We all want stronger, healthier hair. Yet, more often than not, it feels hard to come by. Between heat styling, dryness, chemical processing, and daily stress on the hair shaft, a lot of us are dealing with brittle, broken strands.
The truth is: nobody’s born with perfect hair—no matter how hard brands try to convince us otherwise. Ultimately, bouncy, blow-out-worthy locks are the result of strategically caring for your hair and scalp.
And we’re not just talking about using the right products. (Though those definitely do matter!) We’re also talking about how you care for your hair in general.
Do you apply heat protectant? Dry wet hair with a rough towel? Lean on your emotional-support slick back day after day? It may be costing you—and your hair—more than you realize.
But before you panic, we’re here to tell you exactly how to strengthen hair and support healthy growth. We’ll cover what causes dry and brittle hair, which ingredients help strengthen it, and the habits that support healthier growth over time.
You don’t need to totally overhaul your haircare routine—you just need a better approach!
How to Strengthen Hair and Support Healthy Growth
Strong hair isn’t just about how your hair looks. It’s about how your scalp feels, how flexible your strands are, and how well your hair holds up to styling, brushing, and the elements.
But to get great hair, you don’t need gimmicky TikTok products and a dedicated celebrity glam squad. (Though we all wish we could have Kim Kardashian’s stylist Chris Appleton on speed dial, right?)
Instead, strong hair comes from understanding what your routine actually needs. The right ingredients matter, but so do the habits you practice every day, from how often you wash your hair to how you dry, style, and protect it.
Basically, you need to know hair care best practices and follow a personalized routine to reach all your dreamy hair goals. Luckily, we’ve got those for you. Here’s what you need to know about getting strong, healthy locks:
What Does Brittle Hair Look Like?
Hair should be able to bend, stretch, and withstand daily wear and tear. When it can't, that's usually a sign that your strands need a little extra support. Thankfully, your hair will usually tell you when it needs some extra TLC.
This is what you might notice:
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Dry, dehydrated texture
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Split or frayed ends
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Excessive frizz and flyaways
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Frequent breakage near the ends
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Easy or frequent tangling
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Dull, lackluster appearance
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Rough, straw-like texture when wet
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Difficulty retaining length
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Increased shedding of broken strands
What Causes Brittle Hair?
Frequent Heat Styling
Blow dryers, flat irons, curling wands, hot brushes—they’re not hair’s best friend. Though they help you get the perfect look, heated styling can strip your strands of all their natural oils. The result is dry, frizzy, and weak hair.
Bleaching and Chemical Processing
Ever fried your hair after a bad box-dye job? We’ve all been there. But it’s not just DIY hair fails that cause damage. Getting your locks chemically straightened, curled, bleached, or dyed can all take a toll on your hair’s health.
Tight Hairstyles
One of the major causes of hair loss in young adults? It's actually not your ex or the latest season of Love Island—it's tight hairstyles. All that tension along your hairline can gradually weaken the follicles, leading to breakage and even traction alopecia. (It’s as scary as it sounds!)
Overwashing
If you grew up washing your hair every other day or even every day, you’re not alone. It was standard hygiene practice! But that’s actually terrible for your strands and scalp. Instead, professionals recommend you follow this washing schedule based on your hair type:
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Fine or oily hair: Every 2–3 days
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Medium or normal hair: Every 3–5 days
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Thick, coarse hair: Every 5–7 days
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Curly hair: Every 7–14 days
Excessive Sun Exposure
The sun doesn’t just hurt your skin—it can cause hair damage too. Best-case scenario: that unprotected sun exposure leads to dehydrated hair from the heat. At worst? That UV radiation breaks down proteins within the hair, making strands drier, weaker, and more brittle over time.
There’s a reason our founder, Lauryn Bosstick, feels so strongly about sun protection for beauty! Read more about it in her book, Get the F*ck Out of the Sun.
Hard Water Buildup
Hard water contains lots of minerals like calcium and magnesium, which build up on the hair shaft and create a coating around your strands. This makes it really hard for it to hold moisture or product.
Without a water softener or shower filter, hard water can make hair crunchy, dry, and super heavy from all the accumulation.
Rough Towel Drying
You don't need a curling iron to damage your hair. Even something as simple as aggressively rubbing your hair with a bath towel can cause problems.
Wet hair is especially vulnerable to damage, and all that friction can rough up the hair cuticle, leading to frizz, breakage, and split ends.
Nutritional Deficiencies
Your hair needs the right nutrients to stay strong. Deficiencies in nutrients like protein, iron, zinc, biotin, and certain vitamins can affect the structure and growth of your hair. Of course, this could make it more prone to weakness and breakage. So, what you eat really matters!
Aging and Hormonal Changes
Unfortunately, hair changes are a normal part of aging. As we get older, hormone levels naturally shift, and hair follicles can become less productive. This often results in hair that is thinner, drier, and more fragile than it once was.
What Helps Strengthen Hair?
Keratin
Think of keratin as your hair's foundation. It's the protein your strands are naturally made of, which is why you'll find it in so many strengthening shampoos, masks, and treatments. Keratin helps smooth rough spots along the hair shaft, leaving hair stronger, shinier, and less likely to snap.
Hydrolyzed Proteins
Hydrolyzed proteins are basically proteins that have been broken down into smaller pieces so your hair can more easily use them. They're commonly found in repair masks and strengthening conditioners. These ingredients help reinforce damaged strands and give weak hair a little extra support where it needs it most.
Amino Acids
Amino acids are the smaller components that make up proteins, which means they play an important role in maintaining healthy hair. You'll often find them in conditioners, serums, and scalp treatments designed to help strengthen strands and support overall hair resilience. They can also help improve softness and flexibility, making hair less likely to break under stress.
