Causes of Damaged Hair

The first step to solving any problem is discovering its root cause and dealing with it accordingly. Exposing the causes of damaged hair is no different. Damaged hair must be dealt with at the root. Otherwise you may end up repeating some of the same behaviors that caused the damage in the first place. Determining the causes of damaged hair in your particular situation is an easy process that merely involves engaging a simple evaluation of how you treat your hair on a daily basis.

Chemically Treated Damaged Hair

The most common causes of damaged hair can be traced to how you regularly treat your hair, particularly if you use harsh chemicals. Perms, relaxers, color treatments, and bleach can all be contributing causes of damaged hair. Some of these chemicals cause the cuticles of your hair strands to swell, which eventually leaves your hair with scales that are rough and apt to chipping or falling off all together. Other chemicals, like perms, relaxers and bleaches are perhaps the more severe causes of damaged hair as they destroy your hair's protein bonds, which weaken the internal structure of the strands.

Physical Causes of Damaged Hair

Over-grooming your hair or using a rough brush or comb can is perhaps one of the most common physical causes of damaged hair. After all, didn't Mom or some television matriarch tell us to brush our hair for one hundred strokes each night? Well, it seems they forgot to tell us that doing this too often or with a rough tool could damage our hair. Pillowcases, salt remaining on the hair after an intense workout or swim, and hair accessories can also be physical causes of damaged hair.

Other Causes of Damaged Hair

Sun rays and heat from hair styling instruments are also common causes of damaged hair. While the sun won't really negatively affect healthy hair, chemically processed hair doesn't respond too well to ultraviolet rays. The sun is often one of the causes of damaged hair because it can cause the hair's protein bonds to diminish and weaken. When heated styling instruments such as curling irons and blow dryers are used too often or on settings that are too hot, they can serve as causes of damaged hair. If you're going to use heat styling devices you should be certain to use a thermal-activated hair repair product that neutralizes the damage caused by heat.

To reverse these damages you need serious hair repair. To see how to repair your hair at home, see our section on home remedies for damaged hair. Or for serious hair repair, see our editor's choice for damaged hair repair.