How to Repair Split Ends

Everyone wants healthy, shiny, smooth hair--too bad it takes about a million products and tools to get it to look that way. Hair dryers, straighteners and curling irons are handy items, but the heat they produce can be quite damaging to your hair. The damage is most commonly seen as split ends--those pesky hairs that stick out and look awful. Although it is rather difficult to repair split ends, there are some tricks you can learn to help you through the rough patches.

Things You'll Need

• Moisturizing shampoo and conditioner
• Leave-in conditioner
• Sharp pair of scissors
• Hairspray
• Wide-tooth comb
• Round brush
• Ionic blow dryer
• Ceramic hair straightener

Instructions

1. Wash you hair in warm water--not hot--with a moisturizing shampoo. Then apply a conditioner and leave it in wet hair for up to five minutes. Rinse the conditioner out with cooler water--this helps seal the hair shaft and can prevent split ends. When you get out of the shower, pat your hair dry with a towel gently. Do not rub the towel on your hair or squeeze hair dry. Taking precautionary steps before you have split ends can help prevent them.

2. Comb your hair with a wide-tooth comb. Never brush wet hair with a regular hair brush. Apply a heat protective serum or leave-in conditioner. Then you can begin to dry your hair. Use an ionic blow dryer and a round brush to make your hair look as smooth as possible. After your hair is dry, apply another protective serum before you use a straightener or curling iron.

3. Snip split ends with a very sharp pair of scissors if preventative methods haven't worked. At this stage in the game, you're best bet is to try to clean up the split ends as best you can. Once the damage of split ends has been done, there's no going back. Take a section of hair and face a mirror. Twist the hair and snip off ends that stick out. Don't cut too much off.

4. Visit a professional hair stylist if you're not comfortable cutting your own hair. The stylist can offer tips and tricks for prevention and treatment of split ends. The stylist can also give your a hair cut that eliminates the split ends you do have, because it might take a major makeover.