How To Prevent Split Ends And Stop Ruining Your Hair

Long and flowy or short and sleek – no matter how beautifully you style your hair, frayed ends make it look unhealthy. Thankfully, there are steps you can add to your hair care regimen to prevent split ends from ruining your hair. Keep reading to know why your hair can split at the ends and what you can do to stop it from happening.

Types Of Split Ends

Split ends are a common hair woe, and understanding the various types can guide effective treatment to prevent and reduce split ends. Let’s check out some:

• Classic Split: In this type, the hair shaft divides into two.
• Fork Split: The hair shaft part ways in three strands.
• Tree Split: Multiple divisions occur at the tip of a hair shaft imitating a tree.
• Feathering Split: This type creates a feathery effect.
• Mini-Knot Split: Tiny knots form at hair tips.
• Single Strand Knot: Solo entanglement, seen in curly hair.

Here you can learn more details on the various types of split ends. But why do split ends occur in the first place? Well, get an insight on the causes in the section below. Check it out!

Causes Of Split Ends

Being aware of the causes of split ends can help you better prevent them.

• Heat: Anecdotal evidence suggests that regular use of heat styling products like blow dryers, straightening irons, and curling irons can damage your hair and cause split ends.

• Physical Damage: In its wet form, your hair might be stretched upto 50% naturally without succumbing to any damage (1). Hair stretched beyond 50% may get damaged. Combing your hair repeatedly and excessively while it is wet can result in split ends (due to the additional stretching that occurs while excessive combing).

• Chemical Damage: Chemical processes like artificial hair coloring, bleaching, and perming can cause your hair to become frayed, leading to split ends (2).

• Nutritional Imbalance: A nutritional imbalance causes hair damage and split ends (3).

Keeping these causes in mind, what can you do to prevent split ends?

5 Ways To Prevent Split Ends

1. Trimming

Trimming your hair

once every 6 to 8 weeks will prevent split ends. Remember that if you wait any longer to get a trim, your hair shaft might split farther and make managing split ends difficult.

2. Oils

Oils fill the gap between overlapping cuticles and keep damaging substances from penetrating your hair. Oils also reduce split ends. They even boost natural hair shine and silkiness. They also keep your hair from getting stretched too much while combing. You can use argan or coconut oils to treat your hair and split ends.

• Coconut Oil: Studies show that coconut oil can reduce any protein loss in damaged and undamaged hair. The oil penetrates the hair shaft and nourishes hair from within (4). This nourishment may also reduce split ends.
• Argan Oil: Anecdotal evidence suggests that argan oil may penetrate the hair shaft and nourish it, reducing split ends.

3. Avoid Over Washing

Hair is vulnerable when wet. Excess shampooing on wet hair can cause split ends. Hence, avoid washing your hair too often. Do not use too much shampoo. Alternatively, you can also use a shampoo with moisturizing and revitalizing properties.

4. Avoid Any Form Of Heat

Keep your hair safe from the heat. Avoid hot showers or other heat styling tools.

• Hot Showers: Hot water, when used on hair, can cause loss of moisture. Wash your hair with lukewarm water (and then with cold water) to keep your hair safe from damage.

• Blow Drying: Using a blow dryer at the end of your hair may cause damage and split ends. Concentrating the blow dryer towards the upper length of your hair and the hair roots can reduce hair damage.

• Heat Styling: Using a heat styling tool on your hair exposes it to a significant amount of heat that might lead to hair damage. Hence, limit the use of heat styling tools. Should you use such a tool, also keep a heat protectant handy.

Quick Tip

Avoid heat styling tools altogether by using heat-free options like fabric rollers and flexi rods for styling your hair.

5. Use A Microfiber Towel

Wet hair is vulnerable and more prone to damage. Rubbing your wet hair after a shower might damage it further and lead to split ends. Hence, blot your hair with the use of a microfiber towel. This type of towel will prevent any hair damage or breakage. A microfiber towel is also convenient to use for drying your hair.

Quick Tip

If you cannot get your hands on a microfiber towel, use an old cotton t-shirt instead. Its soft material is less likely to cause friction and contribute to split ends.

Your hair health is largely determined by the type of food you eat. The right nutrients can make a significant difference.

What Nutrients (Foods) Help Prevent Split Ends?

1. Zinc

Zinc helps with the growth of the hair tissue. Hair loss is a common symptom of zinc deficiency (5). Consuming foods rich in zinc might help reduce hair loss caused by zinc deficiency (6). Anecdotal evidence suggests that zinc deficiency may also cause an itchy scalp and split ends. You can consume eggs, walnuts, and oysters.

2. Protein

Our hair is made from a protein called keratin. A balanced diet rich in protein is great for healthy hair. You may include protein-rich foods in your diet to keep your hair healthy and potentially prevent split ends. These include eggs, wild salmon, and quinoa.

3. Iron

Anecdotal evidence suggests that including iron-rich foods may help reduce split ends too. You may consume spinach, raisins, tomatoes, and parsley.

4. Vitamin E

Vitamin E has antioxidant properties that help keep your scalp and hair healthy (7). It may also prevent hair damage. Including sunflower seeds, olives, and almonds in your diet may help reduce split ends.

5. Biotin

Biotin deficiency may also cause hair loss (8). Anecdotal evidence suggests the nutrient may help reduce split ends. You can consume almonds, chard, and eggs that are rich in biotin.

Do Split Ends Prevent Hair Growth?

No, split ends do not hinder hair growth. However, they can affect hair length. If the ends of your hair break as fast as your hair grows, your hair may not grow in length.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can split ends be saved?

No. Split ends cannot be saved or repaired. The only way to save the rest of your hair is to cut off your split ends.

Why is my hair splitting in the middle?

When hair starts splitting in the middle of the shaft, it is a sign of weak hair. This could be due to overexposure to heat, chemicals, or pollution.

Does brushing wet hair cause split ends?

Yes. Your hair is fragile when it is wet. Trying to brush knots and tangles out from wet hair can turn it frizzy, thus leading to breakage and split ends.

Discover the varying types of split ends and some tips and tricks you can use to prevent them and keep your hair from breaking off. The video below offers practical solutions for daily hair care. Click play to know more!

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Reviewer Author Editor Fact Checker

Tere PruettCT, PBT

 

Tere Pruett is a certified trichologist from the United States Trichology Institute, with 9 years of experience. She also has a graduate education in phlebotomy. She is a master educator for the United States Trichology Institute and began traveling all over the United States teaching and facilitating trichology and hands-on clinical classes.

Read full bio of Tere Pruett

Anjali SayeeAssociate Editor

 

Anjali is an associate editor at StyleCraze. She specializes in hairstyles and hair and skin care and has written over 200 articles in these domains. She has 7 years of experience, and her philosophy about hair and skin care is simple: if you love and care for it, it will be healthy.

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Eshna DasAssociate Editor

Eshna is an associate editor and a certified skin care coach. She has over three years of experience, a triple main bachelor’s degree in psychology, English, and journalism from Mount Carmel College, Bengaluru, and a master’s degree in psychology from Sampurna Montfort College, Bengaluru.

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Swathi ESenior Beauty & Lifestyle Writer

Swathi has a postgraduate degree in English literature from The English And Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad, and over three years of experience in writing on beauty, health, and lifestyle. She also has a diploma in English journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Kottayam, and is a certified skincare coach.

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