major breakage

I had a healthy, below the jaw, one-length bob until having "routine" highlights 6 weeks ago. I noticed right away it seemed like I actually had less hair. I now have about 3/4 inch-long hair growing in where breakage obviously occurred due to over-processing - it looks like I have whiskers all over my head!! This happened once before and I suffered through a year and a half of monthly trims and nursing it back to health. Would it be easier (and healthier) in the long run to just chop it off into a crop or pixie and start all over, or does anyone have any suggestions on products to use while nursing it (once again) back to health? Has anyone else had this happen? HELP!!