Demystifying Breakage So You Can Fix It

Look at the hair on your comb after detangling. If they’re short strands not long ones from the root, that's breakage. And breakage is something you can actually work with.

Breakage and shedding get lumped together a lot, but they're not the same thing. Shedding is your hair reaching the end of its natural growth cycle, which is normal. You lose between 50 and 100 strands a day. Breakage, on the other hand, is different. It's your hair snapping along the shaft, and that usually means something in your routine isn't working.

So what causes it? A few things. Dryness is the biggest one. When your hair doesn't have enough moisture, the strand becomes brittle and snaps under pressure. From detangling, styling, even sleeping on a cotton pillowcase. Then there's protein imbalance, which we'll cover separately. And finally, manipulation, the more you handle your hair, especially when it's dry, the more likely it is to break.

Here's how to start fixing it.

First, assess your hair honestly. Is it crunchy or stiff? That's a sign it needs moisture. Is it mushy or stretchy when wet, with little elasticity? That could point to a protein issue. Knowing which one you're dealing with changes everything about your approach.

For moisture-related breakage, the solution is layering and being consistent about it. Start with damp hair and apply your leave-in conditioner, then seal with MPL Coconut Hair Oil or MPL Olive Hair Oil to lock everything in. Do this after every wash, not just when your hair feels dry.

For breakage coming from heat, colour, or chemical damage, your hair needs a deeper intervention. MPL Hair Treatment 5 Oils, used weekly as a pre-poo or deep treatment, gives strands the nourishment they need to recover. Leave it on for at least 20–30 minutes before washing, and use heat if you can (a plastic cap and warm towel works fine).

If you're noticing a lot of breakage at the ends, it's time to trim. No product can repair a split end; it can only slow the split from traveling up the shaft. A small trim every 8–10 weeks does more for length retention than avoiding scissors altogether.

One more thing: be patient with yourself. Breakage doesn't appear overnight, and it won't disappear overnight either. But with the right routine and consistency, you'll start to see a real difference.

You've got this.

Love MPL,

Your Hair Doctor