What Are And What Causes Split Ends?
Even the most diligent of haircare routines can let pesky split ends slip through the net. Split ends occur when the hair shaft experiences fraying or splitting, usually concentrated at the end of the strand. If left untreated, split ends may travel further up the hair shaft and even up to the root, resulting in unhealthy and irreversible breakage.
If you are looking to improve or maintain the health of your hair, keep reading for our tips and tricks on how to fix split ends. We’ll touch on the causes and best methods for split end treatment and prevention to help you tame your fraying mane.
What Are Split Ends, And How Can I Fix Them?
Although split ends can develop rapidly from extreme damage caused by harsh chemical relaxers or bleach, they most commonly appear over time due to multiple damaging factors. For example, daily heat styling, environmental influences, brushing and different sources of friction like hair ties and accessories.
Hair close to the root is where the newest and healthiest growth occurs, whereas the ends are the oldest part of your hair. Since the ends have been around for longer, they have been exposed to more damage than the roots making them prone to split. White dots at the ends of your hair are an early indication of split ends. Over time, these can progress into one or multiple splits in the hair shaft and, in serious cases, break off completely.
The most effective way to fix split ends is, of course, to regularly trim your hair. This may seem counterintuitive if your end goal is long and luscious hair, but regular trims every 6-8 weeks can remove existing, or potential split ends before they have a chance to travel up the hair. Committing to regular trims will improve the overall health of your hair, reducing the need for more drastic cuts in length to get rid of severe problem areas.
How Do I Fix and Prevent Split Ends From Returning?
Once you’ve trimmed away any split ends, there are also steps you can take to prevent their return. Embracing your natural hair colour and type is a must. Limiting the use of heat styling and harsh hair dyes will prevent your hair from frequently drying out of its natural moisture. Try air drying your hair where possible and experimenting with no-heat curling or waving methods to mix up your look, and we promise you’ll notice a difference!
If heat styling is a must in your routine, be sure to apply a heat-protective spray and concentrate it on the ends of your hair to fight against any future split ends.
Another top tip is to avoid harsh brushing or backcombing, swap out your hairbrush for a wide-tooth comb and use this on wet hair to distribute your conditioner evenly. This will help to remove any tangles gently.
When wet, your hair is at its most vulnerable state, so avoid wrapping it tightly in a standard towel. Most towels have dense cotton loops which may catch on your hair when it is wet and prone to breakage. Instead, opt for a microfiber towel, as, unlike cotton, they are designed to be incredibly absorbent for faster drying and are woven with extremely small and soft fibres that do not catch or snag on the hair.
Between regular trims, intensive haircare treatments effectively prevent split ends from resurfacing, working to rehydrate and rejuvenate the hair. Specialist haircare products like those from the Kérastase restorative line are formulated to target and repair damaged areas of the hair, helping to seal split ends and reduce future strain. Intensive treatments of this type aim to rebuild the weakened internal structure of chemically treated or over-stressed hair, using restorative formulas that strengthen and repair hair fibres.
How Can We Help?
Split ends are your hairs way of telling you that it’s damaged and in need of some TLC, and at Belle Amour, we can provide just that! Our specialist hairstylists are experienced in Olaplex treatments, using the latest techniques to rebuild, repair and restore your splitting hair. If you have any questions get in touch with us today!
The Olpalex system includes a range of products, some are salon strength and can only be used by our expert team, whilst others can be bought and used at home as part of your hair care routine. If you are concerned about the current health of your hair or how to fix split ends, visit us at our Bagshot Salon. Belle Amour is easily accessible to those in Ascot, Camberley, Chobham or the surrounding Surrey areas. Our hair specialists can assess the condition of your hair, providing honest and expert guidance for the most suitable cuts and treatments to help you fix and prevent split ends.
