Here’s All You Need To Know To Combat Split Ends
Here’s All You Need To Know To Combat Split Ends
By Shammi Mondal
When your long hair dreams are cut short by the arrival of split ends, it’s time to take a closer look. As much as we relate to your annoyance, anyone can get split ends no matter what their hair type. While there are several causes that induce frayed ends, making your hair look weak and dull, there are some cosmetic fixes as well.
So, whether you want to prevent split ends while growing out your hair or need an easy remedy to the problem, we’re here to walk you towards fuller voluminous hair.
What are split ends?
A split end is a condition where the tips of your hair follicles fracture or split into two or more separate strands. It is a common concern that occurs when the protective outer layer of the hair, known as the cuticle, gets damaged or wears away.
What causes split ends?
Before identifying the most effective solution, it is important you know the reason behind the recurring hair issue. Here are reasons why you’re seeing split ends more often.
Excessive heat styling: The feeling of a fresh blow out is unmatched, but heat styling can be a double-edged sword, giving us fabulous hair and also causing damage and split ends. When you use hot tools on your bare stands at very high temperatures—it strips down moisture from your hair and compromises the hair cuticle.
Dry and dehydrated hair: If you have dry, frizzy hair that gets thin towards the ends, there is a higher probability of getting split ends. When your hair lacks hydration, it becomes brittle and more prone to breakage. The cuticle, that protects the outer layer of your hair follicle, is easily damaged, leaving it vulnerable to splitting.
Physical damage: Combing wet hair or vigorously towel drying it can inadvertently contribute to the formation of split ends. This abrasive action causes fractures in the hair shaft, increases frictional force, and abrades the protective cuticle structure of the hair causing split ends.
Chemical damage: As much as you love chemical treatments, like hair rebonding, keratin enhancement or bleaching, these hair procedures can strip away the protective hydrophilic lipid layer, leaving your strands parched, damaged and prone to split ends. It’s very important to follow a post-treatment care routine to improve your hair health.
What are the different types of split ends?
- Classic split ends: It’s the most common type, where hair splits in half at the tip, resembling a fish tail.
- Incomplete split ends: Here your hair weakens at a point but doesn't fully split in two, resulting in an "eye of a needle" appearance. Often your hair breaks off from that point. It indicates your hair has been facing physical damage by the friction of your hair tie or other external stress on your hair.
- Feathered split ends: If you see your hair ends split multiple times, resembling a feather, this indicates your hair cuticles cannot rebound back together and often is caused due to excessive heat damage.
- Single strand knots: Common for curly hair, single strands curl back on themselves, forming small knots that cause tangling—detangling your curls can often mediate this issue.
- Y-Split: This happens when your hair tips split evenly into two parts, forming a Y-shape. This is often caused due to lack of proper nourishment or hair care.
- Taper split end: In this case, the hair thins out towards the end compared to the rest of the shaft, indicating a lack of nutrients to supplement your hair health.
How to rescue your hair from split ends?
Split ends make your hair appear dull and unhealthy and can lead to further breakage if left untreated. Fortunately, there are a number of things you can do to prevent split ends and keep your hair looking it's very best.
1. Regular trims: Don't just mask split ends; treat them by getting regular trims, especially if you keep it long. Schedule an appointment with your hairstylist every six to eight weeks. By keeping up with these cuts, you'll maintain healthier ends and prevent the split from travelling up the hair shaft, which could result in shorter hair overall.
2. Avoid over-shampooing: Be mindful of how often you shampoo your hair. When your hair is wet, it's fragile and susceptible to damage. Over-shampooing strips hair of its natural moisture leaving it dry and weak, further contributing to split ends. To avoid this, either pick a gentle sulphate and paraben-free shampoo or try diluting your shampoo with equal parts water before lathering it into your scalp. This way you will not only reduce the amount of shampoo used but also protect your hair from dryness.
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3. Choose a micro-fibre towel: After showering, reach for a microfiber towel to gently dry your hair. Microfiber towels are not only effective at absorbing excess moisture, but they're also gentler on your hair as compared to traditional terry towels. Wrap your hair in the towel and let it soak up the water, or gently pat your hair if needed.
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4. Avoid combing wet hair: You already know that brushing wet hair can cause breakage. If you must detangle, use a wide-tooth comb, which will tug much lesser. Consider using a leave-in conditioner to help with the detangling process.
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5. Argan oil FTW: Argan oil is like liquid gold for your hair. The hair elixir offers numerous benefits: It deep conditions, it’s lightweight, provides intense moisturisation, and its small oil molecules can penetrate the hair shaft effectively. The result is instant moisture that helps camouflage split ends and promotes overall hair health.
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6. Avoid excessive heat styling: Styling your hair comes with a few red flags that can lead to damage, like frequent usage, setting the temperature above 180°C and going over the same section of hair multiple times. Make sure you apply a heat protectant before going in with your styling tool and opt for optimal temperature settings to give it enough heat at one go rather than repeating the process.
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7. Reach out for a leave-in treatment: To reduce the frequency of your hair ends splitting, consider a leave in treatment that not only would help keep your hair moisturised but also enhance your hairstyle. Get your hands on serums or leave in conditioners with nourishing ingredients like argan oil, olive oil and almond oil and apply it from mid-lengths to ends. They form a protective barrier, sealing in moisture and shielding your hair from external damage.
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8. Turn to a hair mask: When it comes to nourishing dry hair, hair masks are a total game-changer. They work wonders by providing much-needed conditioning and penetrate deep into the hair shaft, replenishing moisture and strengthen further reducing split ends. Restore your hair’s health and minimize breakage by incorporating a hair mask in your weekly haircare routine.
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Need more help with getting rid of split ends? Keep reading
Q. What is the main cause of split ends?
A. There are several causes that can lead to split ends, such as excessive heat styling, chemical treatments, rough handling, environmental stressors, and lack of proper hair care.
Q. What is the best oil to reduce split ends?
A. Your hair needs a little TLC between haircuts and one of the best ways to conceal split ends is to apply a nourishing hair oil like olive oil, castor oil or almond oil that will strengthen and condition your strands.
Q. Does split end stop hair growth?
A. No, split ends do not hinder the growth of your hair. Your hair grows from the roots while split ends generally happen towards the tip of your hair. However, split ends can make your hair look dull, weak and limp.