Okay, I must admit that when I had shorter hair, I found it strangely fun to look for split ends and pull them apart like string cheese. I know this is the worst thing that can happen to your hair. As a beauty writer, I know how bad these habits are. I want to stress this again: this is bad for your hair. Do what I say, which is different from what I used to do. It’s okay for me to fall into bad habits like everyone else sometimes.
How should you take care of split ends the right way? More importantly, what makes them happen in the first place? I asked four hair care experts for help, and they taught me a lot about understanding, avoiding, and fixing split ends. Learn everything you need to know to keep your hair healthy and spend free.
Talk to the Experts
Adam Federico is a hairdresser and Ricco Vice President of Technical Education.
The owner of Serina Styles Studio is Serina Battaglini, an expert in balisage and blonde colour.
Renowned hairdresser Franck Inquired is one of the founders of IGK Hair Care.
Iris Rubin, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist who created SEEN Skin & Hair Care.
What Do Split Ends Mean?
One of the main reasons for a split end is damage to the cuticle, the outermost top layer that protects it. This makes the hair shaft weaken, break, or split into more than two pieces. Picture a hair strand coming apart like a frayed rope.
The hairdresser Franck Inquired says that split ends are the hair’s way of saying, “Help me!” They usually happen because of repeated chemical or mechanical damage, stress from the surroundings, or not drinking enough water. Most split ends show up at the ends of your hair, where the strands are the oldest and weakest. However, they can show up further along the shaft. If the damage is serious
A hair care expert, Adam Federico, says that split ends are like splinters. If you ignore them, they can move up the hair shaft and cause more damage, which is terrible for your hair’s health.
How to Spot Split Ends: Different Types and Styles
Not every split end is the same. Knowing the different kinds can help you determine if the damage is terrible and pick the best treatments. Serina Battaglini, a hair expert, talks about eight common types of split ends:
The Y-split is the standard and most common type. At the tip, the hair splits in two, making a shape like an upside-down “Y.”
Triple Split: A three-way split that means the damage is worse.
Feather Split: Several splits fall down one side of the strand, making it look like feathers.
Tree Split: The strand splits on both sides, making it look like tree branches.
Baby Split: A more minor, early-stage split that is easier to treat by trimming at the right time.
Knot Split: This type of split has a small knot or bump along the strand that is easy to break off when pulled.
An incomplete split is a split that starts inside the strand but has yet to make it to the end.
Deep Split: Long SplitsLong splits that go deep into the hair shaft usually need professional help.
What Makes Hair Split
Many things can cause split ends, and many have to do with how we treat our hair daily. Let us break it down:
Damage from Mechanical
Brushing your hair too hard, pulling on tangles, or using hair elastics too much can stress the hair shaft and cause splits.
Curling with heat
If you blow-dry, straighten, or curl your hair without heat protectants, the hair will lose its wetness and become brittle and easy to damage.
Using chemicals to treat
The cuticle worsens when you colour, bleach, straighten, or perm your hair. This makes it easier for strands to split.
Things in the environment
The cuticle can be worn away by the sun, wind, and smog, which can dry out the hair and make it fray over time.
Loss of water
Federico says that keeping hair moist is very important for its health. Hair that doesn’t get enough wetness becomes dry and more likely to break.
Not Getting Regular Trims
Small splits can move up the shaft and worsen the damage if you fail to trim your hair regularly.
Wrong ways of taking care of your hair
The cuticle can wear down faster if you sleep on wet hair, shampoo too much, or use strong products.
How to Keep Split Ends Away
The good news is that split ends will happen sometimes, but it is easier to avoid them than you might think. To avoid getting it, keep your skin firm and healthy to handle the daily wear and tear.
Take care of and moisturize.
After every wash, using a hydrating conditioner helps restore moisture and strengthen the hair shaft.
Protect yourself from heat.
Before using hot tools, you should always put on a heat protectant. These products create a barrier that stops heat harm and reduces moisture loss.
Be gentle with wet hair.
When hair is wet, it is more likely to break. After putting on a leave-in conditioner, slowly detangle your hair with a wide-tooth comb or a damp brush.
Do not use harsh styling techniques.
Avoid placing your hair in tight buns or ponytails to keep it free.
Trims every week
Trim your hair every six to eight weeks to eliminate split ends before they worsen.
Pillowcases made of silk or satin
Silk or satin pillowcases will keep your sheets from rubbing together while you sleep, which will help them last longer.
Keep your hair out of the weather.
Wear a hat or scarf over your hair to protect it from too much wind and sun.
How to Fix Split Ends
It is too bad that a split end can’t be fixed forever once it happens. Products that say they can “heal” split ends usually only temporarily fix the problem by closing the strands, but the damage remains.
What is the best way to treat it? Cut them off.
Solutions for Professionals
Every so often, dust
A “dusting” only removes split ends and does not trim the length of the hair, so it stays healthy and new.
Cutting the Surface
Surface cutting separates and cuts damaged hair strands while keeping the overall length of the hair. This is done for splits higher up the hair shaft.
Maintenance at Home
Professional cuts are essential, but keeping your hair healthy between visits is just as important. Look for hair masks, serums, and oils that are good for your hair and moisturize and smooth the root. Argan oil, shea butter, and keratin are some of the things that can help briefly seal split ends and smooth out frizz.
The Part Food Plays in Hair Health
Hair that is healthy starts inside. A healthy diet of proteins, vitamins, and minerals can make your hair stronger and less likely to split.
Protein: Keratin is a protein that makes up most of hair. Eggs, fish, and beans are some foods that help hair stay strong.
These fats, found in salmon, walnuts, and flaxseeds, keep the skin moist and hair shiny.
Biotin and Vitamin E are nutrients that help hair stay flexible and strong. You can find them in almonds, avocados, and leafy greens.
My last thought
Split ends are a terrible thing that will always happen. We cannot eradicate them, but a good hair care routine can keep your hair looking great and lessen the chances that this will happen. Use gentle products on your hair, get regular trims, and be kind to your strands. Relax if you see a split end, which is just your hair’s way of saying it needs a little extra love.
“If you see a split end, consider it a messenger,” says Adam Federico. Your hair needs water. And set up a cut.
Keywords:
Split ends
How to take care of your hair
How to stop split tips and how to treat them
Damage to hair: why split ends happen
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Professional care for hair
Taking care of your hair
Guards against heat