What Are the Natural Remedies for Brittle Hair?

It simply means having weakened hair that is less able to withstand tension and all the daily mechanical stresses (detangling, blow-drying, styling, friction against clothing, etc.). Brittle hair is hair that has lost some of its natural strength. The result: it breaks like glass, and you feel like it never grows.

The source of this breakage lies in the cortex. Similar to the spine of your hair, this layer contains keratin fibres connected by disulphide bonds. When these rigid bonds are damaged, your hair's structure becomes less solid. It's a bit like removing the load-bearing walls of a house: its structure is no longer stable, and the building collapses. In short, if your hair breaks, it's because it has literally lost its structural integrity.

Read also: 5 Signs Your Hair Is Lacking Keratin.

Textured hair: the most vulnerable to breakage

Curly, coily, or kinky hair breaks more easily than straight hair. Each twist in a curl creates a vulnerable spot and a potential breakage point. Tightly coiled hair is generally the most fragile, given the number of twists along each strand. Straight hair, by contrast, is much more resilient. The secret to its strength is therefore not just a matter of care.

An unsuitable hair care routine: damage that’s easy to avoid

Beyond your hair type, it's important not to underestimate the impact of your lifestyle habits. Brushing your hair a little too hard, constantly running your fingers through your hair, wearing tight hairstyles every day, overusing heat and chemical treatments, all these habits, which may seem harmless at first glance, can indeed make your hair brittle.

Nutritional deficiency: it causes an internal imbalance

Having brittle hair can indicate a protein deficiency, particularly a deficiency in meat-derived proteins. These provide sulphur-containing amino acids (cysteine, methionine), precursors to hair keratin, which are less abundant in plant-based foods. Deficiencies in vitamins B5, B6, B8, magnesium, and zinc are also known to impair the hair's natural strength.

Trichotillomania: a sign of psychological distress

Behind this somewhat complicated name lies an obsessive behaviour associated with intense stress. It's a tic that involves compulsively pulling at one's hair, often several times a day. Over time, this behaviour wears down and breaks your hair. It can also lead to patches of alopecia. The priority in this case is to seek help from a healthcare professional to address your distress.

• Your hair is dry and damaged. Brittle hair is often accompanied by a lack of shine and a rough texture, giving it a lifeless appearance.

• Your hair has lost volume. Naturally, since your hair breaks more easily, it loses mass and density. It therefore appears noticeably thinner.

• You find hair everywhere. On your clothes, your brush, in your shower, on the floor… These aren’t actual hair loss, but rather broken strands of hair.

• Your hair is hard to style. Your hair is becoming increasingly unruly because changes in its keratin bonds alter its texture and make it less manageable.

• You feel like your hair isn’t growing anymore. This is an illusion: your hair is growing normally, but it breaks before reaching its maximum length.

• Your usual hair care routine seems ineffective. Weakened and brittle hair requires very specific care to 1/ strengthen its structure and 2/ protect the hair shaft from external aggressors.

A Word from the Trichologist

"Hair breakage occurs when there is a disruption in the cortex due to the breakdown of keratin bonds (disulphide and hydrogen bonds). This fragility manifests as a loss of elasticity and a decrease in the hair's mechanical strength. Curly and kinky hair is more fragile because its spiral structure creates points of tension with every twist. The distribution of proteins (keratin) and lipids is not perfectly uniform along the hair shaft: the cuticle may be thinner or less regular in certain areas, making some sections more fragile. (4).

Added to this are nutritional deficiencies, particularly in iron, vitamin D, and B vitamins, which reduce the body's ability to synthesise keratin. Finally, oxidative stress is recognised as a major factor in weakening the hair shaft, as free radicals accelerate damage to the hair matrix. (5)

My advice as a trichologist: strengthen your hair with horsetail!

Applying a horsetail powder mask to the lengths, rich in organic silica and antioxidants, helps remineralise the hair fibre and reduce breakage.

Perform a patch test 24 hours before application to check for any reactions. "

Dr. Dalila Belmokhtar @dalilahairscience, Doctor of Pharmacy & Trichologist

Spotlight on our Keratin AA & Peptides Hair Serum

Formulated for all hair types, this serum strengthens the hair fibre thanks to a complex of amino acids and biomimetic keratin peptides. With +80.5% repair after just one application***, your lengths and ends are repaired, and your hair is stronger and shinier.

