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Hair breakage at the crown is a common hair care concern that can leave you frustrated and searching for answers. If you've noticed increased hair loss, damaged hair, or shorter, broken strands at the top of your head, you're not alone. In this blog post, we'll explore what hair breakage at the crown is, what causes it-most importantly-how to prevent and treat it (including using pure silk pillowcases and hair accessories from Mulberry Park Silks).
What is Hair Breakage at the Crown?
Hair breakage at the crown refers to the snapping or splitting of hair strands in the area at the top of your head. This area, also known as the vertex, is particularly vulnerable to damage due to its exposure and the way we style and care for our hair (looking at you, high ponytails and messy buns). When breakage occurs, you may notice shorter pieces of hair, broken hair, increased frizz, brittle hair, or hair thinning in this area.
Common Causes of Hair Breakage at the Crown
Megan Brooks is a hair styling specialist at IHS London, a nonsurgical hair loss enterprise in London, UK says that hair loss at the crown is quite common:
"In my years as a professional hairstylist, I have seen countless clients dealing with breakage at the crown. The sad part is that it can be frustrating, but the good news is that there are solutions! As a hairstylist, I often see it linked to tight hairstyles or excessive heat styling. Stress and even diet can also play a role."
Let's look at some "root" causes Brooks identifies as culprits for crown hair breakage:
- Mechanical Damage: This means wear and tear on the hair and it is a primary source of breakage at the crown. Tight hairstyles, rough brushing, teasing, weaves, permanent hair extensions, and even clip-in extensions are all sources of mechanical damage.
- Heat styling. Dryers, flatirons, curling wands, blow dry brushes, and more can all dry out hair, leaving the hair strand brittle and prone to breaking.
- Improper Hair Care: Using the wrong products for your hair type or not providing enough moisture can lead to dryness and breakage.
- Your Cotton Pillowcase: For real! Your regular cotton pillowcase contains tiny fibers that create friction; this pulling and tugging causes weakness and breakage anywhere your head rubs against the pillow, including the crown.
- Chemical Treatments: Repeated coloring, perming, or relaxing can weaken the hair shaft, making it more prone to breakage.
Other, less common, factors leading to crown hair breakage include overwashing and drying out the hair; nutritional deficiencies (lack of nutrients like protein, iron, and vitamins); hormonal changes during pregnancy and menopause (learn how to fight postpartum hair loss with a silk pillowcase); and environmental factors like weather, sun, chlorine, and pollution; and conditions like alopecia.
Effective Remedies and Solutions for Hair Breakage at the Crown
Fortunately, there are things you can do to prevent and help fix hair breakage at the crown. Rachel Voss, hair stylist and owner at Voss Salon in Dallas, offers the following advice:
"To prevent breakage, I advise limiting heat styling and avoiding harsh styling techniques at the crown. Conditioning treatments, bonding treatments and silk scrunchies can help nourish hair and reduce friction. For repair, Olaplex or protein treatments help strengthen hair at the molecular level. Regular trims remove split ends before they travel up the shaft."
Here's a list of what our experts recommend:
Gentle Styling: Use a wide-tooth comb or a detangling brush to gently work through knots. Limit the use of heat styling tools, and always use a heat protectant hair product when you do use them. And avoid tight hairstyles like the dreaded high ponytail. Brooks elaborates,
"Always remember this thing whenever your heart says let's do a high ponytail: that high ponytail means breakage of your hair. Opt for those cute loose styles & wear silk scrunchies instead of those tight elastic bands."
Maintain a Proper Hair Care Routine: Use sulfate-free shampoos and conditioners suitable for your hair type and deep condition regularly to keep your hair moisturized and strong. Use leave-in conditioners or hair oils to provide extra nourishment. You can also consider going for regular protein treatments and scalp massages to protect and stimulate growth.
Minimize Chemical Treatments: Reduce the frequency of coloring, perming, and relaxing treatments. If you do use this type of hair treatment, always have it done by a professional.
Get Regular Trims: Trim your hair every six to eight weeks to remove split ends before they travel up the hair shaft
Practice Good Nutrition: Nutrition is an inside job that pays big dividends in our outer appearance, including overall hair health. Ensure your diet is rich in protein, iron, and vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids. You can also take hair-supportive supplements (after consulting a healthcare professional).
Protect Your Hair from the Environment: Hats, silk scarves, and UV-protective products are a must when spending time in the sun or out in the elements.
Use Silk Pillowcases and Scrunchies: It's true! One of the easiest and most effective things you can do to fight breakage is to sleep on the gentle, nourishing surface of a silk pillowcase and use silk scrunchies and hair accessories. Megan Brooks has this to say about silk bedding and accessories:
"Silk pillowcases and scrunchies are …silky heroes who fight with friction, a major contributor to hair damage. Unlike rough cotton, silk pillowcases allow your hair to glide smoothly while you sleep, preventing tangles and breakage. They also help hold your hair's moisture, reducing all that dryness and brittleness. Silk scrunchies are equally magical. They are gentle on your hair, unlike those elastic bands that tug and pull, causing stress and breakage, especially in the crown area. The other best part is that the smooth fabric of silk scrunchies prevents creases and split ends, keeping your hair much healthier and stronger."
