How to Treat Split Ends: A Full Guide to Their Causes and Consequences

Unavoidably, split ends occur. They don’t care if you have long or short hair, straight, wavy, or curly hair; they’re just a problem that we all have to deal with. The only method to truly get rid of them is to get a trim, yet going to the hair salon isn’t always an option because they frequently appear as a result of damage to your hair.
Preventing split ends before they have a chance to ruin your hair in the first place is the greatest way to increase the length of time you can go between visits. We’ve compiled some information below on the causes of split ends and how to avoid them in the future. Scroll down to find out more.

How Can I Avoid Split Ends? What Causes Them?

  1. Frequently washing your hair: You are able to go a few days without washing your hair. Your hair may be unable to withstand the meticulous care if you wash it every day or use the rinse-and-repeat shampoo approach. Depriving your scalp of its natural oils can cause your hair to become dry and more brittle, leading to split ends. If you find that you have a lot of split ends, consider washing your hair less frequently.
  2. Excessive brushing: You’re most likely overdoing it if you use a brush more than once a day. Struggling to remove knots and using an aggressive brushing style are detrimental to your hair. Furthermore, you most likely are breaking your hair when brushing if it feels like that. For a more gentler method, try detangling your hair while it’s still damp with a wide-tooth comb. When brushing, begin at the base and move up.
  3. Drying your hair with a cosy towel: After taking a shower, it’s customary to give your hair a good massage. Nevertheless, excessive towel-rubbing of your hair may aggravate split ends. Instead of roughing up your hair with a lot of damaging friction, lighten up and pat it dry with a towel. You can also use a microfiber towel, such as the $20 Aquis Hair Drying Water Wicking Towel, to dry your hair.
  4. Overuse of heat styling: Admittedly, it’s unfeasible to give up using a hot iron or hair dryer entirely. However, it’s a smart idea to let your hair air dry until it’s just barely damp to reduce the amount of time you spend using the blow dryer. To further reduce damage, remember to spray on a thermal protectant prior to plugging in any heat-styling equipment.
  5. Chemical processing: Chemical processing weakens the hair cuticle and can result from colouring, straightening, or perming. To avoid breaking your hair, try sticking to a single chemical process and give it extra care with a hydrating hair mask. Using alcohol-containing cosmetics will further dry out already-fragile hair, so stay away from them.

How to Do It at Home: Split End Removal

Search and Destroy Method

This technique involves cutting off split ends individually.

What you’ll need:

  • Sharp hair scissors

Steps:

  1. Find a well-lit area: Good lighting is crucial for spotting split ends.
  2. Section your hair: Work in small sections to make it easier to find split ends.
  3. Twist or braid each section: Twisting or braiding helps expose split ends.
  4. Search for split ends: Look for ends that are frayed or split.
  5. Trim carefully: Use sharp hair scissors to cut just above the split.

2. Dusting

Dusting involves trimming a very small amount of hair from the ends, maintaining the length while removing damaged parts.

What you’ll need:

  • Sharp hair scissors
  • A fine-tooth comb

Steps:

  1. Comb your hair: Start with clean, dry hair and comb it thoroughly.
  2. Section your hair: Divide your hair into small, manageable sections.
  3. Trim the ends: Hold a section of hair between your fingers and trim a tiny bit off the ends. Only cut the very tips to remove the split ends.

3. Regular Trimming

Regular trimming every 6-8 weeks can prevent split ends from forming.

Steps:

  1. Schedule regular trims: Even if you’re growing your hair out, regular trims can help maintain healthy ends.
  2. Trim at home: If you prefer to do it yourself, follow the dusting method to maintain the shape and health of your hair.

4. Using Split End Trimmers

Specialized split-end trimmers are available that can help cut off split ends without removing length.

Steps:

  1. Section your hair: As with other methods, work in small sections.
  2. Run the trimmer through: Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to glide the device over the sections, cutting off split ends.

Tips for Preventing Split Ends

  • Use a wide-tooth comb: Avoid tugging on wet hair.
  • Condition regularly: Use a good conditioner to keep hair hydrated.
  • Avoid excessive heat styling: Heat can damage hair and cause split ends.
  • Use heat protectant products: If you use heat styling tools, always apply a protectant.

Celebrity hairstylist Sunnie Brook provided her social media fans with a step-by-step tutorial on how to cut your hair at home if you’re stuck at home and can’t get an appointment with your stylist to take care of your split ends.

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