Breakage Bandits - Could your cozy comforts be causing your hair damage?

The temperatures haven’t dropped too far as of yet but let’s get a jump start by discussing culprits that could damage your mane.  If you’re in the MidWest like myself or you have a tendency to where a sweater around the office and even if you just have a good appreciation for scarves then it’s never too late to discuss what I call “breakage bandits”.

Breakage bandits are the items we tend to reach for during cooler months or even in an air conditioned office without realizing the damage these items can place on our hair. I can’t stress enough how a lack of moisture can wreak havoc on African American hair, which tends to be dry by nature. Combine that dryness with fabrics that rub against your locks on a constant basis and you have a recipe for damage. So without further ado let’s look into some of the leading breakage bandits and how to prevent them.

 

Hats

If you have a tendency to throw on a hat on a bad hair day or you reach for a winter hat because you have a football field parking lot that you must trek across during the artic blast also known as winter in the Midwest, a hat might be the added protection that you need.  The downside is that protection might be breaking off your hair. Hats made of cotton, wool or otherwise drying materials can not only rob your hair of much needed moisture but also cause breakage due to friction. 

Solution: The solution to this dilemma is a pretty easy fix. Provided you have minimum sewing skills you can stitch a satin or silk fabric to the inside of your hats. Also there are a variety of Etsy stores that sell a wide range of hats with satin liners such as a The Classy Crocheter.  In the past I’ve tried to simply wear a satin wrap under my hat. Let’s just that those hats have a tendency to slide right off of that slippery material and standing in the cold with a doo rag is not a good look, moving on!

Scarves

I love a well placed scarf around my neck for a pop of color and style, but scarf lovers beware these beauties can tear up your precious nape! The same theory as the friction caused by hats also applies to scarves. Unless the scarf is made of a silk or satin material you must proceed with caution to any material that may come in contact with your hair. When in doubt I’ve come up with two methods to protect my strands from damage during the winter months when I have a tendency to step up my scarf game.

Solution:If I’m wearing a thick, wooly scarf around my neck more often than not I’m going to put my hair up in a bun, top knot or up do in order to prevent rubbing. If by chance I’m feeling like a rebel I’ll really moisturize my nape with a moisturizing leave in conditioner and seal  in that moisture with a drop of avocado oil.  This will ensure that the hair that comes in contact with the scarf has plenty of moisture and less of a tendency to break. Finally I’ve found that moisturizing the hair directly at my nape, braiding it in a horizontal line and pinning that section does wonders keep it from breaking. The rest of my hair covers the braid and keeps my nape from damage.  FULL DISCLOSER: Because I’m a bit anal when it comes to my hair, more often than not I’m going to end up with my hair in a bun or clip by the end of the day. The thought of the friction damaging my hair just overwhelms gets the best of me and I….just…can’t.

Sweaters

Before I began my hair journey I can clearly remember having a discussion on more than one occasion with my stylist regarding my then shoulder length hair. We couldn’t determine the cause of the damage  to the ends of my hair. It seemed as if despite my best efforts I couldn’t prevent this damage or grow beyond that point.  During one visit in particular the culprit was identified.  I happened to run out of the office with a sweater I reserved for the temperature drops associated with cube life. As I hopped in her chair and proceeded to discard my “work sweater”  my stylist raised an eyebrow and seemed to gasp out the words “how often do you where this”?!!! She spun me around in the chair and together we looked in the mirror at the sight of my thick, comforting, wooly sweater that made direct contact with my dry damaged ends. It was as if a light bulb went off, but not really. Here’s why, I wasn’t armed with the knowledge that I am now about how dryness and friction can harm our vulnerable ends. The ends are the oldest part of your hair and therefore require more nurturing.  While her theory made sense in some ways, in my mind I was thinking “this little old sweater couldn’t be doing all that”.  Well, it may not have been just the sweater alone but the combination of a wooly sweater and dry ends in the midst of  winter and…lightbulb!! 

Solution:My trusty sweater kept me from the chills but it didn’t do my strands any favors. In truth any dry material coming in contact with your hair (especially shoulder length) can cause damage due to friction. I know we don’t think about it but how many of you cannot seem to get past shoulder length hair? Your hair is growing but more often than not breakage at the ends of your hair is the issue. There are a couple of solutions one being a bun or up do, in fact protective styles that keep your moisturized hair tucked (including braids, buns, etc) are an excellent go to style. Cooler months are a great way to look into protective styling as a way to keep your hair safe from the elements.

 Since I want to be completely transparent with all my B&B readers I must confess that I still reach for my trusty sweater in times of need. Although I wouldn’t dare step out my cube in this manner you might catch me sitting cozily at my desk wearing my sweater in reverse (arms through the front opening in the back). What can I say, old habits die hard.

Just in case you haven’t been paying attention moisture plays a key role especially in Fall/Winter hair care. To ensure you are doing your best to protect your strands be sure to follow these additional steps:

• Moisturize the ends of your hair with a leave in conditioner and seal with a drop of oil. I prefer to this daily but you may want to start with every other day to see how your hair responds. 
• Utilize a moisturizing deep conditioner as part of your weekly wash day routine. To really up the ante on your deep condition utilize heat or steam. 
• Avoid friction breakage by wearing a silk or satin scarf or bonnet at night and lining the inside your hats as well. 
• Keep your ends moist and tucked with protective styles such as half wigs, braids, buns or an up do. Thinking of new ways to keep my hair protected has become part of the fun in my hair growth journey.

With a few adjustments to your Fall and Winter wardrobe and some extra TLC in your daily and weekly hair routine you can combat the Breakage Bandits for good!