Split ends, along with dryness and brittleness, are among the most prevalent (and frustrating!) hair problems we’ve all encountered at some time. In general, split ends and split hair can have a number of causes and remedies, despite being a frequent condition.
We understand how difficult it is to maintain healthy, strong hair, especially when you don’t know where to start. We turned to hair specialists to learn all we could about split ends, from what causes them to how to avoid them.
What Are Split Ends?
Split ends occur when your hair’s ends become dry, brittle, and ragged. They may resemble the unwound end of a rope.
Split ends can be caused by exposure to harsh weather conditions and hair care treatments such as blow-drying, straightening, and curling.
Chemical hair products are also to blame. Split ends are widespread since so many individuals use hair products on a regular basis. Almost everyone will have split ends at some point in their lives.
Types of Split Ends
1. Basic Split
Split ends that finish in a fork are among the most prevalent varieties of split hair, and they represent the early stages of split development. Your hair is likely in the early stages of damage if you find split ends like these, which means it’s not too late to reverse the damage!
2. Tree Pattern
A tree or branching pattern of split ends usually indicates that one side of the hair strand is more damaged than the other. Split hair indicates that your hair is already damaged and in desperate need of TLC.
3. Tiny Knot
Small knots can sometimes occur on individual hair strands in persons with curlier hair types. Tangling of the hair causes this, which can lead to breaking if brushed.
Causes of Split Ends
1. Excessive and Wrong Use of Hair Products
Artificial heat may also be damaging to your hair’s general health and cause breakage. Styling appliances like curling wands and flat irons without applying a heat protectant can create unwanted splitting and brittle hair.
Split ends can be caused by not utilizing the appropriate hair care products for your hair type. If you have dry hair and aren’t using a shampoo designed for your hair type, you might be causing harm every time you wash.
2. Excess Exposure to Direct Sun and Heat
Overexposure to heat and sun is one of the most prevalent causes of split ends. If you’re not cautious, the sun’s strong UV rays may dry out your hair, making it prone to breakage and splitting. To avoid this, use a hair sun protectant spray and restrict your exposure wherever feasible.
3. Over-Washing your Strands
Split ends can also be caused by washing your hair too regularly. When we wash it, hair is drained of its natural oils, leaving it feeling squeaky clean. However, if you do this too often without replacing the moisture in your hair, you risk breaking and damage.
4. Excessive Use of Hair-Styling Tools
Artificial heat may also be damaging to your hair’s general health and cause breakage. Without applying a heat protectant, styling appliances like curling wands and flat irons can create unwanted splitting and brittle hair.
5. Not Having Regular Haircuts
One of the most prevalent reasons for split ends is not trimming your hair frequently enough. Our hair is subjected to wear and tear over time. Split hairs might occur if you wait too long between trims.
How to Treat or Get Rid of Split Ends
It is impossible to repair split ends. Cutting them off is the only guaranteed method to get rid of them.
A method known as velaterapia, sometimes known as candle cutting, is the newest fad for getting rid of broken ends. After supermodel Alessandra Ambrosio shared a photo of her hairdresser putting a torch on her hair on Instagram, the method became well-known.
Twist a part of your hair and burn it halfway through with a lit candle for candle cutting. It’s said that burning your split ends would form a seal, preventing them from separating again. Nonetheless, some hair specialists are concerned that it may cause split ends and damage to hair follicles.
If you want to try your hand at candle cutting, hire an experienced specialist. If you attempt the process on your own, you risk burning your hair or skin.
Hair masks are frequently advertised as a split-end treatment. Although they hydrate hair and may help cover or prevent split ends, they will not make them disappear.
How to Prevent Split Ends
1. Get Regular Trims
Concealing rather than curing broken ends is the goal of the techniques that cover their appearance. The fact is that the longer the hair, the more prone it is to split ends, making frequent trims all the more vital.
To maintain your ends as healthy as possible, schedule an appointment with your hairdresser every six to eight weeks, regardless of the length of your hair. The longer you wait to cut your hair, the further your ends will split up the hair shaft, eventually leaving you with less hair than you started with.
2. Protein Treatment
Protein treatments are an excellent method to restore dry, brittle hair, but they may be pricey at the salon. Fortunately, there are several items available that make performing protein therapy at home quite simple.
The Bold Uniq BoldPlex 3 Hair Mask is one of our favorites since it’s made with microproteins that have been clinically proven to minimize UV damage, slow the aging process, and prevent split ends.
Try using a restorative spray like this one from L’Oréal Paris Advanced Hairstyle Sleek It Iron Straight Heat Spray to keep hair looking fresh in between trims. It hides tough split ends and provides hair with an instant burst of shine.
3. Try Different Hair Products
As previously mentioned, one of the most prevalent reasons for split ends is not utilizing the appropriate hair products for your hair type. Switching to a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner mix is a good place to start when it comes to repairing dry, ragged hair.
4. Hydrate and Hydrate
Dry hair causes split ends, so keeping your hair as moisturized and nourished as possible is a fantastic approach to avoiding them. Using a deep conditioning treatment once a week in addition to your usual conditioner and hair oil on styled, dry hair to seal in moisture is a simple method to achieve this.
5. Be Careful When Washing Your Hair
Since wet hair is more susceptible to damage, it’s crucial to treat your hair gently after shampooing and conditioning.
Some individuals like to massage their hair dry with a towel, but this can cause damage. Hair breakage can be caused by frequent rubbing. It can also harm your hair cuticles, causing split ends and frizz. To reduce breakage and damage, wipe your hair dry rather than rubbing it dry.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Why are split ends so harmful to your hair?
Split ends are very natural, but that doesn’t mean you should ignore them if you notice them in your hair. Split ends and split hair are your hair’s method of informing you that it’s damaged and in need of some assistance to go back to normal.
2. Are some people more prone to split ends and split hair?
This is a great concern and one that we don’t typically discuss. Curly and kinky hair types, in particular, are more prone to hair damage than straighter hair types. This is likely due to the fact that extremely curly hair lacks the same amount of natural moisture as other hair types. This is also why curly hair requires some extra attention when it comes to hair maintenance.
3. Is it possible to repair split ends?
The quick answer is: No. There’s no way to get rid of split hair or split ends once they’ve appeared (other than trimming them off). While there are various techniques to conceal split hair, the best thing you can do is avoid it. Before the hair gets frayed, effective hair treatment for split ends focuses on moisturizing and nourishing it.
