How can I treat my brittle hair?

This article was reviewed by Sara Harcharik Perkins, MD.

Brittle Hair: Symptoms, Causes & Treatments

If your hair feels dry or breaks easily, you’re not alone. Brittle hair is a common hair concern, and while it can be frustrating, it’s often a sign that your strands need a little extra TLC.

Brittle hair can stem from many causes, from heat styling and chemical treatments to nutrient gaps or underlying health conditions. But once you identify what’s behind it, there are simple hair care fixes and long-term solutions that can help bring your hair back to life.

We’re breaking down what brittle hair looks like, common culprits, and the best treatments. Whether you need a hydration boost, a shift in your styling routine, or a medical check-in, you’ll walk away with a plan to restore healthy hair.

What Dry, Brittle Hair Looks Like: The Signs

First of all, what is brittle hair? This term refers to dry, weak, dull, and breakage-prone hair.

And now you may be asking, what does brittle hair look like? Here are some common signs of damaged hair:

• Frizzy hair
• Hair that tangles easily
• Split ends high up on hair 
• Dry hair
• Hair that breaks off easily
• Hair that feels straw-like
• Difficulty retaining color or style

Understanding your specific hair type can also help you identify signs of dryness and brittleness and select appropriate treatment and styling methods.

Hair usually falls into four categories: straight, wavy, curly, or coily. Within those categories are subcategories that describe how thick your hair is (fine, medium, or thick).

In general, curlier and thicker hair tends to experience more frizz, whereas straight, fine hair can become greasy as oil from the scalp travels down the hair shaft more quickly. However, dryness and brittleness aren’t exclusive to any particular hair type.

Regardless of your hair texture, if it feels dry and prone to breakage, it’s likely due to hair damage. So, what causes dry and brittle hair? Keep reading to learn more about the potential reasons.

Common Causes of Brittle Hair

The answer often lies in your hair care routine. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, these hair care habits are actually causing your hair to become dryer and more damaged:

• Using shampoo on the entire length of your hair
• Skipping conditioner
• Rubbing your hair with a towel to dry it
• Brushing wet hair (if it’s straight)
• Using heat-styling tools like blow dryers, curling irons, or flat irons
• Using long-lasting-hold styling products
• Pulling hair into tight hairstyles
• Wearing hair extensions or a weave
• Coloring or perming hair
• Excessively brushing your hair (100 strokes a day or more)

Some causes of dry, brittle hair have nothing to do with your haircare routine, though.

Deficiencies of certain nutrients and vitamins could dry out and weaken the hair, potentially leading to hair loss.

Another cause of brittle hair is hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid. This medical condition occurs when the body doesn’t produce enough hormones to keep it running normally. 

One of the many symptoms of hypothyroidism is dry, thinning hair. Other symptoms include fatigue, weight gain, dry skin, fertility issues, and trouble tolerating cold.

Environmental Factors That Dry Out Hair

Finally, sometimes it’s not just what you do to your hair, but what your hair is exposed to every day. Environmental stressors can strip away natural oils and leave strands feeling dry and fragile:

• Sun exposure. Just like your skin, your hair can get sun damage. UV rays break down proteins in the hair shaft, making it weaker and more prone to split ends.
• Chlorine. Frequent swimming in chlorinated pools can leave hair dehydrated and rough, especially if it isn’t rinsed immediately afterward.
• Cold, dry weather. Winter air often lacks humidity, pulling moisture out of your hair and scalp. The result is frizz, static, and that straw-like feeling.

Protecting your hair from these elements, by wearing a hat in the sun, using a swim cap or post-swim rinse, and applying hydrating masks during winter, can go a long way in preventing brittleness.

Brittle Hair Causes and Fixes

For quick reference, here are some common causes of brittle hair and what to do about them. 

Treatments for Dry, Brittle Hair

Treatment for dry, brittle hair can vary depending on the underlying cause. But many of the tips below on addressing dryness and brittleness can be good for just about anyone looking to improve their hair health.

1. Eat a Balanced Diet

The first step in restoring your hair’s healthy texture and shine is to make healthy changes to your diet.

A healthy diet for hair includes plenty of lean protein and fresh fruits and vegetables to provide antioxidants and hair-supporting nutrients like biotin, vitamin E, vitamin C, and iron. 

You can also consider supplements, like biotin gummies, to increase your nutrient levels. Chat with a healthcare provider before starting a supplement to make sure it’s right for you.

2. Upgrade Your Shampoo and Conditioner

Shampoo is meant to clean your hair and contains ingredients such as sulfates to rid your scalp of oil, dirt, sweat, and more. While shampoo can help with an oily scalp, the harsh ingredients often create dry and brittle hair, meaning it’s only really suitable for the scalp.

If you aren’t already using them, switch to a shampoo and conditioner designed for damage control. Certain hair care products for women are made with ingredients like antioxidants, protein, and moisturizing oils to help restore your hair’s healthy condition and strength. There are even products designed specifically for scalp care to promote healthy hair growth.

Speaking of conditioner, don’t skip this step! After shampooing, use a conditioner to restore shine, volume, and hydration to hair. Check out some of the best conditioners for dry hair.

