Why Is My Hair Breaking Around My Hairline?
Have you ever looked in the mirror and wondered why the little pieces around your face never seem to grow?
I hear this question all the time behind the chair. Clients often assume every short hair around their hairline is damaged, but that is not always the case. Some of those shorter hairs may actually be healthy new growth.
However, the hair around the face and temples is often finer and more delicate than the hair in other areas. Because we frequently brush, style, color and pull on these pieces, they can be especially vulnerable to hairline breakage.
If those little hairs never seem to get any longer, one or more of the following habits could be contributing to the problem.
What Causes Hair to Break Around the Hairline?
Hairline breakage can happen for several reasons. In many cases, it results from repeated heat, chemical processing, tension or rough handling.
Understanding what is causing the damage is the first step toward protecting your hair and helping it retain length.
Using Too Much Heat Around Your Face
Think about which pieces you straighten, curl or touch up most frequently. It is usually the hair right around your face.
Repeatedly passing a flat iron or curling iron over the same delicate strands can weaken them over time. Excessive heat may leave the hair dry, brittle and more likely to snap before it has an opportunity to grow longer.
Always apply a professional heat protectant before using hot tools. You should also use the lowest temperature necessary to achieve your desired result.
Fine, fragile or lightened hair typically does not need the same temperature as thick, coarse or resistant hair.
If you frequently touch up the pieces around your face, try styling them at a lower temperature and limiting the number of passes you make with the tool.
Overlapping Lightener During Highlight Appointments
Chemical overprocessing is another common cause of breakage, especially for blondes.
Lightener changes the structure of the hair so that its natural or artificial pigment can be removed. When lightener is repeatedly overlapped onto hair that has already been lightened, those sections can become increasingly fragile.
Eventually, your hair may say, “Girl, I’ve had enough.” 😂
This is why I do not believe in highlighting every piece during every salon visit. Sometimes previously lightened hair needs to be left alone while we concentrate on the new growth.
Depending on your hair’s condition and your desired result, I may recommend a partial highlight, face frame, root color, toner or gloss instead of applying lightener throughout your entire head.
Sometimes protecting your hair means not making a certain area any blonder that day. I would much rather preserve the integrity of your hair than give you a little more brightness now and have those delicate pieces break later.
Tight Ponytails, Buns and Slicked Back Hairstyles
A tight ponytail or slicked back bun may look beautiful, but wearing your hair pulled tightly in the same position every day can place repeated tension on your hairline.
Hair ties, tight braids, heavy extensions and other styles that continually pull on the same areas may also contribute to broken strands.
Try switching the position of your ponytail or bun, wearing looser hairstyles and choosing gentle hair ties that do not snag the hair.
If a hairstyle feels painful or creates a pulling sensation around your temples, it may be too tight.
Rough Brushing and Detangling
Please do not rip through your tangles!
Hair can be especially vulnerable when it is wet. Pulling a brush through knots from the roots downward may stretch, tear or break fragile strands.
Begin detangling at the ends and gently work your way upward. Hold the hair above the section you are brushing to reduce unnecessary pulling at the scalp and hairline.
A quality leave-in conditioner or detangling spray can provide slip and make knots easier to remove.
Friction From Towels, Bedding and Everyday Habits
Small amounts of friction can add up over time.
Aggressively rubbing your hair with a rough towel, sleeping with it unprotected or constantly touching and pulling the pieces around your face can contribute to dryness and breakage.
Instead of rubbing your hair, gently squeeze out excess water with a soft microfiber towel. A satin or silk pillowcase may also help reduce friction while you sleep.
Avoid going to bed with soaking wet hair, especially if you move around frequently during the night. Wet hair can be more vulnerable to stretching and damage.
Dryness and Using the Wrong Hair Products
Hair that does not receive enough moisture or protection may become brittle and easier to break.
However, that does not mean every person needs the heaviest shampoo, conditioner or mask available. Fine hair can become weighed down, while coarse or chemically treated hair may require richer hydration.
The right hair care routine depends on your texture, density, color history, styling habits and current hair condition.
