Googling “why do I have split ends?” You’re not alone.
Googling “why do I have split ends?” You’re not alone. Many people ask the same question, and then wonder how to get rid of split ends.
You probably have a general idea of what splits ends are — as the name suggests, they occur when hair splits or frays at the end. But, you may not know why split ends happen or how to prevent them.
Here we’ll cover everything you need to know about damaged hair ends, including (most importantly), how to prevent them.
Split ends ("trichoptilosis” if you prefer the medical term) occur when the ends of hair strands fray or split into two or more parts. This causes individual strands of hair to appear like an upside-down Y. However, they can also split in more than two pieces, resembling a frayed knot or a jagged, feathered edge of the hair.
The hair cuticle is the outermost layer of the hair, and its job is to protect the inner hair from damage. However, when the hair cuticle becomes damaged and weak, often due to factors like excessive heat styling, chemical treatments like perming or hair relaxers, harsh hair care products (like those containing sulfates), environmental stressors such as UV exposure, or physical manipulation (like brushing wet hair roughly), it can result in split ends.
You may think of split ends as the plight of a bored teenage girl examining the ends of her hair. But split ends affect anyone, including men with short hair.
Anyone can get split ends, but research shows people of African descent may have a higher risk due to the oval shape of the hair shaft, the part of the hair that’s visible. Dry hair (which is often curly or coarse, because it’s harder for natural oils to travel to its ends) is also prone to split ends. Hair that is bleached, dyed, or otherwise chemically treated is also prone to split ends, as these chemical processes weaken hair.
The good news is that split ends can usually be prevented with a little TLC. Here’s how.
Use a Heat Protectant
A common cause of split ends is heat styling with a blow dryer, curling iron, or straightener. If you’re not willing to ditch styling tools altogether, a heat protectant spray or serum can help reduce damage. These products are applied to damp hair and create a protective layer that slows down heat conduction, which means less heat damage to your hair.
Use Hair Dryers On a Low-Setting
Instead of blasting your hair with heat (we get it; it gets the job done faster), use your tools on a lower setting and keep the blow dryer at least six inches away from the hair. Older research has found that repeated cycles of wetting and blow-drying hair can lead to cracks in the hair’s outer cuticle.
To learn more about this, check out our guide to blow-drying and hair loss.
Get Regular Trims
If you’re wondering why you keep getting split ends, you’re probably need trimming your hair enough. One of the most effective ways to prevent split ends is to snip them off. Getting a trim every six to eight weeks is generally a good idea, but that may not be doable for some people (haircuts are time-consuming and expensive). If that’s too often for you, consider booking a trim at the first sign of split ends or having a friend trim your hair.
Avoid Hair Elastics With Metal
If you have longer hair, chances are you have an elastic around your wrist at all times. Some hair elastics have a metal clasp, which can snag and break hair. Instead, opt for a clasp-free elastic, ideally made of softer nylon material.
Detangle Gently
Being too rough with brushing can damage hair and cause split ends. Instead, brush gently, starting at the bottom of your strands and working your way up.
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends not brushing wet hair, as wet hair is more prone to overstretching, damage, and breakage. If you do have to brush your hair when it’s wet, it’s best to use a comb that tends to tug less.
Use Conditioner
Many men skip this step, but using conditioner is an easy way to help prevent split ends for men. Conditioner adds moisture to hair and makes it more manageable. Some research shows that it can also help repair hair after physical trauma induced by hair drying, brushing, and styling
Try a Hair Mask
A hair mask is a deep conditioner that you leave on for a prolonged period of time before rinsing. A hair mask helps to replenish moisture in the hair, and hydrated hair is less likely to break or split. If it helps to visualize a more extreme version of this, think about the difference between trying to snap a strand of uncooked (dry) spaghetti versus a strand of cooked (hydrated) spaghetti.
Apply about a quarter size to the ends of your hair
Sleep On a Silk Pillowcase
Is it kind of bougie? Yes. Can it help protect men’s hair from split ends? Also yes. Using a silk pillowcase reduces friction, which can help reduce split ends, breakage, and frizzy hair.
Dry Your Hair With a Microfiber Towel
Regular towels can be rough on hair. Not only are microfiber towels actually more efficient at drying, they’re softer and more gentle on hair because they reduce friction, which can help prevent split ends.
Consider a Haircut With Hot Scissors
Also called a thermo-cut, a haircut done with hot scissors can act as a repairing treatment for hair (and it doesn’t hurt at all). It may seem counterintuitive to allow something over three hundred degrees to touch your hair after all the time we’ve spent discussing avoiding heat styling, but hot scissors can seal the ends of hair to lock in moisture.
Wondering how to prevent split ends? The not-so-good news is that once a hair is split, it’s split permanently. You can think of split ends like a ripped piece of paper — there are things you can do to make the split less noticeable, but you can’t put it back together.
As we mentioned, getting regular trims is a good way to “fix” split ends in that it removes them. If you don’t want to lose length, you can seal your ends with a bit of oil (argan oil is a good, lightweight choice). This isn’t a permanent fix, but i helps to make split ends temporarily less noticeable.
Split ends may not seem like a big deal, but over time, untreated split ends can cause breakage that things out hair and may slow hair growth due to continual breakage. Here are a few things to remember about how to repair split ends
Split ends happen when hair gets dry or damaged and frays at the end, often from too much heat styling or rough handling.
You can avoid split ends by being gentle with your hair, using heat protectants, and getting regular trims.
While you can’t undo split ends once they happen, tricks like using oils or trying a hair mask can help your hair look healthier.
If you’re concerned about hair damage or hair breakage or you can’t seem to get your split ends under control, speak to your hair stylist about what hair treatments they recommend for healthy hair.
To learn more about men’s hair care, check out our guides to how to repair damaged hair follicles and how to fix dry hair in men.
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