Signs of Health

Shiny hair is a sign of health because the layers of the cuticle lie flat and reflect light.

The scales of the cuticle overlap tightly, so the inner layers are well protected from heat, sun, chlorine, and other hazards from the environment.

When hair is damaged though, the scales may separate and hair can become dry.

Since the scales on dry hair don't protect the inner two layers as well, hair can break and look dull.

Whether your hair is straight or curly can also affect how shiny it is. Sebum, which is the natural oil on the hair, covers straight hair better than curly hair, which is why straight hair can appear shinier.

Hair Breakage

Hair can break when points in the hair thicken or weaken. Sometimes this happens near the scalp so a person's hair never grows very long. When hair strands break at the ends, they're called "split ends," and the splits can travel up the hair shaft.

A major cause of hair breakage is improper use of chemical hair treatments, like colouring, perming and tinting.

But brushing or combing hair too frequently or in the wrong way (such as using a fine-toothed comb on very thick, curly hair or teasing hair) can lead to breakage. Hair extensions and braids can also cause breakage.

Leaving them in too long or pulling them out without professional help can cause hair and scalp damage or even hair loss.

Trichorrhexis Nodosa is the most common defect of the hair shaft where the hair fractures and then breaks off. The main cause is mechanical or chemical trauma. It is classified as the fracture of the hair shaft.

Like in an X-ray we find out that the bone is fractured similarly when we do a Tricho-Analysis of the hair we find out if there is a fracture of the hair shaft.

Hair Damage

You know that your hair damaged if it is:

• Dry
• Frizzy
• Breaking excessively
• Falling excessively
• Unable to hold a curl
• Sore Scalp