Want a Silk Pillowcase but have no idea which one would be best?
Rachel Voss concurs:
"Silk pillowcases are incredibly gentle on hair and help avoid tangling, friction and breakage as you sleep. They allow hair to glide freely and stay soft, smooth and hydrated. For my clients struggling with crown breakage, silk pillowcases and scrunchies have made a tremendous difference in hair health and growth over time. Using them is an easy way to pamper your hair and support hair health."
Mulberry Park Silks Pillowcases and Scrunchies Fight Hair Breakage
Mulberry Park Silks pillowcases, scrunchies, and hair accessories like our glam band are your secret weapons in the war on past and future hair breakage, especially at your crown. Here's why our silk can protect your tresses and promote healthy hair growth.
- Our products are made with 100 percent pure, natural, mulberry silk of the highest grade (6A) in a soft, lustrous charmeuse weave (don't be fooled by an imitation satin pillowcase, which is made from petroleum-based polyester). Only real silk delivers the benefits your hair needs.
- Unlike your cotton pillowcase, which drags your delicate tresses down with dangerous friction, our silk allows your hair to glide freely and nearly friction-free.
- Pure silk is protein-based (like your hair itself) and helps keep your hair wonderfully hydrated (unlike cotton, which actually absorbs essential moisture from your hair and skin.
- Our silk products are naturally hypoallergenic, resistant to mold and dust mites, and certified STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® for safety.
- You can wash our silk either by hand or machine at home, using a silk-only detergent. No dry cleaning required!
- Sleeping on a silk pillowcase is great not just for hair, but also for your skin and overall wellness.
- We offer a range of momme weights, sizes, and colors for silk pillowcases.
- We are a US-based company with headquarters, warehouse, and customer service team proudly located in Branford, CT.
We are also our own best customers. Our team has a range of hair texture types-thin hair, fine hair, curly hair, straight hair, frizzy hair, and more-and all of us have seen wonderful improvement sleeping on silk pillowcases and using silk scrunchies. We believe we offer the very best silk pillowcase on the market in terms of quality and value. We are happy to share our experience and expertise to help you find your perfect pillowcase. Give us a call or drop us an email; we are here to help!
Lastly, remember that consistency and time are essential to solving the problem of hair breakage at the crown. Recognize and correct the factors contributing to the damage, and commit to a new routine. Over time and with the proper care, you can nourish your hair back to health, strength, and beauty.
Our Clients Also Ask These Questions:
How to stop hair splitting at the crown?
The best way to stop hair splitting at the crown is to cease the activities that cause the most damage, including tight styles, heat styling, rough treatment (including from cotton pillowcases), and chemical treatment such as dye and straightener. Treat hair gently, trim it regularly, sleep on a silk pillowcase, and use silk accessories.
How do I stop hair from breaking on top of my head?
One of the most important things you can do to stop breakage is to avoid tight hairstyles, rough styling, teasing and hair extensions. You can also stop using heated styling tools and chemical treatments (dye and straighteners). Care for your hair gently, condition it regularly, and sleep on silk pillowcases to minimize damage.
Why is the crown of my hair so brittle?
The crown is a "hot spot" for hair damage-including brittle, dry hair--especially if you are wearing tight hairstyles like a high ponytail or damaging your hair with rough treatment, heat, and chemical treatments.
How to reverse hair breakage?
You can help reverse hair breakage by taking gentle care of your hair, including wearing low buns instead of tight ponytails; getting regular trims, conditioning treatments, and massages; using gentle silk accessories like silk scrunchies instead of an elastic hair tie; and preventing friction damage by sleeping on a luxurious silk pillowcase.
Does breakage hair grow back?
With proper care, hair breakage will grow back. Eliminate the causes of breakage (tight hairstyles, rough styling, excessive washing, excessive heat, chemicals) and foster new growth with gentle care, deep conditioning, regular trims, sleeping on silk pillowcases, and using silk scrunchies and hair accessories.
What vitamins are good for hair breakage?
Many vitamins help fight hair breakage and contribute to hair health, including A, C, D, E and B vitamins, including Biotin. Protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and iron also promote healthier hair growth.
What does it mean when your hair is prone to breakage?
If your hair is prone to breakage, it likely means that you are somehow damaging the hair and hair follicle with rough treatment, tight hairstyles, heat, chemicals, and friction. Breakage prone hair can also be due to nutritional deficiencies, hormonal changes, and environmental factors.
Can a silk pillowcase stop hair breakage at the crown?
Sleeping on a silk pillowcase prevents hair breakage at the crown. Your regular cotton pillowcase contains tiny fibers that pull and tear at hair; cotton is also absorbent and will dry hair out. A silk pillowcase is smooth, friction-free, and will encourage hair growth. Silk fabric is also naturally hydrating to hair to help it retain natural moisture.
What stops natural hair breakage?
Stopping natural hair breakage comes down to gentle care, keeping hair hydrated, and protecting hair from damage caused by extensions, heat, chemical colors and straighteners. You can also help stop natural hair breakage by sleeping on silk pillowcases and using silk scrunchies and accessories, which are gentle, friction-free, and hydrating.