3. Choose Hair Styling Products Wisely

Because some products contain harsh ingredients, they can eventually lead to buildup, scalp issues, and dryness. Avoid drying ingredients like alcohol and sulfates.

Instead, look for products made with hydrating and moisturizing ingredients, like shea butter, argan oil, and coconut oil.

While we’re on the subject of harsh chemicals, try to limit how frequently you use certain chemical treatments. Using dyes, bleaching your hair, or getting high-heat treatments like perms can also cause damage. Visiting the salon for frequent trims, on the other hand, can help keep hair healthy.

4. Wash Your Hair Less (and More Mindfully)

Do you wash your hair every single day? This can strip away the natural oils that keep your hair hydrated and conditioned. Try washing your hair every other day instead, using a dry shampoo if needed on the days in between.

Also, try to be more mindful of how you wash your hair. When shampooing, concentrate the lather at the roots and leave the ends alone. With conditioner, focus your attention on the dry, split ends, and avoid the scalp area. 

When it comes to brushing your hair, less is also more. Over-brushing can lead to split ends, frizz, and breakage because it weakens your hair over time.

5. Be Careful With Hot Tools

Heat damage from hair dryers, straighteners, and curling irons can lead to brittle, dry hair that’s more vulnerable to breakage. This is because excessive heat breaks down your hair.

Always make sure your hair is completely dry before using hot tools, and avoid lingering in one section for too long. Try not to use them daily, and opt for a lower setting.

Don’t forget to spritz on a heat protectant spray first to protect your hair and reduce frizz and hair breakage. Also, when in doubt, give your hair a break and let it air dry.

6. Handle Wet Hair With Care

If you have straight hair, it will break more easily when wet. So avoid combing or brushing right after a shower. If you’re going to dry it with a towel, tussle it gently to avoid breaking or damaging your hair.

However, if you have tightly curled or textured hair, brushing your hair when it’s wet actually decreases the chances of hair breakage.

7. Take Breaks From Tight Hairstyles

Super-tight hairstyles can weaken the cuticles (the outer layer around every strand of hair), leading to dryer hair. Putting pressure on the cuticles can create extra tension that prevents your scalp’s natural oils from evenly reaching your tresses. 

Tight ponytails, cornrows, or braids pull on the hair and can cause tension that leads to breakage and even permanent hair loss. This type of hair loss is called traction alopecia or ponytail hair loss.

Taking breaks instead of continuously wearing tight hairstyles or extensions may help improve dry, brittle hair.

Is Brittle Hair a Sign of Thinning Hair?

Could dry, brittle hair lead to thinning hair or future hair loss? Sometimes. Some of the things that cause your hair to become brittle — like stress and styling damage — can also contribute to thinning hair, but genetics is the most common cause of hair loss. 

For example, if you notice your part looks wider or your ponytail feels thinner, these could be signs of female hair loss. This can happen when new hair grows finer and thinner than the original hair, resulting in lower hair volume and, eventually, halted growth. 

If you think you may have thinning hair rather than hair breakage, we can help you find treatments, from medication to topical solutions. Some of the best female hair loss treatments include:

• Topical minoxidil. This medication is available as foam or minoxidil drops, both of which are applied directly to hair. Minoxidil is thought to stimulate hair growth by encouraging hair to enter the growth stage of the hair growth cycle and improving blood flow to hair follicles.
• Oral minoxidil. This once-a-day pill might be prescribed off-label to those who prefer pills to topicals or for people who didn’t get results from topical minoxidil.
• Topical finasteride and minoxidil spray. This topical treatment combines 6% minoxidil and 0.3% finasteride in a prescription-strength spray. It’s currently only FDA-approved for men but has demonstrated considerable results for women as a hair loss treatment.
• Spironolactone. Female pattern hair loss is sometimes treated with medications called anti-androgens. These medications, such as spironolactone, lower your levels of male sex hormones like testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which can cause hair loss.

Final Thoughts: Preventing Dry and Brittle Hair

Why is my hair so dry and brittle? Thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of women have asked this question while desperately trying to find a solution to quench their dry locks. It’s a common concern, and there are lots of solutions. 

Here’s what to keep in mind if you think you might have dry, brittle hair:

• The exact symptoms of dry, brittle hair can vary depending on your hair type, but some tell-tale signs include frizzy hair, split ends, hair that feels like straw or dry to the touch, frequent hair breakage, and tangles.
• Brittle hair is most often a result of your daily hair care routine. Shampooing all of your hair, skipping conditioner, brushing wet hair, using hot tools or styling products daily, and frequent coloring can all lead to dry hair that breaks easily.
• Eating a healthy diet, using the right hair products, handling wet hair gently, and reducing heat and chemical exposure can restore your hair’s health.
• If you notice more hair falling out or a widening part, you may be experiencing hair loss. Dry, brittle hair can lead to hair loss over time, but female pattern baldness is most often caused by genetics and hormones. If you think you’re dealing with early signs of balding, female hair loss treatments are a good place to start.

• Related: Does Biotin Shampoo Help Hair Growth?
• Related: What Causes Female Hair Loss on the Back of Head?

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This article originally appeared on ForHers.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.