Easy Ways to Get Rid of Split Ends

The easiest way to get rid of split ends is to trim your hair.

Anyone who has hair on her head has had split ends. A few split ends are normal, but when you start to have a lot, it greatly diminishes the overall appearance of your mane, making it look frizzy, dry and unhealthy. The only way to get rid of split ends is to trim them, but the best approach is always prevention.

Wash Your Hair Gently

Don't pile your hair on top of your head and rub your hair vigorously while shampooing.

When washing your hair, instead of vigorously rubbing shampoo into your hair, concentrate on gently massaging it into your scalp. Your hair does not require rubbing to become clean, since the suds will wash through your hair from your scalp, gently cleansing your strands while keeping a healthy dose of natural oils in place.

Wash Your Hair Every Two or Three Days

Washing your hair every day can take away oils that your hair needs to stay moisturized.

Washing your hair every day strips away the healthy natural oils that make your hair strong. Try washing your hair once every two or three days, and make sure to use conditioner.

Comb Your Hair Carefully

Always use a wide-tooth comb on wet hair.

It is important to protect your hair from breakage. Avoid combing your hair while it's wet, but if you do comb wet hair, instead of using a brush, which causes a lot of breakage, use a wide-tooth comb and carefully detangle strands. On dry hair, using a wide brush with a pad beneath the bristles is the gentlest approach.

Protect Your Hair From Heat

Curlers like these are safe to use because they naturally curl hair without using heat.

Blow-drying and using other hot styling tools causes your hair to become dry, brittle and prone to breakage. Air-dry your hair and work with its natural texture rather than blow-drying, straightening and curling it with heated styling tools. If you do use a heated styling tool, use it on the lowest setting and apply heat protection spray or serum on your hair before you start to work on it. Sun also damages hair, so wear a hat when you're in the sun for prolonged periods or use a conditioner with SPF.

Avoid Using Chemicals

Chlorine damages hair.

Chemicals dry out and break down hair cuticles, leaving hair vulnerable and damaged. If you do use chemicals to color, perm or relax your hair, wait as long as you can between treatments and use a high-moisture shampoo and conditioner. Wash your hair after swimming in chlorinated pools as well as in the ocean, as chlorine and salt both damage hair.

Trim Split Ends

Use sharp scissors, as dull blades only damage the end of the hair and cause another split.

Sometimes no matter how gently you treat your hair, you still get split ends. The only way to eliminate split ends is by trimming your hair. Trim your hair every six to eight weeks to keep it looking its best. Using sharp shears, trim at least a quarter of an inch above the split to avoid its reappearance. Hair care expert LindaMarie Stella suggests a way to deal with stray split ends between trimmings: Twist small sections of your hair tightly, and the split ends will pop out. Then you can cut them off with sharp scissors.

References

• Seventeen; Split Ends; Audrey Fine
• Hair Care Tips: How to Get Rid of Split Ends?