How To Know If Your Hair Is Damaged

Are you wondering why your hair just doesn’t feel as good as it used to? There could be several reasons for this – one of which is damage. If you want to know whether your hair is damaged, we can help! In this article, we’ll cut to the chase and walk you through some of the most common signs of damaged hair. 

You see a ton of split ends

Split ends occur when the ends of your hair dry out. They become brittle and separate into one or more splits. What makes split ends so dangerous is that they can travel upwards and split a single strand into multiple weaker parts. 

While seeing a few split ends here and there is normal, an excess signifies major damage. Unfortunately, you can’t repair split ends once they appear. You’ll have to remove them with either a trim or haircut. 

Your strands are dull and lackluster

Dull, lackluster hair is another telltale sign of damaged hair. Typically, the more hydrated your hair is, the smoother and shinier it will be. So, dull hair can mean that your haircare routine isn’t providing your hair with adequate moisture or that your hair has no way of holding onto it. 

Keep in mind that this also depends on your hair texture. Curly hair is less reflective than straighter textures, so it can appear dull at a distance. However, each individual strand should have some degree of shine. 

Your hair tangles and breaks easily

There’s a reason why damaged hair is associated with an unmanageable, hard-to-style mane. While healthy strands are smooth and silky, damaged hair has a rough, jagged exterior. That means your strands are more likely to get snagged when they come into contact with each other. 

Damaged hair is more fragile, and those tangles can lead to breakage and hair loss. You’ll also have to be careful about how you go about detangling your hair. Makes sure you lubricate it with plenty of water and conditioner and work through your strands gently. Always start detangling from the ends and work your way up. 

You’re stuck at the same length

Healthy hair grows at a rate of about half an inch per month. So, after six months, you should see a dramatic change in your hair’s length. If you feel like you’ve been stuck at the same length forever, it's easy to assume that your hair has stopped growing. However, damaged hair breaks easily, which means your hair can break off at the same rate that it's growing. It can also break much faster than your rate of hair growth, leading to hair that gets shorter even though you aren’t cutting it. 

Hair damage can manifest in a number of different ways. But for the most part, you can tell your hair is damaged when it doesn’t look, feel, or grow as well as it's supposed to. We hope this article has given you the information you need to determine whether your hair is damaged. If your hair is damaged, we encourage you to take the time to give it what it needs. Good luck!

Author: Andrea Reyes

Andrea is a mother, wife, writer, and natural hair enthusiast of 15 years. Currently on her natural hair journey, she’s been trying countless products and techniques to understand and embrace her natural hair. She is the creator of NaturallyTextured.com, a new website featuring informative articles that share tips, tricks, and techniques aimed to help others learn to love their hair through proper hair care. She writes with the hope of making hair care easier to understand and implement.