Brittle hair lacks moisture, resulting in dullness, dryness, and frizziness. Over-styling, washing, chemicals, and heat products often contribute to brittle hair. Sometimes, hormonal imbalances or malnutrition can cause it.
Dry, dull or brittle hair
If your hair has become dry and coarse, or you have developed brittle nails, you may want to talk to your doctor. These are common signs of a condition called hypothyroidism, an autoimmune disorder of the thyroid gland that is treated with thyroid hormone replacement medication.
Brittle hair is hair that is dry, breakable, and dull. It's usually a sign your strands need some TLC. Luckily, caring for brittle hair is as simple as protecting your locks from heat, chemicals, weather, and rough styling techniques.
What is brittle hair meaning? Hair that is brittle is basically a combination of frizzy, split-ended, dull, dry, weak and lacklustre hair. Just like dry skin, it presents itself differently, from mild dullness to full-blown hair loss and breakage.
As we've noted, damaged hair repair isn't possible because the protein bonds and cuticles have been permanently altered. Instead, the focus should be on maintaining hair to prevent further damage. If your hair is severely damaged, the most extreme solution is to cut it off and start fresh.
“As we age, we start to develop 'older' hair,” says Streicher. It naturally becomes brittle when it turns gray and grows in wiry and unruly. “Often our bodies are aging and we aren't getting the proper nutrients we need. Your hair needs vitamins and a healthy diet too.
Introduction to Lupus Hair
Lupus can really affect the condition of your hair in many ways, and giving you very dry or brittle hair is one of its most common.
Certain thyroid conditions can also change the texture of your hair. If you have hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid), your hair might feel overly fine and brittle. If you have hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid), your hair might feel dry, harsh and more coarse than normal.
Nutritional deficiency may impact both hair structure and hair growth. Effects on hair growth include acute telogen effluvium (TE), a well-known effect of sudden weight loss or decreased protein intake [1], as well as the diffuse alopecia seen in niacin deficiency [2].
Severe and prolonged hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can cause loss of hair. The loss is diffuse and involves the entire scalp rather than discrete areas. The hair appears uniformly sparse. Regrowth is usual with successful treatment of the thyroid disorder, though it will take several months and may be incomplete.
Using too much shampoo, brushing or combing your hair when it's wet, rubbing hair dry with a towel, or brushing too hard or too often can all strain your strands and make them break. Two big causes of breakage include braids that are too tight and weaves that weigh down the hair.
So, for healthy hair, eat biotin-rich foods such as eggs, liver, milk, soy, hazelnuts and yeast. Generally, a varied and well-balanced diet will bring you all the essential nutrients your hair needs to be healthy and strong.
Incorporate a weekly hot oil treatment
A regular hot oil treatment added to your hair care routine can help you nourish and soften coarse strands. This type of treatment uses plant-based essential oils like coconut, almond, or olive oil to seal the hair's cuticle, reducing frizz and dryness for silky, smooth hair.
Biotin. Also known as vitamin B7, biotin is a key building block of thick, healthy hair. Found in eggs, as well as most fruits and vegetables, biotin is an important nutrient that's easy to incorporate into your diet.
As a result, when vitamin B12 levels are low, your hair follicles may not be able to grow new hair efficiently. This will result in hair loss. B12 deficiency can also lead to symptoms of anemia, which is linked with low iron levels, hair thinning, and hair loss.
Foods that contain the most biotin include organ meats, eggs, fish, meat, seeds, nuts, and certain vegetables (such as sweet potatoes) [2,12].
The type of hair loss caused by poor diet is temporary, and it's called telogen effluvium. It means the growth cycle has halted during the telogen phase, so the follicle is resting and a new strand of hair isn't growing. The hair becomes thinner, and you may notice an increase in hair shedding from the scalp.
To promote hair growth, you need to increase your protein intake, especially by consuming food like fish, beans, nuts, and whole grains. Hair follicles are mostly made of protein, and the lack of it promotes hair loss. Proteins 'feed' the hair from the inside.