Here is a selection of strengthening and anti-breakage ingredients, all of natural and/or organic origin. If you’d like to incorporate them into your hair care routine, simply add them to your homemade beauty recipes, following the dosages we recommend. If you’re in a hurry, note that some of these ingredients can also be used to customize our neutral bases, such as our liquid shampoos and hair mask. It’s easy—give it a try!

Cosmetic Active Ingredient: Plant-Based Ceramides

Derived from sunflower oil, plant-based ceramides are a lipid-replenishing and protective active ingredient for the skin and hair. In "homemade" hair care, ceramides are highly effective at smoothing, protecting, and strengthening the hair fiber.

Discover the Cosmetic Active Ingredient: Plant-Based Ceramides

Cosmetic Active Ingredient: Phytokeratin

One of the must-haves in our natural guide to strengthening your hair’s structure. This “Keratin” has the advantage of being 100% plant-based (hydrolyzed wheat proteins). Add it to your recipes for repairing serums or styling products. Dosage: 1 to 5% of the total weight of your preparation.

Discover the Phytokeratin Cosmetic Active

Active Ingredient: Provitamin B5

The strengthening and beautifying active ingredient for hair care.

Discover the Provitamin B5 Active Ingredient

Precautions for this food supplement: Not a substitute for a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle. Do not exceed the recommended daily dose. For adults only. Keep out of reach of children. Not recommended for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, or who have a personal or family history of breast cancer. Should be used in addition to a regular intake of fruit and vegetables to maintain carotenoid levels. Seek advice from your doctor or pharmacist. Take at a different time from any medication (at least 60 minutes apart). Do not take if you are currently on anticoagulant treatment. Avoid consuming more than 3 grams of added plant sterols/stanols per day. Patients undergoing cholesterol-lowering treatment should only take this product under medical supervision.

To find out more, check out our complete anti-breakage routine.

• The Avocado Mask. Since brittle hair needs more nutrition than hydration, avocado (so rich in lipids) is an excellent ally. Mash the flesh of a ripe avocado with a little olive oil. Leave the mixture on for 10 minutes from root to tip.

• Egg shampoo. Much gentler than shampoos containing sulfate surfactants, which damage the cuticle and promote breakage. As a bonus, it will restore body to limp hair. Beat one or two eggs and massage thoroughly into your scalp before rinsing.

• Nettle decoction. Boil 100 g of nettle rhizomes (Urtica dioica) in 1 L of spring water, starting with cold water. Simmer for 15 minutes, strain, and let cool. Use this softening lotion as the second-to-last rinse.

1. Be extra gentle when brushing: start at the ends and work your way up gently toward the roots, holding the lengths if necessary.

2. Choose a brush with natural bristles, and absolutely avoid brushes with bristles topped by small balls (risk of pulling hair out).

3. Detangle your hair when it’s dry or slightly damp to minimize the risk of stretching and breakage.

4. Find the right brushing frequency: at least once a day, without overdoing it... or going to the other extreme.

5. Opt for protective hairstyles, such as those recommended for textured hair, to shield your strands from mechanical damage.

6. Limit hair treatments (straightening, coloring, etc.) that damage the hair shaft as much as possible.

7. Eat a varied and balanced diet to avoid deficiencies, which are often linked to hair loss.

The active ingredients and products mentioned in this content may require specific precautions for use. Consult our technical data sheets before use.

Dietary supplements are not a substitute for a varied and balanced diet or a healthy lifestyle. Consult a doctor before starting a treatment regimen. Always follow the recommended daily doses.

Have you heard of silk pillowcases? Their soft, smooth weave is said to limit friction between the hair strands and the pillow and preserve moisture—whereas cotton pillowcases are thought to “suck it up.” By extension, they may help prevent breakage. Keep this in mind if you tend to toss and turn at night: your hair might thank you for it! If you can’t find any, you can also opt for a silk scarf to wrap around your hair.

Hélène Betoux is a French beauty journalist specialising in web media. Every day she writes tips, advice, and guides to help consumers choose the right beauty products. With a strong interest in natural, organic, and clean cosmetics, she analyses and shares trends and innovations in the sector.