the crown of the head doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. By slightly tweaking your hair care routine, you will be on your way to healthy, voluminous hair. Follow the tips below to get started.
Thoroughly Moisturize Your Hair and Scalp
The crown of your head will thank you when there’s more than enough moisture to go around. With adequate moisture, those delicate strands at the top of your head will increase in strength, elasticity, and longevity.
Minimize Tight Hairstyles
Limiting tight buns, updos, braids, and ponytails will prevent hair weakness at the top of the head and, consequently, minimize breakage.
If you’re experiencing breakage, you’ll need to switch out your usual tight hairstyles for hairdos that let your natural hair be free. Instead of the aforementioned hairstyles, opt for wash-and-go styles, twist-outs, finger coils, etc.
Comb and Brush Your Hair Correctly
There is a wrong way to comb or brush your hair. When detangling hair, you should never start at the roots. Doing so can result in the formation of knots, which can break off as you comb or brush.
Always start detangling from the ends and move toward the roots to prevent breakage. It’s also helpful to dampen your hair and apply a detangler before breaking out your detangling tools.
Minimize Heat Styling
When heat-styling hair, keep your heat setting to a minimum. You never know – a lower heat setting could give you the results you want without damaging your hair strands to the point of breakage.
You should also try to restrict heat-styling to no more than once per week and always use a heat protectant.
Choose Hair Accessories Wisely
To prevent hair breakage on the top of the head, avoid elastic hair ties and tight rubber bands. These accessories can pull hair strands out every time you take them off.
If you want to pull your hair back, use ouchless scrunchies to minimize tension on your hair strands at the top of the head.
Products to Stop Hair Breakage
Specialized hair care products can help you beat breakage once and for all. Review our brief list of anti-breakage products below:
- OGX Anti-Breakage Plus Keratin Oil Conditioner: Formulated with a keratin and argan oil blend, this conditioner strengthens hair and defends against breakage. It also protects against split ends that fight to make their way to the top of the head. This conditioner can be used daily to strengthen hair and seal in moisture. You can also use it as a deep conditioning treatment.
- Shea Moisture Intensive Hydration Shampoo: This honey-infused shampoo lavishes hair with moisture without stripping it bone dry. It rids hair of build-up, leaving it soft yet strong. Use this shampoo weekly to keep product build-up at bay and make your hair smell like heaven!
- Shea Moisture Anti-Breakage Spray: This moisturizing spray contains Jamaican black castor oil, a powerhouse ingredient that nourishes the hair and scalp with the nutrients it needs. It leaves hair strong and keeps it moisturized between washes. This product can be used as often as needed to keep hair moist and revitalize dry hair strands.
Frequently Asked Questions
Welcome to our FAQ section, where we address common questions about hair breakage on the top of your head. You will find short, expert answers here. They will help you understand and deal with these broken hairs effectively.
Why Is My Hair Breaking off at the Top of My Head?
Your hair is likely breaking off at the top due to a combination of factors. For example, excessive use of heat-styling tools (e.g., blow dryers) often leads to dry hair and breakage. Tight hairstyles cause stress on hair follicles. The lack of moisture can make your hair brittle. Environmental factors, such as sun exposure, can weaken your hair strands. Chemical treatments can also contribute to breakage on top of your head.
What Causes Hair Breakage at the Crown of the Head?
Hair breakage at the crown of the head is often due to dryness and brittleness resulting from overuse of hair dryers and other hot tools. Tight hairstyles that pull on the hair and harsh chemicals in hair products can also lead to breakage. Inadequate hydration and nutrition for hair health further exacerbate this issue.
How Do You Fix Broken Hair on Top?
To fix broken hair on top:
1. Start by reducing the use of heat styling tools and avoid tight hairstyles that stress the hair.
2. Regularly apply a nourishing hair mask to restore moisture.
3. Trim the damaged ends.
4. Use gentle, moisturizing hair care products to help repair and strengthen the broken hairs.
How Do You Get Rid of Scalp Breakage?
Getting rid of scalp breakage involves nurturing your hair with proper hydration and nutrition. Use gentle shampoos and conditioners, minimize heat styling, and avoid harsh chemical treatments. Regularly moisturize the scalp and hair with suitable products. For example, use natural oils or a hydrating hair mask to help prevent further breakage.
How Do You Hide Breakage on Top of Your Head?
To hide breakage on the top of your head, you can try hairstyles that gently cover the affected area, like loose updos or soft waves. Using volumizing products can help lift the hair, making the breakage less noticeable. You can use hair fiber spray that matches your hair color for immediate coverage. Also, consider wearing a stylish wig.
Why Is the Top Layer of Hair Damaged?
The top layer of hair is often more damaged due to its exposure to environmental factors like UV rays. Frequent use of heat styling tools, such as a blow dryer, along with chemical treatments and styling products, can also lead to damage.
- How To Stop Hair Breakage Fast
- Taking Care of Curly Hair
- How To Stop Curly Hair From Thinning
- Best Way To Grow Thinning Edges
Even with meticulously planned hair care routines and the best intentions, we can unwittingly cause our hair to break off. And this happens because of a lack of good information.
Thankfully, hair breakage in all its forms can be prevented through the practices discussed in this article. We encourage you to give them a try and wish you the best on your natural hair journey!
