Daily Habits for Stronger, Healthier Hair

Everyone acts like breakage is just “part of life.” Is it, though? I think it’s more about the tiny, boring stuff: trimming, brushing, maybe massaging your scalp if you remember. Also, towels. Nobody warns you about towels. Those cheap terry ones? Might as well sandpaper your hair.

Regular Trims

People love to say trimming doesn’t make hair grow faster. Okay, but who wants split ends crawling up like some weird vine? I read this study (don’t ask why, it was a slow night) and apparently, most pros agree: trims every 6–8 weeks or things get ugly. Frays everywhere, breakage like confetti.

My stylist begged me to buy real shears. Did I listen? No. Used kitchen scissors, lived with regret for months. Cheap scissors crush, don’t cut. “Prevention is easier than repair,” my chemistry teacher used to say. She meant glassware, but honestly, hair too.

Gentle Detangling and Handling

Thinking about all the cheap brushes I’ve owned actually makes me wince. So much breakage. Detangling is not a race. You start at the ends and move up. Wide-tooth combs exist for a reason—get one. The biggest trick? Don’t detangle wet hair unless you’ve got it slathered in conditioner. I like Moroccanoil leave-in, but whatever works.

Friction is the sneaky villain—those gym towels? Total disaster. Microfiber, old t-shirt, anything soft. Supposedly cuts breakage and frizz by almost 30% (source), which sounds fake but my hair agrees. And heat styling? Low setting, always a heat protectant. Spray, not serum. Trust me, I’ve weighed my hair down enough times.

Regular Scalp Massage

Scalp massage. Supposed to be relaxing, but I always forget. It’s about blood flow, apparently. More nutrients to the follicles. Dermatologists swear by it, but I can’t keep a habit going for more than a week. Three minutes, fingertips, tiny circles, don’t scratch yourself.

I’ve tried it in the shower, but honestly, it feels better at night with a little oil (argan, coconut, literally anything that doesn’t smell like dessert). There’s a study somewhere saying scalp massages can make hair thicker by 10% in six months. I forget the details. I skip days. Still, when I do it, my hair does seem less sad.

Best Treatments for Repairing and Preventing Breakage

I spend half my life in the kitchen, hands sticky, trying to guess which pantry thing will fix my hair. Deep conditioners, plant oils, coconut oil, aloe vera—every list, every time. Never in the right order. My mother would be horrified.

Deep Conditioning and Hair Masks

If your hair’s crunchy and full of split ends, sometimes you just have to slather on a ridiculous amount of goo and hope for the best. I’ve argued with stylists about overnight masks vs. quick treatments. Both work, apparently—my wallet and Byrdie testers back it up. Regular conditioner doesn’t cut it. You need hydrolyzed keratin, wheat protein, or whatever ingredient is trending.

Masks labeled “breakage repair” always get hyped by stylists. Allure lists ingredients I can’t pronounce. Moisture retention, protein balance—if your hair’s straw, not silk, heavy masks can backfire. And don’t leave it on too long. I did once. The itching? No words.

Charts? I have empty jars, so that’s proof enough. For the science crowd, American Academy of Dermatology says once a week is good for less breakage.

Essential Oils and Natural Remedies

Lavender sometimes. Peppermint when my scalp’s a disaster. Argan, rosemary, tea tree—everyone online acts like these are magic, but nobody mentions the salad smell. Science mostly says fatty acids smooth cuticles—not that you’ll grow new hair overnight, TikTok be damned.

I mixed rosemary oil and jojoba once. My stylist won’t shut up about “scalp health.” Best results? Weekly scalp massages, which is why I book blowouts (can’t reach the back of my own head).

SKINmed claims rosemary oil helped with hair loss over six months, but I just remember the messy pillowcase. Peppermint oil? Careful, unless you want your scalp tingling for hours. Honestly, no idea which oil is “best.” Just don’t look greasy in public.

Coconut Oil and Aloe Vera

Coconut oil. The kitchen hack that refuses to leave. People say to “pre-poo” (don’t Google that at work) with coconut oil because it’s got small molecules that get inside hair. Stylecraze explains it, but really, you just massage it in, sleep on a towel, and double shampoo or look like you skipped showers.

Aloe vera’s not just for sad succulents. I scoop the gel, slap it on damp ends. Dermatologist said the polysaccharides seal in moisture. My split ends still exist, but they’re shinier, less likely to snap. DIY masks with both? Too messy. Feels like repairing a zipper with butter.

I usually give up and buy leave-ins with these ingredients. I can’t risk new linens. If you find an aloe mask that doesn’t feel like snot, tell me.

Special Considerations: Medical and Health-Related Causes

Never thought I’d argue with my hairbrush before work, but sometimes it’s not your products—it’s your body. Thyroid issues, wild stress hormones, whatever. Results: confusing lab results, new shampoo, same old hair.

Telogen Effluvium and Hair Loss

Woke up to half my hair on the pillow. Telogen effluvium, apparently. Googled it (source), then panicked to my dermatologist. Basically, your hair follicles just decide to take a break, all at once, and weeks later you’re shedding everywhere.

Cutting back on heat tools? Not enough. Stress, fever, crash diets, childbirth, new meds—pick your poison. Dieticians yell about iron and protein, everyone else shrugs. Wait it out, they say. Three months later, maybe you get regrowth, maybe just weird fuzzy baby hairs. No miracle product. Just time.

Hypothyroidism and Hormonal Factors

Thyroid: the silent saboteur. Suddenly I’m tired, my eyebrows are vanishing, and my hair’s snapping mid-length. Not subtle. Endocrinologist mentions hair breakage in passing (WebMD link), right after “your labs are off.”

It’s not just thyroid. Pregnancy, menopause, new birth control—any hormone shift and your hair goes weird. Texture changes, breakage, suddenly genetics seem like a scam. My only real move? Regular labs, sometimes iron or vitamin D if my doctor says so, and ignoring TikTok miracle cures.