If your hair used to touch the top of your shoulders but now only reaches your ears -- and has stayed at that length for what seems like forever -- you may have traumatic alopecia, aka dreaded hair breakage. The good news is it's the easiest type of alopecia to identify and to treat -- if you're willing to rethink your styling routine.

What contributes to breakage? Mainly, you! Chemicals like relaxers and dyes; shampoos with sulfates and parabens; excessive heat from styling tools; and friction from rubber bands and excessive brushing and combing. Chances are you're doing most, if not all, of these things, and curly African American hair is even more susceptible to damage.

It's time to put some of that good, old-fashioned self-control to use. "Hydrate! Hydrate! Hydrate!" says Opara. "Healthy hair starts with a healthy scalp, so don't ban shampooing altogether, condition regularly, and steer clear of harsh sulfates, parabens and phlalates."

Products aside, if you're a twirler, cut it out. "You'd be surprised how much breakage we cause on our own, just by playing around with our hair and manipulating it too much," says Opara. Protect your ends by putting more buns in your daily style rotation (here are a few to get you started), and never comb your hair when it's product-free.

While these four types of alopecia are the main offenders when it comes to hair loss among black women, your diet could also be a factor. Here are 10 other reasons your hair may be thinning, regardless of your ethnicity.