What to look at
Check the pieces. Short pieces of different lengths, with no bulb, are breakage. Long hairs with a small white bulb at the root are normal shedding, which collects between washes and comes out on wash day.
Notice where it breaks. At the ends usually means dryness and old damage. Along the hairline or at the crown often points to tight styles or friction. Mid-length snapping during detangling points to how you detangle.
Change one thing on your next wash
Pick one for your next wash. The American Academy of Dermatology lists most of these:
- Detangle only when hair is wet and full of conditioner, starting at the ends, with fingers or a wide-tooth comb.
- Work in small sections and stop at a knot to loosen it rather than pulling through.
- Wrap hair in a towel or T-shirt to soak up water instead of rubbing it.
- Pull hair back loosely; if braids or a style hurt, they are too tight.
- Use heat less often, on the lowest setting that works, with a heat protectant.
- Trim ends that are split or knotted so they don’t split further up.
When this is not the answer
Breakage is different from hair loss. If you are losing hair from the root, seeing patches or a widening part, or your scalp hurts, the American Academy of Dermatology advises seeing a board-certified dermatologist. Bleach, relaxers and frequent heat cause breakage no routine fully reverses; the AAD suggests spacing those services out.
Products that do this job
Conditioner gives the slip that makes detangling gentle; a mask on some wash days helps ends that tangle.
Updated · The sources for this guide are on our Sources page. Report a changed detail.