It’s always a pain when you notice small frizzy hair on top. It looks unruly and unmanageable. It may be difficult to tame these “baby hair-like” issues especially when you’re outside going to an event or meeting your friends.
Having unruly hair can lower confidence and can make you look less photogenic in pictures.
In this blog, we will find out how we can address the frizzy mess of hair on top of the head.
How can you tell if it’s baby hair or breakage?
If you notice some short pieces of hair going up on top of your head when you tie your hair, it may be hard to determine whether these are baby hair strands or weak strands that broke off.
According to Scandinavian Biolabs, baby hairs are a natural part of the hair growth cycle and there are different reasons behind these messy strands:
Genetics: Baby hair patterns can depend on genetics. They may have inherited visible baby hairs from parents or grandparents.
Hair growth cycle: Hair can go through different growth phases. First is anagen, which is for growth. The second is catagen, which is transitional. Lastly is telogen which is the resting phase. When older hairs enter the third phase and fall off, new hairs, which is the anagen phase, will begin to pop up, creating softer and finer hairs before becoming thicker old hairs.
Hormonal shift: hormonal changes such as puberty, pregnancy and menopause can also affect hair growth, some of which may lead to more baby hairs.
Environmental reasons: Excessive sun exposure, humidity, and dryness can weaken the hair, which can cause breakage and appearance of baby hair.
The last factor is breakage. Wearing tight hairstyles such as braids and ponytails, excessive heat styling, swimming in chlorine-filled or hard water, and aggressive brushing can all weaken the hair, causing breakage and frizz.
This is the reason why some people mistake baby hairs for breakage. To separate them from one another, you can also check the texture. If it is coarse or rough, it is baby hair; if it is finer and looks dry to the touch, it results in brittle hair or breakage.
Another way to determine the two is that breakage is usually jagged or tapered. They are also found anywhere in the hair while baby hairs are usually found around the hairline.
Baby hair should only be found on the upper part of the forehead below the hairline, the bends, and the neck, which is below the hairline.
If you notice more broken hair on top of the head, it is a sign that they are damaged pieces of strands that become brittle over time.
Are you still confused? Another way is to pull out the hair and if there is a white bulb at its roots, it is hair resulting in breakage.
How do you fix baby hair breakage?
Another term for hair breakage on top of the head is halo frizz. These are short and broken strands that are annoying and result in frizz. Here are some ways to resolve those pesky hair at the top of your head.
Normal hair
The first line of defense to defeat baby hair breakage is washing the strands, according to PowerYourCurls dermatologist and co-founder Dr. Hamdan Abdullah Hamed.
“Choose a shampoo that is designed for damaged hair. This will clean hair without getting rid of natural oils. This shampoo will also promote moisture to prevent brittle and weak strands,” explained Dr. Hamed.
Dr. Hamed recommends The Mane Choice Ancient Egyptian Anti-Breakage Collection Shampoo to help repair and tame frizzy hair on top of the head. Following it up with The Mane Choice Ancient Egyptian Anti-Breakage Collection Leave-In Lotion to reduce frizz and soothe the scalp.
The next step is a deep conditioning treatment. Dr. Hamed advised using a moisturizing conditioner to keep strands healthy and receive extra moisture for shinier, softer, and stronger hair. An example of this is Cantu Moisturizing Rinse Out Conditioner or Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Deep Moisturizing Conditioner w/ Sea Kelp & Argan Oil to get an extra boost of moisture from shea butter ingredient.
Last step is to lock in moisture by using hair oil. This will provide extra care to your hair by pampering the hairline with nutrients and sealing in hydration. Dr. Hamed recommends Cantu Tea Tree & Jojoba Hair & Scalp Oil and TXTR BY Cantu Color Treated Hair + Curls Cleansing Oil to allow nutrients to penetrate the hairline and prevent breakage.
To do this, Dr. Hamdan recommends adding drops of oil to sectioned hair, which will reduce limp strands. It may also depend on the instructions of the hair oil product.
Curly hair and other types
With curls being inherently dry and susceptible to environmental damage, getting halo frizz or baby hair breakage isn’t far-fetched for those who have kinky, coily, or curly hair. Different methods may not be suitable for all and curls may need more maintenance to avoid frizzy hair on top.
