breakage: normal amount?

[caralexis2005]

how much hair do you all lose a day to breakage just with combing/styling? also how much do you lose to breakage during a wash/cond/etc.?
is a certain amount of breakage to be expected?
it is it obsessive to look at every hair you lose for the white bulb? i look at each one. lol
i would say that i lose maybe 4 ends to a wash and 2 to daily styling. this worries me.
thanks
ps i am relaxed 3c/4a with fine strands and lots of them.
what is you all's hair type and chemical state?

 

[Isis]

Are you losing "ends" (ends breaking off) or strands of hair?

It is normal to lose hairs everyday. It is a natural process. I've learned that excessive worry can cause hair loss so you may want to focus only on what you want, which is probably beautiful, healthy hair.

 

[caralexis2005]

im talking about breakage which could be long or short pieces of hair- not shedding which is the whole strand complete with the white bulb at the end.
i know shedding is normal and natural bc we are mammals. i'm just concerned about breakage.

 

[Nonie]

Caralexis, breakage is sth you should try to prevent. Shedding on the other hand (strands have white bulbs) is normal and 50-100 hairs are OK. But even though breakage is sth you are trying to prevent, you may still get some.

The ends of our hair are the oldest parts of our hair and they have endured friction, styling... you name it. For that matter they undergo natural wear and tear, even if you don't cause any additional damage by bad practices. This natural process causes the cuticle to wear down with time, making the older ends weaker than the rest of your hair. So it'd be almost impossible to never see one broken hair. It becomes a cause for alarm if you see too many or if the hair is breaking closer to your scalp (ie longer BROKEN hair...like would happen if your hair was breaking at the new growth-relaxed border). I think the 4 or 2 hairs that you see are nothing to worry about. Especially if they are short. Just means two or three ends of you hair have seen better days, and hey, ç'est la vie!

This is where protective styling comes in. By keeping you ends hidden from the elements and free from manipulation, you prolong the time they stay attached to the rest of you hair. And then you are able to see increase in length. (References: Adrienne, Allandra, Supergirl, Hairlove, Wanakee, Sweetcocoa, Boadecia...the list is endless).

 

[Isis]

Well, I used to have a lot of abnormal shedding and breakage before I came to this board because of using lot of heat on my relaxed hair, blow-drying, washing only once/week, and not keeping my hair properly conditioned and moisturized.

My hair is no longer breaking since my regime is now focused on no heat, air-drying, washing & conditioning at least twice/week and keeping my hair and ends moisturized.

 

[Nonie]

Caralexis... I think you're just anal (in a good way) and that's why you notice 2 or 4 hairs. While to most of us, that'd be considered "not breaking at all". So continue being meticulous... Being that thorough is sure to pay off. Hope you wear protective styles as well.

 

[Isis]

I agree with Nonie about the protective styling. I'm noticing now my increase in length just in the time I've been doing it.