How Can You Get Rid of Split Ends?

What’s covered?

How Can You Get Rid of Split Ends?

Damaged hair, dry hair, hair breakage--name them all. All are equally as frustrating as split ends.

Split ends occur when your hair has dry, brittle, and frayed ends. They may resemble the end of an unravelled rope. Exposure to extreme weather conditions and using chemical treatments (e.g., chemical straightening), hair products, and heat styling tools (e.g., blow dryers, straighteners, and curling irons) may damage your natural hair and cause split ends. With so many people using hair products daily, split ends are common. Almost everyone will deal with split ends at some point, and hair health becomes a concern.

Apart from resorting to hair shears, scissors and regular salon appointments, here are tips on how to get rid of split ends and improve hair health.

Healthy habits for a healthy hair

• Apply shampoo carefully. Wash your hair at least three times per week, as too much shampoo can strip off natural oil. Wash only your scalp and the hair nearest to it. Rinse your hair with cool water.

• Use conditioner. Let the conditioner soak, particularly on hair ends, for at least three minutes before rinsing it out.

• Dry your hair gently. Gently squeeze dripping wet hair with a microfiber towel to remove excess water, then let your hair air dry naturally. Blow-dried hair is more prone to damage than towel-dried hair.

• Regular deep conditioning. It doesn't have to be the deep conditioning products. Coconut oil conditions your hair best; it has the fitting chemical structure to sink deep into hair fibres.

• Find a gentle comb or brush. A wide-tooth comb or a pick is perfect for people with thick hair, while a narrow-toothed, wooden comb or a brush with boar bristles or another flexible, natural bristle is for those with thin hair.

• Brush or comb gently. Start at the bottom and work your way up. Do not brush wet hair unless you have curly hair.

Protecting your hair against damage

• Protect your hair while sleeping. Sleep with your hair in a braid or bun to help prevent tangles and breakage. A satin pillowcase or a sleep cap may also help.

• Eat a balanced diet. Make sure to eat the recommended amounts of vitamins, protein, and folic acid to make your hair healthy.

• Oil your hair for protection. Use a nutrient-rich oil such as almond oil, argan oil, fish oil, egg oil, castor oil, or extra-virgin olive oil. It can lubricate the hair shaft, prevent it from splitting and promote hair growth. Use any of these natural oils twice a week, leave them on overnight under a cap, and wash them off in the morning.

• Use hair-friendly accessories. Tight elastic bands can damage hair, especially if left in for a long time. Opt for scrunchies and ribbons that treat your hair more gently, or make sure the elastic bands are not too tight so they don't cause breakage.

• Try hair masks. Use a hair mask once every one or two weeks to moisturize hair, achieve healthy hair, and avoid damaged hair.

How to prevent split ends and avoid other hair damage

• Protect your hair from heat. The heat from styling tools denatures the keratins (proteins) of the hair shaft, weakening it and predisposing it to split ends. Let your hair stylist know that you prefer low-heat treatments on occasions that you use treatments.

• Protect your hair before swimming in a pool, ocean, or lake. Consider applying a special pre-swimming moisturizer product. Alternatively, use a leave-in conditioner, oil your hair, and/or wear a swim cap.

• Protect your hair from the sun. Ultraviolet rays can be as damaging to your hair as your skin. Wear your hair in a bun underneath a hat, or use leave-in sunscreen conditioner

• Reduce reliance on dye, perms, and bleach. Hair products, particularly dyes, perms, and bleach, can damage your hair. Limit your usage and exposure to these products.

Final words

Hair scissors are a popular tool to get rid of split ends. But if it affects your hair length goals, do not resort to candle cutting, as it may further damage hair strands and hair follicles. Instead, consider cutting hair into layers. If you have afro-textured hair, a mild texturizer can achieve a similar effect, allowing you or your hair stylist to manipulate your hair more efficiently and avoid trimming healthy hair. There you go! Have a healthy, split ends-free hair day.

Learn more on how to treat split ends and other hair-related conditions by clicking here.

Related Services

1. Hair loss treatment
2. Finasteride
3. Female hair loss blood test
4. Alpecin Shampoo
5. Regaine
6. Regaine for women
7. Regain foam for men

Related articles

1. What vitamins support hair growth?
2. Cures for itchy scalp and hair loss
3. Can stress cause hair loss?
4. Can masturbation cause hair loss?
5. Can creatine cause hair loss?
6. Best female hair loss treatments?
7. The most common causes of hair loss
8. How to cope with postpartum hair loss?
9. How does DHT cause hair loss?
10. Cures for itchy scalp and hair loss
11. What vitamin deficiency causes hair loss?
12. Can wearing a hat cause hair loss?
13. Dutasteride vs Finasteride: What's Best for Hair Loss?
14. Relationship between diet and hair loss
15. Top 7 Hair loss treatments
16. What happens if you stop taking finasteride?
17. Does stress cause hair loss?
18. Why do men go bald?
19. Guide to hair thinning
20. Hair thinning at the front - what are the options?
21. 11 Ways you may be damaging your hair
22. What is non-surgical hair replacement?
23. Hair growth explained
24. Why does hair fall out in clumps?
25. 5 Signs of hair thinning
26. How many hairs should you lose per day?
27. Do I have a receding hairline?
28. How to spot a balding crown
29. Early signs of balding and how to stop it
30. Regaine vs rogaine - what's the difference?
31. How long does minoxidil take to work?
32. What are DHT blocking shampoos?
33. How to get rid of split ends