Last week, we broke down the basics of hair breakage—what it is, how to spot it, and why it matters. In this week’s installment of The Curl Clinic, we’re getting to the heart of the issue: how to stop hair breakage in natural hair.
Let’s be honest—breakage can be upsetting and overwhelming. Watching your child’s curls struggle despite your best efforts can feel discouraging. But the good news? Breakage is fixable. Small, consistent shifts in your child’s hair care routine can lead to big changes in growth, length retention, and overall health. Say it with me, “Small, consistent shifts in my child’s hair care routine can lead to big changes in growth, length retention, and overall health.”
Step 1: Pinpoint the Root Cause of Breakage in Natural Hair
Hair doesn’t just break for no reason. There’s always a trigger. Identifying what’s behind the breakage is the first step in healing it. Here are some of the most common causes of breakage in natural curls:
🌵 Dryness
Dryness is the #1 cause of breakage in curly and coily hair. When hair lacks moisture, it becomes brittle and prone to snapping.
According to the Journal of Cosmetic Science, dry hair fibers are weaker and less elastic, making them more vulnerable to breakage under even minimal tension.
What makes dryness tricky is that it doesn’t always look dry. You might think you’re moisturizing enough—but if you’re using the wrong products or techniques, your child’s curls could still be dehydrated.
Common mistakes:
- Using waterless stylers as moisturizers. Always look for “aqua” or “water” as the first ingredient in any moisturizer.
- Skipping the sealing step. You should always follow up with an oil after applying a moisturizer.
- Infrequent moisturizing. Natural curls need to be rehydrated 2-3 times per week.
- Using drying shampoos that strip hair of its natural oils. Not all shampoos are made for natural hair. Always choose a sulfate-free formula.
💢 Tension
Tight styles like braids, buns, and ponytails may look cute, but they can silently damage the hair shaft.
Tension-related breakage often shows up around the edges and crown, especially if styles are too tight or worn too often.
🔧 Mechanical Damage
Improper detangling and rough handling can cause mechanical damage, especially when hair is dry or tangled.
Watch out for:
- Using fine-tooth combs
- Brushing or combing dry hair
- Heat styling without a protectant
- Yanking through tangles without slip
🔬 Science Fact: Repeated use of heat tools over 350°F can permanently damage the protein bonds in the hair shaft.
✂️ Split or Damaged Ends
Skipping trims causes split ends to travel up the hair shaft, leading to progressive breakage.
A regular trimming routine helps keep strands healthy and intact. Every 6-8 weeks is the recommended frequency.
🧥 Friction
Cotton pillowcases, rough clothes, and constant rubbing from collars or car seats can lead to mid-shaft breakage and frayed ends.
🧴 Product Buildup
Layering product on top of product without properly cleansing can lead to buildup, which blocks moisture and leads to brittle, dry strands.
💪🏾 Overuse of Protein-Heavy Products
Overuse of protein-rich products can cause the hair to become brittle, dry, and more susceptible to breakage.
Step 2: Enter Hair Triage Mode
Once you’ve spotted the likely culprits, it’s time to take action.
✂️ Start with a Trim
Don’t hold on to damage. A fresh trim removes weak ends and sets your child’s hair up for a healthy regrowth phase.
🔥 Cut Back on Heat
Let the curls breathe. If you must use heat, choose a heat protectant and use the tension method blow-drying technique when possible Also, a high-quality blow dryer makes all the difference in the world.
🔒 Protect the Ends
Use low-manipulation styles like two-strand twists, braids, or puffs. Avoid tight styles or excessive brushing.
🧴 Limit Styling
Reduce daily manipulation and let hair rest between wash days to protect fragile strands.
🧬 Take inventory of the products you’re using
Are the products in your cabinet mostly strengthening or repair-focused? These types of products are often protein-rich. If that’s the case, you may want to cut back on how often you use them. Too much protein can lead to protein overload, which can actually cause breakage rather than prevent it
Step 3: Build Protective Habits Into Your Routine
Protective habits are simple tweaks that reduce long-term breakage:
- Detangle with your fingers, a wide-tooth comb, and a good detangling brush.
- Wash hair regularly. Every 7-10 days, possible. If using a protective style, at least once a month.
- Moisturize hair 2-3 times per week with a water-based moisturizer or leave-in spray.
- Use satin or silk pillowcases, bonnets, or scarves at bedtime. For littles who refuse to sleep in bonnets, grab a satin pillow case
- Seal moisture in with a nourishing oil (like our Avocado & Aloe Sealing Oil)
- Deep condition regularly.
Step 4: Hydrate Like It’s Your Job
Hydration is the foundation of healthy curls. Dry curls break, but hydrated curls thrive.
Dry curls break. Hydrated curls? They thrive. A solid hydrating routine is essential to hair hair health. Be sure to re-moisturize hair 2–3x per week. Your routine should include:
- A water-based moisturizer
- A moisturizing leave-in
- A lightweight oil to seal in the moisture (like our Avocado & Aloe Sealing Oil 👀)
Wash day is also an integral part of your hydration routine. For a hydration-focused wash day, you’ll need:
- A sulfate-free cleanser, preferably a hydrating shampoo
- A good moisturizing rinse-out conditioner
- A good hydrating deep conditioner (avoid strengthening or protein-heavy conditioners. Those conditioners do have a place in the wash day rotation, but we will get into that in the next installment.)
Step 5: Be Gentle—Always
The way you handle curls matters just as much as what you put on them.
- Work in sections
- Add slip before detangling
- Use your fingers to feel through tangle
- Use quality detangling tools
- Never detangle dry
💧 Try This: Hydro Coils Ultra-Hydrating Shampoo
If dryness is one of the causes of your child’s breakage, it may be time to upgrade your cleanser.
Our upcoming Hydro Coil Ultra-Hydrating Shampoo was made to offer a thorough cleanse without stripping curls—the perfect foundation for moisture retention and breakage prevention.
Packed with premium, kid-friendly ingredients, this salon-quality formulation softens as it cleanses, leaving curls prepped for deep hydration and detangling.
✨ No sulfates
✨ No tears
✨ Just soft, happy curls
Want first access? Click to here to our mailing list to be notified when it launches!
Final Thoughts: Stop the Breakage, See the Growth
Stopping breakage isn’t about perfection—it’s about intentional progress.
With a few consistent swaps, your child’s curls can recover and thrive. Stay consistent, be gentle, and always prioritize hydration.
Coming Next: How to Prevent Hair Breakage Before It Starts
Next week, we’ll break down how to prevent breakage long-term with a healthy, protective routine that supports moisture and growth.
👉 Want updates like this sent straight to your inbox? Subscribe to our mailing list by clicking here.
📲 Follow us on Instagram @winniexcompany for weekly kid-friendly hair tips.