It
is first important to understand the difference
between hair breakage and strands that
are naturally shedding. I have received
countless amounts of e-mail over the years
from women that are using these terms
interchangeably. These two terms are the
complete opposite from one another and
I hope to make the distinction in this
article.
 Hair
that naturally falls from the scalp along
with a small white bulb attached (the
root) can be recognized as shed hair.
This hair has reached the end of its growing
cycle.
If
you see strands of various lengths that
do not have its root attached, where the
hair has broken off, this is usually described
as breakage.
The
key difference between shedding and breakage
is that shedding is more of a naturally
occurring process and can also be affected
by hormone imbalance, stress, changes
in diet, and in some cases uses of birth
control pills. On the other hand, breakage
is caused mostly by hair abuse, such as
excessive heat, color, or too much handling.
Some
warning signs to look for:
- If
you notice an excessive amount of hair
after combing or brushing.
- Secondly
if your hair is becoming thinner.
- Another
sign can be if your hairline is beginning
to recede.
If
any of these warning signs sound familiar,
I would recommend you should consult with
your primary care provider or a dermatologist.
A doctor can determine if disease is present
and whether or not the hair loss will respond
to medical treatment.
 |
This
is a magnified photo of a fractured
strand of hair. |
To
protect yourself from non-hereditary hair
loss, lead a healthy lifestyle by eating
healthfully, get regular medical checkups,
and drink plenty of water. To prevent traction
alopecia from occurring, be careful with
tight hairstyles such as ponytails, braids
and afro puffs.
If
you are experiencing hair breakage, heavy-duty
protein treatments such as Aphogee
will help to stop or lessen hair breakage
by strengthening the hair. Another word
of advice is to be careful not to use protein
treatments often, because this will damage
the hair.
Look
for next month's article, where I will discuss
in detail various types of conditioners
and treatments to keep your hair in tip-top
shape!
Photos
courtesy of hair-science.com |
spotlights 