One unique way to avoid frizz and breakage is to wash the hair upside down. These will prevent frizz on the bottom and top layers of the hair. Dr. Hamed advised this to prevent heat and pressure from causing frizz, breakage, and weak strands.
The next way is washing hair with warm water. Dr. Hamed discourages using hot or cold water because these are not the ideal temperature for taking care of hair.
“When you use hot water to shower your hair, it will strip off moisture and other nutrients, causing hair to dry up, become weaker, or brittle. With cold water, there are definitely benefits such as locking in moisture, sealing up the cuticle, and preventing impurities in the scalp but since there is too much moisture, your hair will look lifeless and limp,” said Dr. Hamed.
“This is why warm is the ideal temperature. Cold water is an option for rinsing hair but make sure not to use too cool water to prevent lifeless hair,” explained Dr. Hamed.
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The third way to avoid frizzy hair on top is to use clarifying shampoo. This shampoo is ideal when your hair is exposed to hard water or chlorine-filled water. The deposits and minerals from the water may cause frizz, breakage, and even alter the color of the hair. The reason behind this is that they can compromise the keratin structure of the hair.
Dr. Hamed said using a clarifying shampoo can help clear up the hair from these deposits. He recommends using Twisted Sista Luxurious Clarifying Shampoo to neutralize hair damage from harmful water deposits.
The fourth way is to use a wide-toothed comb or detangling brush after showering the hair. It is an effective way to detangle strands and promote hair growth while avoiding breakage, split ends, and frizz.
How do you promote hair growth?
To prevent breakage, you need to keep your hair and scalp healthy. Choosing the right products and styling prevention techniques will prevent those pesky broken strands that keep popping on top of your head.
PowerYourCurls hairstylist Gwenda Harmon recommends some techniques to take care of your hair and prevent weak and brittle strands.
First, Harmon recommends covering all strands with a satin scarf before going to bed. This will lock in moisture and minimize brittle strands while sleeping. Another way to protect hair is to use satin or silk pillowcases to reduce friction that causes strands to break.
“This is also helpful when you are trying to maintain a hairstyle or a hair care routine when going to bed, which will make hair easier to manage the next morning,” said Harmon.
Harmon also advised reducing heat styling, which is one of the factors in hair breakage. When you do use heat styling tools, Harmon recommends using a low heat setting and spraying or applying a heat protectant to protect the strands.
Using hair-friendly products when washing hair is also recommended. Harmon advised steering clear of shampoos and conditioners with sulfates, parabens, and other products that may reduce moisture and increase the risk of breakage. She recommends hair brands such as Camille Rose and Mielle Organics, especially if you have curls and kinky hair. Afterwards, use a clarifying wash such as apple cider vinegar every four to six weeks to remove buildup and promote healthy hair and scalp.
Another way to promote hair growth is to take care of the scalp. A scalp massage is one of the ideal ways to remove buildup, improve blood circulation, and reduce stress, which are all the ingredients in achieving healthy hair growth.
Harmon recommends some products you can use when massaging hair: Aunt Jackie’s Curls & Coils Elixir Essentials Hair And Scalp Oil: Collagen, Tea Tree Oil, & Eucalyptus, Aunt Jackie’s Elixir Essentials Hair and Scalp Oil Enriched with Biotin, Rosemary, & Mint, and Moisture Miracle: Castor, Grapeseed, Argan, Coconuts &Olive 5 Essential Oils.
“I recommend incorporating products with tea tree oil, rosemary, and peppermint to soothe, cleanse, and rebalance the scalp’s microbiome to achieve optimal hair growth,” explained Harmon.
Protein treatment can also help in intensifying hair care for hair growth. Hair needs regular protein to retain its strength and elasticity. Harmon said protein treatment is ideal if you experience brittle strands and excessive shedding.
“If you have curly hair, you may need an extra boost of protein treatment to maintain shape and definition,” said Harmon, recommending Aphogee 2-step protein treatment for rebuilding hair strength. However, she warns against overusing protein treatment as it may also cause breakage.
Lastly, Harmon recommends hair trimming as another option to promote hair growth. This will promote luscious strands, remove split ends, and prevent frizz.
