Hair breakage is never fun. There’s nothing quite like that sinking feeling you get in your heart when you run your fingers through your hair once and hear tiny snaps, only to discover a handful of strands in your hand. Split ends suck, too.
You can experience hair breakage in any part of your hair when you don’t take care of it well. Most people find that the ends of their hair – which tends to be the most porous and dehydrated – suffer the most when it comes to breakage.
Others find their hair snapping off by their mid-shafts.
But others experience breakage from hair damage in a unique area: the top of their head.
That makes it super frustrating because not only are you dealing with brittle hair that snaps off, but it takes forever for your hair to grow too – it snaps off before it gets to a length you like.
Does that sound like you? Let me give you a hand.
Here’s a round-up of tips and tricks on how to fix hair breakage on top of the head.
Table of Contents
How Do I Know If I Have Breakage Near The Top Of My Head?
Strong roots are pertinent to having healthy hair.
If you don’t have a good foundation for your locks, you can’t expect them to be smooth, soft, and bouncy.
So when the hair near the roots starts to get compromised because of damage caused by heat, chemicals, or manipulation, you’re in big trouble.
Hair near the top of your head is usually the healthiest due to its proximity to the scalp, which excretes natural oils that moisturize and add shine to the locks.
However, the hair there can still be damaged, especially when you’re not as mindful of caring for it.
Plus, the hairline can be more sensitive and fragile than other hairs on your head.
So when you’re not careful with handling and styling these areas, breakage is inevitable.
But how do you know that you’re suffering from hair breakage near the top of your head as opposed to anywhere else?
Well, there are a few key signs you should look out for.
Flyaways
The first is too many flyaways on the top of your head.
You may dismiss these little flyaways sticking up as a result of frizz, but sometimes it’s more than just that.
Check the ends of those hairs that you can’t seem to tame.
Does it feel like it’s blunt, as if it was broken off or cut aggressively by a pair of scissors?
That means it’s broken, not just a baby hair.
Thin Ends
Another, more devastating sign that your hair is breaking at the top of your head is that your hair looks thin at the ends but thick near your roots.
When the hair breaks off an inch or so from the roots, the rest of your hair gets less dense while the hair at the top gets poofy.
It’s a tell-tale sign of hair breakage.
What Could Be Causing Hair Breakage Near The Top Of The Head?
There are many reasons why you might be experiencing hair damage and breakage specifically at the top of your head.
And sometimes, it’s not because you are doing anything to your roots per se, but have overly damaged hair throughout your mane.
Remember, the hair by the roots is the foundation of your entire mane.
If you’re not careful with any area of your hair, the hair bonds at the top of your hair will suffer.
Here are just some of the main culprits of hair breakage near the crown of your head:
Frequent Root Touch-Ups
If you’re maintaining light-colored hair, it means you’re probably getting your roots bleached and dyed every month and a half or so.
Bleach is notorious for stripping the hair of proteins and moisture that it needs to be healthy.
That exposes the hair at the top of your head to so many dangerous chemicals that will make the area weaker – or worse, fried and overprocessed.
When that happens, the hair can break off faster.
Related Post: How To Touch Up Roots On Bleached Hair At Home
Over-Manipulation Of The Hair
Over-manipulation of the hair causes tension through pulling, brushing, and styling.
Putting your tresses in super-tight hairstyles like high ponytails and box braids all the time can add extra tension to the roots.
It can even pull out some strands even if they’re still healthy, especially when you use elastics instead of silk hair ties.
Brushing your hair too hard is another way you might be adding stress to the hair on the top of the head.
You might be doing this unconsciously when you’re trying to brush through a stubborn knot.
Wrong Drying Method
Rubbing your hair with a towel to dry it is not advisable.
This is a common mistake many people make.
Not only does it cause frizz later on, but it also breaks your hair strands.
It’s better to scrunch your hair dry with the towel, or even air dry it instead.
Using Heat Frequently
Using hot tools on your hair every day can eventually lead to breakage.
When you use straighteners or hair curlers regularly, you might be stripping your hair of the moisture it needs to be healthy.
That makes it dry, fragile, and prone to breakage.
Plus, pulling at your hair with a flat iron causes extra tension to the roots, which may explain why your breakage is concentrated at the top of your head.
How To Fix Hair Breakage On Top Of Your Head
Thankfully, most cases of hair breakage aren’t permanent.
It’s a temporary dilemma that can only be fixed by tender loving care for your hair.
Your goal is really to strengthen the hair so that it can grow back stronger and longer without snapping near the roots anymore.
This will eliminate poofiness at the top of the head and stop breakage for the long term.
Here’s how you can do it.
Consider transitioning back to your natural shade
Constantly bleaching your hair to touch up your roots can cause so much damage to the hair at the top of your head.
Even if you don’t use bleach and just dye your hair, it still weakens the strands because of the ammonia and hydrogen peroxide present in hair color.
If you transition back to your natural hair shade, you can give your roots a break from all the chemical processes and give it a better shot at recovering from breakage.
Plus, you won’t have to stress out over your monthly salon appointments anymore.
If you don’t want to change your hair color, consider using root concealers instead, like sprays and powders.
