Hair Breakage Symptoms

Hair might break at the ends, making it appear frayed and frizzy, or closer to the crown, making hair look thin or ragged. If your hair is breaking, it may be the result of frequent hair coloring or perming, heat styling tools like blow dryers and hair straighteners, or swimming in chlorinated water.

Hair Feels Gummy

When healthy hair is wet, it feels smooth and glossy. When damaged hair that is prone to breakage is wet, it can feel gummy or sticky to the touch. Hair that feels gooey is damaged and may break off. Individuals with sticky-feeling hair should not dye or perm their hair, swim in chlorinated water, or use heated styling products. Sticky, gummy hair will break if much more damage is done.

Hair Gets Tangled Easily

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Hair prone to breakage may feel frayed or like straw, and these coarse strands can get tangled more easily than hair that still contains sebum, the natural oil in hair. Although hair may become tangled, KidsHealth suggests brushing hair only when it is dry, because hair breaks more easily when it is wet 1. To avoid hair breakage while brushing or combing your hair, use a moisturizing conditioner after shampooing and spray with a detangler before brushing hair out when it is completely dry.

Hair Elasticity

Hair breakage may occur in hair that's brittle when dry and stretchy when wet. To determine whether overprocessing has compromised the strength of your hair, pull a piece of hair from your scalp and submerge it in water. After removing it from the water, pull gently on each end of the hair. It will either break, stretch or stay intact. If hair breaks or stretches, it is unhealthy. If the hair stays intact, it is strong and healthy.

Hair Dries Slowly

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Hair prone to breakage may not dry as quickly as hair that is healthy, due to lack of protein and and moisture in the hair. Hair will try to retain moisture, making it stay wet longer. Even if your hair takes longer to dry than usual, avoiding blow drying or using heat to prevent it from becoming more damaged. The healthiest way to maintain damaged hair is to avoid styling products and hair color until hair grows out completely.