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Spa Girl Beauty Tips

Beauty & health tips and techniques from Spa Boutique’s gals!

How to Prevent and Protect Your Hair From Split Ends

A split end is when the hair-shaft splits or flays due to excessive heat and misuse. They happen when the protective cuticle has been stripped away from the ends of hair fibers. Split ends are more likely to develop in dry or brittle hair. Typically the hair splits into two or three strands, and can be as long or two to three centimeters in length. There is no way to repair split ends; when they occur, the hair must be trimmed.

Did you know that splitting of hairs at the ends” is also known as “Trichoptilosis”? It comes from the Greek root “tricho” meaning hair and “ptilosis” meaning “falling out of the eyelashes.”
Typical causes of damage include:
  • Vigorous brushing.
  • Excessive usage of hot styling tools and drying (irons, blow dryers, hot rollers).
  • Overuse of chemical treatments (perms, hair color and highlighting).
  • Use of inferior styling tools that rip or snag hair (cheap synthetic brushes or combs, brush rollers, etc.,).
  • Environmental damage from heat, cold, wind and other climate issues.
  • Lack of routine maintenance such as regular trimming.
  • Trimming with inferior scissors.
  • Improper de-tangling techniques.
  • Excessive use of low quality styling products such as gels, waxes and sprays.
  • Over washing.

What Split Ends Can Look Like:

a. Start out to look like this – the classic split end.
b. If the classic split (a) is not stopped it continues to split along the shaft
c. Multiple Splits – worse case when classic (a) and (b) is not stopped
d. The Dot looks like a piece of fluff, but doesn’t brush off
e. The Dot bends at a straight angle. This is not really a split thought, it is Trichorrexis Nodosa and is actually caused by an explosion of the cortex (2nd layer) of the hair in a single spot.
f. The hole is the most difficult split end to find. The hair shaft has developed a split in the middle. To find this one, look for a small section that is lighter.
g. When you take the hole split strand and push them together, it pushes the split apart and creates and hole.

Avoiding Split Ends – 11 Tips and Techniques:

  1. Get your hair cut or trimmed regularly – (at least every 6 weeks). Not trimming your hair regularly is possibly the main cause of split ends. Prevention is better than a cure! The solution to split ends is to act quickly: don’t skip the trip to the salon. After each visit I personally set up a reminder in Outlook in 5 weeks to remind myself to make an appointment the following week.
  2. Use professional hair care products that are designed to seal the splits temporarily in order to catch any splits that are shorter than the length you want to cut your hair to and to allow your hair to grow a little longer before you trim. I recommend Keune Blend Shine Capsules.
  3. Deep condition your hair every week, if possible and especially if your hair is prone to splitting, chemically treated or treated by ceramic straighteners. Conditioning is mandatory every time you have a chemical. I recommend Keune’s Revive or Keune’s So Pure Restoring Line.
  4. Do shampoo your hair after a workout or strenuous exercise. The salt from perspiration will erode your hair. If you work out a few times per week, consult your stylist for your particular needs.
  5. Protect your hair from extreme weather. Wear a hat on sunny days and keep hair well moisturized in the dry winter months.
  6. Try to avoid using heated hair appliances as much as possible! If you are using them anyway, make sure to protect your precious locks with a protective product.
  7. Towel drying is not good if you want to avoid splitting hair. You should blot your hair and then carefully comb it through with a wide toothed comb.
  8. Avoid too much brushing and combing. Brushing hair when it is still wet is one of the most important causes for split ends because wet hair stretches by as much as 25%. Never hesitate to Invest in quality combs and real bristle brushes. When hair is wet try to use a wide-toothed comb.
  9. Don’t ever attempt to give yourself the eighties look; exaggerated backcombing will definitely give you split ends!
  10. Elastic bands and all sorts of other hair accessories can damage your hair. Avoid using uncovered elastic bands since these often pull out hair when being removed. Other accessories will damage or weaken the ends of the hair.
  11. DIY (do-it-yourself) hair trims. If in doubt – leave it to a professional. Take small sections of hair and carefully twist them in a gentle downward motion. Any split ends will automatically stick out. Snip away any split ends you spot with sharp scissors. Don’t cut right through; 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.


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8 Responses to “How to Prevent and Protect Your Hair From Split Ends”

  1. morison dony
    9:59 am on February 18th, 2009

    I found your blog on google and read a few of your other posts. I just added you to my Google News Reader. Keep up the good work. Look forward to reading more from you in the future.

  2. Hydroxatone
    8:16 am on April 14th, 2009

    Very nice blog, I agree with most of what you are saying here…

  3. Raven
    10:24 pm on November 11th, 2009

    i have so many split ends and i had just gotten my hair cut yesterday, the stylist said that he had gotten most of the split ends off and told me if i straighten my hair to do max twice a week how could i fix my hair without it being expensive

  4. sheena
    5:56 pm on November 12th, 2009

    Split ends can’t really ever be mended, they can only be prevented. I would do what your stylist said as he actually sees your hair. Heat styling creates damage. Also brushing your hair while wet. Use hydrating hair care and be as gentle as possible. Products will only smooth hair, but not fix the problem.

  5. Brynn
    12:02 am on November 30th, 2009

    I got my hair cut last weekend and my stylist trimmed about 2 inches off. But I still have split ends of all kinds! What is the deal?
    Also, is it bad to break off the ends of your hair that are split?
    What is a brand of a quality hairbrush that is not too expensive?

  6. sheena
    3:49 pm on December 3rd, 2009

    If you’re still experiencing split ends it could mean the stylist didn’t get them all. You don’t want to break hair off, it should always be trimmed or cut. Unfortunately I only know info about the brush brands we carry, but you coul dask your stylist for suggestions on less expensive options. I hope this helped!

  7. carly
    11:38 pm on December 28th, 2009

    my hair is curly/wavy,
    i used to straighten it every day since the 7th grade.(SPLIT ENDS EVERYWHERE!)
    i am now in 9th grade, and i havnt straightend my hair since halloween. i’ve been using a conditioner that realy hydrates my hair, and i have been finding less and less split ends.
    i also found that i like my hair natural better, if any one straightens their hair everyday, you should realy consider stopping, at least for a couple of months to make your hair alive again! xoxoxo, carly,
    btw add me on myspace ^.^ myspace.com/thatonkidcarly :]

  8. Abby
    7:23 pm on March 9th, 2010

    You forgot one example of split ends in the examples picture. it looks like this: ______/_________

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