What is the difference between baby hair and breakage? Baby hair tends to have a smooth, tapered tip and be focused along the hair line while breakage often appears frayed or split at the ends, feels dry to the touch, and can occur anywhere on the scalp.
Looks like new hair, you can tell by looking at the ends of the hair. If the ends are blunt, split, or have little white dots at the end, it's breakage. If they are gently tapered off (like the ends of eyelashes) then it's new growth.
Newly growing hair is often finer and thinner than mature hair. It may appear wispy or delicate in texture. Initial growth can be short, with new strands only a few centimeters long. The length may not be immediately noticeable.
Looks like new hair, you can tell by looking at the ends of the hair. If the ends are blunt, split, or have little white dots at the end, it's breakage. If they are gently tapered off (like the ends of eyelashes) then it's new growth.
Shorter strands of lost hair, with both ends of the strand having a smooth end means that the hair has broken off, but if the strand has a slight bulb/bulge at one end and is longer (more like the length of the rest of your hair on your head) then it has been shed. The bulb is where it was connected to your scalp.
If your hair's natural growth cycle does what it is supposed to, new ones should grow to replace the hair strands you lost.
New hair growth on your scalp isn't usually prickly, as terminal hair tends to be fine and soft as it grows in. Prickly hair is often associated with freshly shaved hair or regrowth on other areas of your body besides your scalp.
If you've recently highlighted or chemically treated your hair, you also need to use protein regularly. Protein treatments can help strengthen the hair shaft and restore its structural integrity. On the other hand, if your hair feels dry, frizzy, and lacks elasticity, it's likely in need of moisture.
With breakage, the hair strands have blunt ends. You will find that all your new growth will be around the same length, as opposed to breakage which are various different lengths due to where the point of breakage took place.
Breakage: Severe breakage can cause your hair to snap and break off, leading to shorter strands and hair loss. This can be a result of overtreating your hair with chemicals, heat styling, or aggressive brushing.
Short Length: Because it is just beginning to grow from the hair follicle, new hair growth is typically short at first. It may manifest as finer, shorter hairs on the scalp. Halo Effect: Sometimes, the hairline is where new hair growth is most noticeable, giving the forehead and temples a halo-like appearance.
If the old hair has not been shed already, the new growing hair helps “push” the old hair out of the follicle. As the new hair grows out from the base of the follicle, it extends beyond the surface of the skin and appears as straight or curly, and with a color that can be blonde or brown or red or gray.
Stylists say the easiest way to do this is by examining the ends. “Breakage often appears frayed or split at the end, while new growth tends to have a smooth, tapered tip,” says Ona Diaz-Santin, the owner of 5 Salon & Spa in Fort Lee, New Jersey.
There is a common misconception that scratching an itchy scalp promotes hair growth. However, the reality is quite the opposite. Repeated or intense scratching can actually damage the skin and hair follicles due to friction, potentially leading to temporary hair loss instead of growth.
These black areas show that your hair follicles are actively growing new hair. Peach fuzz is a common sign of fresh hair growth. The peach fuzz on your scalp is an indication of growing hair if you detect it. Due to its recent growth, this fuzz is thinner than the rest of your hair.
You'll see an improvement straight away after a haircut, but generally, it can take 6-8 weeks for hair to respond to new treatments and gentler styling, depending on the length of your hair and the extent of the damage.
And that damage can range from barely noticeable but raggedy ends that look and feel better with some extra TLC, to all-out “we're spiraling” strands that may require a serious hair cut or a stylist consultation. But luckily for us, breakage can be temporary and is totally reversible.
All experts agree on this: when hair is damaged, it must be cut off. “If the damage is so bad (you're bleaching too much or using too much heat), that's when it becomes a cut instead of a trim,” says Polko. “You're going to have to commit and then let your hair grow back out.”
Vitamin D.
Vitamin D is essential for creating the cells that develop into hair follicles. It also supports healthy bones and your immune system. If you have hair loss and low vitamin D levels, your doctor may recommend vitamin D supplements.