These won’t alter the structure of your hair like those dangerous chemicals do, so the hair at the top of your head can breathe easier.
Stop adding tension and tugging to your roots
Avoid putting your hair in styles that require too many twists and pulls that can hurt your roots.
Tight ponytails, hair extensions, and weaves are a no-no if you want to keep the hair at the top of your head from breaking off.
Instead, wear your hair down as much as you can.
You can also look for less aggressive hairstyles, like loose braids, messy chignons, or half-updos.
Always detangle with a product before brushing harshly
When detangling unruly hair, you might unconsciously start tugging at your locks with a brush.
This can cause so much stress to the top of your head, encouraging breakage.
This is a huge issue for those with long hair.
It’s better to detangle gently with your fingers and cream or conditioner instead of tugging at your head with a brush.
A detangler I love is the Briogeo Hypoallergenic Detangling Spray.
It’s excellent for those with sensitive skin because it’s hypoallergenic and has no fragrance, silicones, phthalates, or parabens.
It also has aloe vera and oat extracts to help soften the hair and detangle even the most stubborn knots.
With just a few sprays and minimal effort from your fingers, it can help get rid of annoying tangles.
No unnecessary tugging and pulling!
Cut down on using heat on your stressed-out strands
I know this one is a little hard to give up.
Heat-stylers are your best friend for creating gorgeous curls and textures in your locks.
But sadly, they might be the reason why your hair is breaking off at the top.
Pulling at your hair when the flat iron slides down your locks is bad enough for the roots.
But if you add the high temperature that could dehydrate and even burn off your strands, it makes it even worse.
Try hitting pause on your daily heat-styling until your breakage is completely fixed.
Use heat-free rollers for curls.
But if you really must use heat on your hair, make sure you use the warm and cool settings only, never the ones that have high temp levels.
And never, ever point your blow dryer’s hot air directly into your roots.
Recommended Post: Best Heat Protectant For Bleached Hair
Moisturize the scalp and hair with nourishing products
Moisture keeps the hair plump and hydrated, which adds to its strength and elasticity.
That means moisturized hair will be less likely to break off.
It also protects the hair from environmental stressors like heat and pollution from drying it out.
Use moisturizing products, whether it’s your shampoo and conditioner or your leave-in cream.
Look for products infused with the likes of coconut oil, grapeseed oil, jojoba oil, or argan oil.
Another terrific way to moisturize the hair while targeting the top of the head specifically is to give yourself an oil massage on the scalp.
Jamaican black castor oil is a great one to rub all over your head.
It helps boost both root strength and hair growth, so you’ll be hitting two birds with one stone.
Treat yourself to protein masks and deep conditioners
Give your hair a deep conditioning treatment once a week to help strengthen your locks.
Unlike regular conditioner, which you focus on the ends of your hair, saturate even your roots when you do your treatments.
Make sure your deep conditioner contains protein, which can help repair the bond of your hair.
Protein can help make your hair more resilient and less prone to breakage.
Pair this with a keratin-infused shampoo, and you’re good to go.
Recommended Post: DIY Protein Treatment For High Porosity Hair
Protect your hair from the sun
The sun’s UV rays can be incredibly detrimental to the hair at the top of your head because it’s what’s facing the sun directly.
The heat from the sun can also lift your hair cuticles, making them weaker and more likely to snap off near the roots.
Always protect your hair from the sun when you go out, whether it’s with a hat, scarf, or heat protectant.
One hair SPF I recommend is the COOLA Organic Scalp Spray & Hair Sunscreen Mist.
It’s made with gotu kola extract and panthenol to strengthen the hair and scalp, as well as monoi oil which has natural UV-protecting abilities.
This spray also adds shine and hydration to the hair.
Take supplements that are known to strengthen the hair
Although you can get protein and other essential vitamins that are good for your hair from the food you eat, sometimes it isn’t enough.
When your hair is already weak and trying to recover from damage, you need all the help you can get.
Invest in supplements that are rich in nutrients that aid in hair strengthening in growth.
Check the labels for those with biotin, vitamin D, zinc, selenium, and iron.
These will keep your hair resilient, and hopefully, help stop the breakage at the top of your head.
Use creams and gels to smooth down broken strands
This one isn’t exactly a tip to repair the breakage, but it does help when you’re trying to keep those hairs sticking out at the top of your head in check.
When styling your hair, use creams, gels, and hairsprays to tame those pesky “baby hairs” that don’t want to lay down flat.
You might also want to try putting your locks in sleek hairstyles that will hold them down, like a bun or some loose French braids.
Conclusion
Hair breakage is almost always a result of improper care for the hair, whether it’s from overprocessing with bleach or seemingly little things like rubbing a cotton towel on your locks to dry them after a shower.
But when the breakage is concentrated on a specific area – the top of your head – there are also specific ways to try and fix it.
As long as you follow all of the suggestions I gave above, you’ll be well on your way to repairing the broken hair strands on the crown of your head.
In no time, you can kiss those frizzy flyaways and poofy, uneven hair thickness goodbye and grow long, luscious, healthy hair again.
Good luck!