Ceramides
Ceramides are lipids made up of things like fatty acids that act like the glue holding your hair cuticle together. You'll spot them in smoothing products and repair-focused treatments. By helping hair retain moisture, ceramides keep strands flexible rather than dry, brittle, and prone to snapping.
Panthenol
Panthenol, also known as provitamin B5, is a widely used ingredient in shampoos, conditioners, and leave-in treatments because of its ability to attract and retain moisture. Think of it as a tall glass of water for thirsty strands. By helping improve hydration levels within the hair shaft, panthenol can boost softness, flexibility, and overall resilience.
Biotin
Biotin is probably the most famous hair vitamin on the internet, and for good reason. You'll find it in supplements, scalp treatments, and hair growth products that support overall hair health. It's not a magic wand for damaged strands, but it can help support healthy hair growth when your body needs it.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil has earned its place in the hair care hall of fame. Unlike many oils that sit on the hair’s surface, coconut oil can penetrate the hair shaft and help reduce protein loss. That's a big deal when it comes to keeping strands stronger and better protected from damage. Plus, a little goes a long way, so there's no need to drench your hair in it.
Argan Oil
Argan oil is basically the beauty world's favorite multitasker. Found in everything from serums to leave-in conditioners, it's packed with nourishing fatty acids and antioxidants. While it won't rebuild damaged hair, it can help smooth frizz, boost shine, and give strands that healthy, expensive-looking finish we're all after.
How to Strengthen Your Hair and Make It Grow Longer
Prioritize scalp health.
Great hair starts at the scalp. Your scalp environment needs to be the ideal place for hair follicles to thrive and support strong, healthy growth.
You can follow our scalp care routine for a full breakdown. But some of the easiest ways to keep your scalp clean, balanced, and hydrated include using a scalp massager, exfoliating regularly, and conditioning strategically.
Be gentle with wet hair.
When hair is wet, it’s way more fragile than when it’s dry. The water content of your strands makes the hair more elastic . . . but also weaker. That means rough towel drying, brushing through knots, or throwing wet hair into a tight bun can all lead to unnecessary breakage.
Instead, tackle knots gently with a wide-tooth comb while conditioning during your everything shower. Then, when you get out, resist the urge to start brushing right away. Give your hair some time to air dry first so excess water can evaporate and your strands can regain some of their strength.
Limit heat styling and tight hairstyles whenever possible.
Look, we won’t tell you that you should NEVER curl or straighten your hair. Styling is an essential part of the female experience. You should enjoy it! But try to save it for special occasions and take the proper precautions to keep your hair hydrated and healthy.
On that same note, let’s take it easy on the slicked-back buns and JoJo Siwa ponytails. Again, once in a while is fine. But don’t let a hair tie be the thing that stands between you and the hair of your dreams!
Always use a heat protectant.
If you are going to use heat, a heat protectant is non-negotiable. These products create a lightweight barrier around the hair shaft to help reduce moisture loss, minimize damage from hot tools, and support overall hair health.
Whether you prefer a spray, cream, or serum, apply one before blow drying, curling, or straightening. It won't make your hair invincible, but it can help keep your strands stronger over time.
Want product recs? Read our post on must-have clips and heat protectant tips from a professional hairstylist.
Use bond-building treatments.
If your hair has a complicated relationship with bleach, highlights, color appointments, or hot tools, bond-building ingredients are your friend. Found in specialized repair treatments, these ingredients help support damaged bonds within the hair shaft.
They won't erase years of questionable beauty decisions overnight. They can, however, help hair feel noticeably stronger, healthier, and more resilient over time.
Increase moisture with deep conditioning treatments.
Regular conditioner is great, but sometimes your hair needs a little extra love. Deep conditioning masks are packed with concentrated moisturizing ingredients that help replenish hydration, improve softness, and reduce dryness and frizz.
Try using a deep conditioning treatment once a week, especially if your hair is color-treated, heat-styled, or naturally dry. Over time, better-hydrated strands become more flexible, resilient, and less prone to breakage.
For more ways to bring dull hair back to life, read our post: “How to Add Moisture to Dry Hair.”
Sleep on a silk/satin pillowcase with a humidifier.
Your hair can lose so much moisture while you sleep. The fabric from your pillowcase just soaks up all those natural oils. Then, suddenly, you wake up with bone-dry hair.
To prevent that, use a silk/stain pillowcase. This fabric is way less absorbent and has a lot more natural slip. That means it’ll keep the products and hair oils on your head! Then, the humidifier just amplifies the hydration potential.
Protect hair from UV exposure.
Don't let your hair get sunburned! Okay, it can't actually get sunburned in the way we think of it, but it can experience damage! Lots of unprotected sun exposure can lead to dryness, rough texture, and hair that's more prone to breakage.
When you know you'll be outside for more than an hour or two, consider taking a few simple precautions to protect your hair from damage. Wearing a hat and using SPF hair products can help keep your strands looking and feeling their best.
Support hair growth with key nutrients.
Healthy hair starts from within. Nutrients like protein, iron, zinc, omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamins such as biotin and vitamin D all play important roles in supporting normal hair growth and maintaining strong, resilient strands. Foods like eggs, salmon, leafy greens, beans, nuts, and seeds can help provide many of these hair-supporting nutrients.
If you need more resources, here are some of the best foods for hair, skin, and nails. But if you struggle with eating lots of hair-healthy vitamins and minerals, consider taking a supplement. We’re big fans of Nutrafol’s Hair Growth Nutraceutical.
Get healthy hair with the right habits, products, and a little patience.
When it comes to hair, consistency almost always beats intensity. An intentional hair care routine and a handful of simple daily habits will do far more for your strands than whatever miracle product is on your FYP. The real magic happens when those small choices compound over time.
