Hair grows from the root, so the ends of your hair is the oldest. The ends of your hair may have been with you for several years, depending on the length of your hair. Consider all the things the ends have endured and witnessed. How many times have they been straightened, styled, and washed? How many hats, scarves, and sweaters have they rubbed against? How many days have they experienced that were chilly, windy, dry, and humid? Not to mention that the end of your hair is the most exposed and vulnerable. Is it any surprise, then, that your ends can’t survive forever? Your ends can separate in a number of different ways. The typical end split in two, or smaller, just barely split ends, may be visible. You might observe split ends (like a tree or a broom) or hairs that thin out at the end when the cuticle vanishes but the cortex stays intact. Hairs that split all the way up the shaft may be seen. The unifying commonality is that unless we trim our hair frequently, we will all get split ends. They are a natural part of the hair’s life cycle.
Table of Contents
What causes split ends?
Split ends can develop quickly as a result of severe damage, although they usually develop slowly as a result of small causes. The following are some of the most common factors that damage and degrade the hair cuticle’s end:
Physical damage: Styling, combing, detangling, handling, and touching your hair all contribute to the gradual breakdown of the cuticle.
Heat: One of the quickest ways to induce split ends is to utilise heat tools. Excessive heat damages the endings, which are already stressed due to other circumstances.
Friction: Certain textiles and textures wreak havoc on your cuticle more than others. Split ends are accelerated by hats, scarves, and sweaters, as well as cotton pillows and towels. Hair that is long enough to rub against the back of your shirt or jacket can also cause damage.
Environment: Wind, cold, heat, sun, dry climates, humid climates… it seems that your hair suffers regardless of the weather. This damage is accelerated if you routinely style your hair in afros, puffs, or other styles that expose your ends to the environment.
Internal factors: The strength of your hair is influenced by your nutrition, the water you consume, and your overall health. Your hair will be more sensitive to split ends if your body is dehydrated, malnourished, or protein-deficient. (Find out what things to eat to keep your hair healthy.)
If you use too much or too high a heat setting, your hair will dry out. This loss of moisture damages each strand in curly hair, making it brittle and vulnerable to splitting. Even if you don’t use heat to style your hair, hair porosity, not moisturising enough, or using the wrong cleansers and stylers can cause the same level of dryness and damage.
Dryness can also be caused by some chemicals used in colour processes, such as dyes and bleach. Alcohols in styling products and sulphates in shampoos are other culprits that can dehydrate hair, and strand dryness is one of the reasons of split ends.
Why are they bad?
The damage will only get worse once a hair strand splits at the end. A split end will continue to split all the way up the hair shaft if left untreated, causing irreversible damage to the entire strand. Because split ends lack a smooth cuticle, they naturally hook and snag on one another and on healthy ends. This results in tangles and, as you can expect, more split ends.
You’ll notice greater breakage and shedding as your hair becomes more tangled. Split ends inhibit length retention, which is what people mean when they say they stop your hair from growing. Split ends in your hair may appear minor on their own, but they make your ends look frizzy, scraggly, and messy. If you notice a few split ends, it’s possible that more are on the way (unless you’re just exposing half of your hair to heat, wind, and damage, which we doubt). Split ends indicate that your hair is damaged and should be trimmed.
Curly hair and split ends
The curlier your hair the more fragile it gets to be. That means people with curly hair are more susceptible to split ends. Split ends are also more prone to cause tangles when you have curls, kinks, or coils because they can grab on other hairs coiling around them. So, if your hair is prone to tangling, keep an eye out for and avoid split ends. This will aid in the prevention of tangles and breakage in the future.
How to stop getting split ends
- Replace your shampoo. Check the ingredient labels on your shampoo first. Replace anything with sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) or sulphates with a non-drying cleanser like sulfate free Shampoo. Reduce your shampoo use if your hair seems unusually dry owing to seasonal changes, such as regular sun exposure or time spent indoors during the winter.
- Constantly condition. When it comes to conditioner, this is the point in your process where you should devote the most attention. Replenishing moisture on a regular basis will maintain your hair smooth and free of friction and broken ends.
- Every month, give yourself a deep hair treatment. Curly hair benefits immensely from thoroughly moisturising treatments and hair masks in addition to regular conditioners.
- Trim the ends of your hair regularly. Split ends will continue if you do not halt it in its tracks. Fraying will not go further up the hair shaft if you snip the tips of your hair where the splits are visible. Every six weeks or so, clip your ends.
- Bedtime habits like sleeping without a head scarf or bonnet can be very damaging to natural hair in the long run. You may not even notice it right away, but consistent rubbing raises the hair cuticle, which, for dry, damaged hair, leaves it open to moisture loss, hair breakage, and splitting.
- Protective styling can be used. Twisting or braiding curly hair into a protective style is another simple approach to keep it confined while sleeping. To avoid rubbing and tugging, keep the ends of your hair tucked away. When it comes to hats and accessories, the same conditions apply.
- After you’ve washed your hair, avoid blow drying it.Instead, style your hair while it’s still damp and let it air dry. Turn down the heat and blast at low temps if you really must use the blow dryer.
