How to Get Rid of Split Ends

By eHow Fashion, Style & Personal Care Editor

Rate: (36 Ratings)

When hair becomes dry or damaged, the hair shaft splits at the end. Here's how you can keep those unsightly splits from spoiling the looks of your locks.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Step1
Keep brushing to a minimum since it promotes breakage. Brushing wet hair is a definite no-no; use a wide-toothed comb when hair is wet.
Step2
Strive for low-maintenance hair. Hair dryers, curling irons, perms and hair colors all damage hair. If you must blow-dry, use a cool setting and keep the dryer 6 inches (15 cm) from your hair.
Step3
Protect your hair from extreme weather. Wear a hat on sunny days and keep hair well moisturized in the dry winter months.
Step4
Apply a leave-in conditioner or pomade to the ends of your hair daily to keep them strong.
Step5
Snip away any split ends you spot. Cut at least 1 inch (2.5 cm) above the split. A split end will split the hair all the way up to the scalp, so snip it as soon as you spot it.
Step6
Schedule a trim with your hairstylist if you start seeing a lot of split ends.

Tips & Warnings

  • Ask your stylist to recommend thermal protection products.
  • Be wary of promises from the makers of products for split ends. These bind the hair shaft temporarily. The only real cure is a haircut.

Comments

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on 6/16/2007 Hello, well I got the same advice from a product that I have been using for about 3 years. The reason why my hair is not longer right now is because they cut it all off when I joined the military and by being out to sea for months at a time and using hard water to wash my hair, my hair is just now starting to get back where I want it. I have been reading other peoples comments of clipping ends, some of them say things like,(what are you clipping you hair for, it grows from the roots not from the edges) which is true, but it still needs to be healthy at the edges as well as the roots. By having split ends constantly means that your hair at the edges will come out everytime you comb it. I change the brush that I used to use. I used a brush that has lots of bristles, not good at all, the less bristles the less hair loss. Some people worry that the brush is too soft. A soft moisturizer helps

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on 5/8/2007 I swear this really works! Put a little coconut oil in your hair! I started doing this over ten years ago, so I've tried a lot of different kinds of coconut oil..the very bestest so far is organic expeller pressed coconut oil. I prefer the refined kind, because it doesn't smell like coconut. And it never goes stale like some other kinds. It is solid when it's cold, but liquid at body temperature. It feels all buttery and lovely..I use very little, just enough to get my hands oily, and then I sort of comb my hair with my hands until my hands are dryish (and soft!) and my hair shiny..then I comb it and leave it in overnight and wash it out in the morning.
This will not unsplit your ends, but you WILL NOT HAVE ANY MORE NEW ONES. I used to have A LOT of split ends, but if you can find a single one in my hair now I'll give you ten $. And it's nice on your skin, too.

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on 3/29/2006 As soon as you see split ens, cut them off.

Take the portion of your hair that has split ends. Twist it (like a wringing motion). Cut/trim the hairs that stick out of the chunk of twisted hair. Be careful, you don't want to cut a chunk of your hair off.

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on 11/22/2005 All means of binding the hair (elastics, clips, even braids) will stress the hair and can lead to spit ends. Use care when unbinding the hair, including the removal of rollers.

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on 11/22/2005 One thing many people do for keeping hair healthy is get a deep conditioning treatment in a salon. Although there is no cure to reverse split ends, a deep condition can help prevent some by keeping your hair moisturized good.

Salons apply a deep conditioner, wrap your hair in a plastic like material, and then set you under a low heat dryer. To save money and time at a salon, you can do this at home once a week (or twice a week if your hair is chemically challenged from perms and bleach). After washing your hair (the hot water and steam open the hair follicle) apply a deep conditioner to your hair - Aussie 3 Minute Miracle, Loreal Intensive treatment) Place a shower cap over your hair and step out of the shower, leave on for 15-30 minutes. For extra treatment, dampen a towel, put it in the microwave for 15 seconds (to warm it) and wrap around your head over the shower cap (This will create more heat similar to the dryer in the salon and trap it in the shower cap).

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eHow Article:  How to Get Rid of Split Ends

eHow Fashion, Style & Personal Care Editor

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