Split Ends-Causes and Prevention

No one likes having split ends,but once you do have them, they will not go away on their own. To get rid of split ends you have to take action and find a treatment that works for you and your hair.

Just what are split ends and how do they happen?

Split ends, or Trichoptlosis, occur when the protective cuticle of the hair has been stripped away from the ends of the hair fibers. The damaged hair fibers then split into multiple strands and can be up to an inch in length.

Once your hair reaches around four inches, the ends of your hair are getting pretty old. As your hair grows the protective oils of your scalp may not be able to get to the ends of your hair.

By this time your hair has gone through a lot. It has been washed many times, maybe blow dried or has a hot iron taken to it, and your hair has been exposed to the sun. All of these can cause the ends of your hair to become brittle and very dry, causing them the split. Not getting regular trims and lack of moisture and nourishment, can make the situation even worse.

Long hair is notorious for split ends, however short hair that is neglected can also have split ends. A sure way to get rid of them is to cut them off, this is not always the best way to go about it, when you are trying to grow your hair long. Keep in mind however, that if you do not deal with the problem, it will only get worse.

Split ends break off, but they don't go away. They continue to split back up the hair towards the scalp, this happens faster than your hair can grow. What does this mean? If you want long hair get rid of the split ends, or it will only get shorter.

What are the causes of split ends?

There are many factors that can contribute to why we get split ends, as some have already been mentioned such as, sun exposure, the heat from a hair dryer or hot iron, many washings, not getting regular trims and lack of nourishment and moisture.

Continuously exposing your hair to chemical products such as hair dye, hair spray, relaxers, treatments and other styling products, as well as constant or heavy brushing and vigorous towel drying can contribute greatly to split ends.

Excessive tangling of your hair, roughly pulling out hair ties, improper removal of extensions, and many other hair accessories that snap or clip to your hair, can cause split ends. Even having rough bed sheets, and pillow cases can contribute to the problem.

Getting rid of split ends

Well,l since they do not go away on their own, they only break off and continue to split more, the only way to get rid of them is to cut them off. Split ends are fairly easy to spot, and are easiest to see when using natural lighting, and be sure you have a good, sharp pair of hair scissors to use.

When cutting off the split ends, be sure to cut off the whole thing. Cutting a split end in half is not going to solve the problem, it will only make more work for you, or your stylist.

How to prevent split ends

Since cutting them out is the only way to get rid of them, it is probably easier to try and prevent split ends. How do you do that? There are many ways to avoid split ends.

~ Get your hair trimmed regularly, at least every six weeks or so.

~ If your hair is longer than four inches, condition it every time you wash it. A deep conditioning treatment once a week is a goof idea if your hair is susceptible to split ends.

~ Use the hair ties that are covered with cloth, or have some kind of coating. Do not use regular rubber bands.

~ If you spend a lot of time out in the sun, wear a sun hat, or drape a scarf around your hair, to protect against sun damage.

~ Throw away any combs or brushes that are missing a tooth, and do not use metal combs. Use quality combs and natural bristle brushes.

~ Your hair is most likely to break or split when it is wet, so avoid brushing your hair till it is dry, instead use a wide tooth comb.

~ Reduce to usage of hair dryers, flat irons, hot curlers, curling irons and so on. When you do use them, put them on a cooler setting, and be sure to hold the hair dryer at least six inches away from hair.

~ use shampoos that have sunscreen and a moisturizing cream in them for really dry hair.

~ Be gentle when brushing your hair, don't tug on it, or brush it really hard. Hair is fragile and the tension from brushing hair aids in hair splitting. If you have trouble, use a leave in conditioner.

~ Be careful when towel drying your hair. Squeeze the water out with your towel, instead of rubbing your hair which can cause damage.

You see, split ends happen, but they can be easily taken care of and prevented, and now you know how.

sources:

http://health.learninginfo.org

http://www.splitends.info

http://www.ultimate-cosmetics.com