Professional products can help with:
- Moisture and softness
- Heat protection
- Detangling
- Strengthening weakened hair
- Reducing friction
- Protecting color-treated hair
- Improving manageability
At Revive Hair & Beauty, I can help you select professional hair products based on what your hair actually needs rather than choosing a product simply because it is popular online.
Looking for a deep treatment at home? Professional options we carry include the Brazilian Blowout Deep Conditioning Masque, the K18 leave in molecular repair hair mask, and the Olaplex No. 0 Intensive Bond Building Hair Treatment for Deep Repair & Strengthening.
Is It Breakage or New Hair Growth?
Not every short hair is damaged.
New growth usually has a softer, more tapered end and may appear in similar lengths throughout an area. Broken hair may look uneven, feel dry or rough and have blunt, split or frayed ends.
You may also notice breakage concentrated in the areas you lighten, straighten, brush or pull most often.
Because new growth and breakage can sometimes look similar, a professional hair and scalp evaluation can help you understand what you are seeing.
How Can You Prevent Hairline Breakage?
If you want to protect the fragile hair around your face, begin with these steps:
- Apply heat protectant before using hot tools
- Lower the temperature of your flat iron or curling iron
- Avoid repeatedly passing a hot tool over the same section
- Do not overlap lightener unnecessarily
- Rotate between loose and pulled back hairstyles
- Avoid hairstyles that feel tight or painful
- Detangle gently, beginning at the ends
- Use a leave-in conditioner or detangling product
- Dry your hair with a soft microfiber towel
- Sleep on a satin or silk pillowcase
- Schedule regular trims when needed
- Follow a professional home care routine for your hair type
Hair improvement takes consistency. A single conditioning treatment cannot completely reverse months or years of repeated stress, but changing your habits can help protect your new growth and prevent additional breakage.
When Should You Speak With a Medical Provider?
Ordinary hair breakage is different from sudden or unexplained hair loss.
If you notice excessive shedding, bald spots, scalp irritation, rapid thinning, a widening part or significant changes in your hair density, consider speaking with a dermatologist or qualified medical provider.
A hairstylist can help identify visible signs of breakage and recommend cosmetic hair care, but a medical professional should evaluate sudden or concerning hair loss.
Healthy Hair Will Always Be My Priority
As a master cosmetologist and color specialist, I want my clients to love their color while maintaining healthy, beautiful hair.
That sometimes means adjusting a color plan, avoiding previously lightened pieces or saying that a particular area needs a break. Healthy hair is always more important than pushing it beyond what it can safely handle.
If your hair keeps breaking around your hairline, schedule an appointment or consultation at Revive Hair & Beauty. I can evaluate your hair’s condition, discuss your color and styling habits and recommend salon services and professional products suited to your needs.
Revive Hair & Beauty
3910 Rosemont Drive
Columbus, GA 31904
(706) 289-2092
Serving clients from Columbus, Fort Moore, Phenix City, Harris County and surrounding communities.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hairline Breakage
Why do the hairs around my face never grow?
The hair may be growing but breaking before it retains noticeable length. Frequent heat styling, chemical processing, tight hairstyles and rough brushing can all affect the delicate strands around your face. Some short pieces may also be new growth rather than breakage.
Can highlighting cause hairline breakage?
Highlighting can contribute to breakage when the hair is overprocessed or lightener is repeatedly overlapped onto previously lightened areas. Careful application, realistic blonding goals and proper home care can help protect the hair.
Can tight ponytails break the hair around my temples?
Repeated tension from tight ponytails, buns or slicked back hairstyles can place stress on delicate hairline strands. Rotating your hairstyles and reducing tension may help prevent additional damage.
Will broken hair grow back?
When the strand breaks but the follicle remains healthy, the hair can continue growing from the scalp. Preventing repeated damage is important because the new growth may continue breaking if the original cause is not corrected.
What products help protect fragile hair?
A professional heat protectant, gentle shampoo, appropriate conditioner, leave-in treatment and detangling product may help protect fragile hair. The best combination depends on your texture, chemical history and styling routine.