- Protect your hair from the sun. You can either wear a hat or use hair products that protect your hair from the sun because just like how your skin can get damaged from the sun so does your hair.
- Stop wetting your hair on a daily basis. Adding water to your hair on a daily basis. Water is a natural humectant, but too much of it on a daily basis can weaken, split, or break the hair shaft.
So how do you get rid of split ends that are already there?
Despite many claims from many brands of hair products that claim they can fix split ends, the only way you can fix split ends is by trimming them off and that’s tough love. Split ends are permanent, and any product, service, or procedure that claims otherwise is deceiving you. It might be hard for people that want to grow out their hair to accept the fact that they need to trim split ends but here’s the catch, trimming split ends actually helps your hair grow longer. Split ends basically cause hair breakage which actually prevents your hair from growing longer. It’s healthy to trim your hair every few months and it will actually help you grow your hair longer.
Best Split End Trimmer Options
Here are five hair trimming and removal tools that we suggest for a healthy and fresh hair trim
This traveler version of a split trimmer is perfect on the go. It operates on 3 AAA that come included with the product and it comes with a carrying bag for an easy cordless experience. This cordless split end trimmer comes with everything you need. It comes with a tiny cleaning brush for cleaning the device and a premium styling comb and a sectioning clip for sectioning your hair into sections to pass through the trimmer. The trimmer also comes with a compartment that saves the trimmed ends. The trimmer also is perfect for keeping your hair length as it only cuts the damaged and splitted ends. It’s also small in size and quite handy and because of its small size, the Mini requires you to separate your hair into smaller strands in order to achieve optimal results. About the amount of hair that would fit in a straw is what I propose. The Split Ender Mini is a bang for your buck as it’s on the lower end of price tags but it’s very effective and portable so instead of spending hours finding and trimming each splitted end of your hair it’s recommended that you get this affordable trimmer.
Product details:
- HEALTHY HAIR FAST: If split ends aren’t cut off, they can wreak damage on your locks, causing frizzy, brittle hair. This innovative tool will nip that problem in the bud and get rid of unsightly split ends as they happen, leaving your hair silky and smooth.
- PRESERVE HAIR LENGTH: Split-Ender is easier, faster and safer than scissors. This tool’s patented technology trims only where damaged hair starts, leaving your healthy hair to grow strong. 1/4″ trim spacer (fixed to the blade housing).
- SALON RESULTS AT HOME: With the Split-Ender, you can effortlessly maintain the health of your hair at home. By simply running the tool through your hair like you would a flat iron, you will look like you’ve had a salon-quality trim.
- CONVENIENT FOR TRIMMING ON THE GO: This quiet, travel-friendly tool is battery-operated (3 AAA batteries included), cordless, and comes with everything you need: deluxe carry bag, instruction manual, cleaning brush, styling comb, and sectioning clip.
- TALAVERA DIFFERENCE: Victor Talavera created the Split-Ender as the answer to all your split-end woes. This tool is streamlining hair maintenance, making it easier than ever to keep those tresses looking silky and smooth.
Split Ender Pro 2 is a gadget that quickly removes split ends. It was the first split-end trimmer on the market, and it still is today. This premium kind of split end trimmer is sure to get the job done. It keeps the length of your hair while only trimming the split ends making a perfect trimmer for people who want to keep their long hair and get rid of split ends without sacrificing hair length. A fixed blade on the Split Ender Pro 2 snips the remaining 1/4 inch of split ends. It’s incredibly simple to use (as simple as a flat iron). It’s also a lot easier and faster than trying to cut split ends with scissors. When it comes to application, you should definitely work in small sections, working your way around your head. Begin at the bottom and work your way up if necessary. It works quite well, and you’ll notice a difference with just one pass.
Product details:
- Rid your hair of split ends with the Split Ender. Snips the ends, not the length
- For all types of hair; dry, damaged and brittle ends. Designed for medium and long hair
- Power Adaptor: Bi-Volt 110-240 Volts. Use direct plugged in or wireless. Charge the battery before use for 3 to 4 hours
- A precise and safe cut of split ends with the patented Surgy Trim System original by Talavera
- Sealed and easy to open packaging. Read the instruction manual
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- 【High-Quality Blades】: Equipped with sharp, corrosion-resistant...
- 【Safe & Easy to Use】: The non-slip handle and rounded comb teeth ensure...
- 【User-Friendly Design】: Its dual-sided design includes one side for...
- 【Portability】: Compact and lightweight design makes it ideal for...
- Package Included: Our professional hair cutting comb with 3 double-head...
- Premium Quality Material: Crafted from high-quality plastic and Double...
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- 【Multifunctionality】: This 2-in-1 device combines the features of a...
- 【High-Quality Blades】: Equipped with sharp, corrosion-resistant...
- 【User-Friendly Design】: Its dual-sided design includes one side for...
- 【Safe & Easy to Use】: The non-slip handle and rounded comb teeth ensure...
- 【Portability】: Compact and lightweight design makes it ideal for...