Stop Hair Breakage in Its Tracks with These 11 Steps

1. Start with Strengthening Hair Care

If you're dealing with damaged hair that's prone to split ends and snapping, you need fast-acting repair that will support the hair shaft from the inside out. For that, we recommend ULTIMATE REPAIR. When healthy hair feels like a distant memory, this breakthrough regimen makes it a reality again by giving you 99% less breakage¹. This is thanks to a blend of AHA, which replenishes the hair cuticle on the inside, and Omega-9, which smooths and fills the fragile outer layer. Use the ULTIMATE REPAIR Shampoo and ULTIMATE REPAIR Conditioner for deep-down care. Rich and creamy yet wonderfully weightless, they intensely nourish all hair types.

But if your hair hasn't started snapping (yet) and you want to boost its resilience, turn to the Fusion regimen. It keeps hair strong with a blend of amino acids inspired by the strength and stretch of spiderwebs. Make the Fusion Shampoo and Fusion Conditioner a part of every wash day, and reach for the Fusion Mask at least once per month. This strengthening regimen makes your hair up to 95% more resilient². 

2. Massage Shampoo in Gently

A lot of us don't think too hard about how we rub in our shampoo. As long as it gets your hair clean, it's doing its job... right? But even the most hydrating shampoos need to be massaged in gently; a small tweak that will reduce frizzy hair and prevent breakage. So, instead of scrubbing at your scalp and lengths, use fingertips to lightly build up a lather, working section by section through roots, lengths and ends. This is also a great time for a scalp massage to support healthy hair follicles.

3. Boost the Power of Your Hair Mask

No matter which nourishing hair mask you choose – ULTIMATE REPAIR Mask or Fusion Mask – you can boost its effects by upgrading your hair wash regimen. First, make sure you've (gently) squeezed out excess water before you apply it to mid-lengths and ends. This prevents water from diluting the conditioning ingredients and helps to boost absorbency. Then, when the mask is in, evenly distribute it through your hair with a wide-tooth comb or, if you have curly hair, use the palms of your hands to work it through. As you go, delicately separate knots. The slip of the mask will help you detangle friction-free. Then, wrap your masked hair in a warm towel while it absorbs. Leave it on for up to 10 minutes before rinsing with lukewarm water.

4. Repair and Hydrate from the Inside Out

Strong hair is only possible when strands are healthy from the inside out, so it's crucial you use hair products that care for both the inner and outer layers of the hair shaft. As leaders in hair care innovation, Wella Professionals has developed formulas that work deep down, so you don't just see an improvement but a transformation in hair health.

Our most powerful pairing is ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue and ULTIMATE SMOOTH Miracle Oil Serum; a duo designed to repair and rehydrate stressed-out hair strands. (They were even used backstage at Victoria Beckham's Paris Fashion Week show!) You start with Miracle Hair Rescue, a leave-in treatment that's misted through clean, damp hair from root to tip, and helps to repair hair damage in 90 seconds³. (Yes, it's that fast.) Then, you layer Miracle Oil Serum over the top, a hair oil-meets-hair serum that replenishes lost moisture, giving you nourishment in 30 seconds and smoothness that lasts up to 3 days⁴.

This combination addresses two of the key causes of breakage – dryness and damage – to help prevent broken hair and give you an irresistibly soft, silky finish.

5. Cut Back on Friction

Mechanical damage isn't just caused by too-tight styles and using the wrong hairbrush. Even unassuming steps, like sleeping with a cotton pillowcase, can lead to fragile hair. So, reduce friction in your day-to-day regimen by making these easy upgrades:

• Switch from regular towels to microfiber towels when drying your hair. Make sure you blot away excess moisture instead of rubbing for straight hair or use a press and twist motion for wavy and curly hair.
• Before you go to bed, apply an overnight treatment, like ULTIMATE REPAIR Night Serum. It shields your hair from breakage while you rest, and lets you wake up to a more manageable, frizz-free mane.
• Sleep on a silk pillowcase or satin pillowcase instead of cotton. These fabrics are softer, smoother and cause less snagging through delicate strands. You could also cover hair in a silk scarf or satin bonnet for extra protection.
• When it comes to styling your hair, ditch rubber bands and use silk scrunchies or spiral hair ties instead. They won't pinch as much through the crown area and mid-lengths, reducing future hair breakage.

6. Go For Frequent Trims

Think of each strand of hair like a rope. It starts out strong, but once the end becomes frayed, the splitting and breaking of fibers causes the whole thing to unravel. This is how split ends can escalate into thinning through the lengths – and why you need to get them trimmed ASAP if you want to avoid signs of hair breakage. If you're trying to grow your hair out, ask your Wella stylist for a Cut & Seal Service. Like an 'invisible' cut, it sees only the split sections targeted, before fresh, healthy ends are treated to ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue.

7. Get Serious About Heat Protection

You don't need us to tell you how important a heat protectant is. Sizzling temperatures and hot tools are one of the biggest causes of brittle hair, as excess heat can strip your strands of essential, protective oils. So, when styling wet hair, use a rich, nourishing heat protectant that locks moisture in. We love ULTIMATE SMOOTH Miracle Oil Serum, which combines a thermal shield with major glossiness. You can also use it between washes before flat ironing or using a curling iron, and its boost of Squalane will make for the most lustrous looks. Or, if you want a lighter formula, use EIMI Thermal Image. The weightless mist protects hair from heat up to 230°C/450° F.

8. Top Up Moisture in Between Washes

Dry hair is one of the biggest culprits behind breakage, so if you find your ends feel parched in between washes, don't be afraid to top up hydration. ULTIMATE SMOOTH Miracle Oil Serum is ideal for keeping your lengths and ends moisturized, as it's suitable for use on dry hair and wet hair, thanks to its lightweight feel. Our tip is to start slow with hair oils, as it's easier to add more than it is to take it away. So, begin with a drop or two through straight, curly or coily hair, then gradually build it up if you feel your hair needs it.

9. Consider Swapping Air-Drying for Blow-Drying

There are pros and cons no matter if you blow-dry or air-dry your hair, but if blow-drying is done correctly, it can actually be the less damaging choice. Why? For starters, hair is at its most vulnerable when it's wet, so the longer you leave it damp, the more time there is for friction to wear it down. What's more, when hair is wet, it has to carry all that water. In order to do so, the hair cuticle swells and, sometimes, will break under the strain. By blow-drying instead – with a heat protectant – you avoid leaving hair wet (and vulnerable) for too long. Plus, you get a silky styled mane in the process – what's not to love?

10. Give Hair a Gentle Brush Before Washing

It's important you remove any knots before you get your hair wet in the shower. How you do this depends on your hair type, so follow these steps:

If you have straight or wavy hair: Use a detangling hair brush to work through knots, starting at the ends of your hair first. As you release each knot, move higher up the length of your hair and detangle section by section.

If you have curly or coily hair: Use your hands to delicately pull apart knots or detangle with a wide-tooth comb. For extra slip, apply a misting of water and a leave-in conditioner first, like NutriCurls Milky Waves. 

11. Protect Hair in the Sun

It's not just excessive heat styling or your blow dryer that puts your hair at risk of breakage. UV rays can strip each strand's protective layer, so take extra care when you're out in the sun.  Follow the three golden rules of UV care: shade, shielding and sun protection. That means seeking shade where possible, shielding with a hat or scarf on the hottest days, and applying protection to your hair. ULTIMATE SMOOTH Miracle Oil Serum has a UV shield built in and it keeps summer hair hydrated and smooth.