Having healthy hair is something that many people strive for, but split ends can be a frustrating issue to deal with.
While there are some things that can cause split ends that are out of your control, there are also several things you can do to help avoid them.
Let’s go over some proper hair care routines to follow, as well as home remedies for split ends.
Proper Hair Care Routines to Follow
Washing Your Hair
How often you wash your hair depends on your hair type. If you have oily hair, you may need to wash it every day. If you have dry hair, you may only need to wash it every few days.
When you do wash your hair, use a shampoo and conditioner with a mild formula, that won’t strip the natural oils from your hair.
Be sure to rinse all the shampoo out of your hair so that it doesn’t weigh down your strands or leave behind residue that can lead to split ends.
Brushing Your Hair
Brushing your hair is important for distributing the natural oils from your scalp down the length of your strands.
But be careful not to brush too vigorously, as this can cause hair breakage and split ends, in the long run affecting your hair growth too.
Use a wide-tooth comb to gently detangle wet hair, starting at the bottom and working your way up.
When brushing dry hair, use a boar bristle brush, which will help reduce static and distribute the natural oils from your scalp down the length of your strands.
Protecting Your Hair
If you’re going to be spending time in the sun, be sure to protect your hair with a hat or scarf.
The sun can damage your hair, making it more susceptible to split ends and other hair damage problems.
If you’re going to be swimming in chlorinated water, be sure to wet your hair beforehand and wear a swim cap while swimming.
Chlorine can also damage your hair and make it more likely to develop split ends.
After exposing your hair to chlorine, use a gentle shampoo to cleanse the hair, and follow up with a microfiber towel to soak up excess water from your damp hair, whilst being gentle enough for daily use.
What Exactly Are Split Ends?
Most people have experienced split ends at some point in their lives. While split ends are often thought of as a cosmetic issue, they can actually cause serious damage to your hair.
Split ends occur when the protective outer layer of the hair shaft is stripped away, exposing the inner cortex.
This can happen due to excessive heat styling, chemical processing, or simply due to dryness and lack of moisture. Once the cortex is exposed, the hair becomes susceptible to breakage.
Split ends can prevent new growth from occurring, resulting in thinning hair. While there are a variety of products on the market that claim to repair split ends, the best way to prevent them is to practice good hair care habits.
What Causes Split Ends?
Heat damage
Using heat styling tools on a daily basis can cause split ends. The best way to avoid heat damage is to try, whenever possible, to let your hair air dry, and to use the lowest setting on your hair dryer, curling iron, or straightener.
When you do use heat styling tools, be sure to use a heat protectant spray or cream before using any hot tools, as hot tools can be super damaging.
Instead, try to let your hair dry naturally, to reduce the use of your hairdryer harming your hair cuticle.
Lack of moisture
If your hair is lacking moisture, it can become dry and brittle, leading to split ends.
To prevent this, make sure to use a deep conditioning hair mask treatment, or deep conditioning treatment at least once a week. You can also try using a leave-in conditioner or an oil treatment to keep your hair hydrated.
Over-styling
Styling your hair too often can also lead to split ends. If you’re constantly putting your hair up in tight ponytails or styles, it can put strain on your strands and cause them to break off.
Try giving your hair a break from time to time by wearing it down or in loose styles.
Using flat irons or curling wands will lead to noticeable damage with over-styling to the hair strands.
Poor diet
Eating a healthy diet is important for keeping your whole body healthy, including your hair.
If you’re not getting enough vitamins and nutrients, it can show in the form of dryness, brittleness, and split ends.
Make sure you’re eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats to give your hair the nourishment it needs.
What Are The Best Split Ends Home Remedies?
Apple cider vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is a great home remedy for split ends. It helps to seal the cuticle of the hair, which prevents moisture from escaping and causing the hair to become dry and brittle.
If you’d like to use apple cider vinegar on your hair, simply add 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar to a cup of water and mix well.
Apply the mixture to your hair, focusing on the ends, and leave it on for about 15 minutes before rinsing it out.
Coconut oil
Coconut oil is another great home remedy for split ends. Helping to moisturize and protect the hair, preventing it from becoming dry and brittle.
To use coconut oil on your hair, simply apply it to your hair, focusing on the ends, and leave it on for about 30 minutes before shampooing it out.
Aloe vera
Aloe vera is a natural conditioner that can help to repair damaged hair. It also has anti-inflammatory properties that can help to soothe the scalp and prevent dandruff.
To use aloe vera on your hair, simply apply it to your hair after shampooing and leave it on for about 15 minutes before rinsing it out.
Summary
If you want to keep your hair healthy and avoid split ends, then you need to follow some basic hair care routines and be mindful of the causes of split ends.
Heat damage, lack of moisture, over-styling, and poor diet can all lead to split ends of the hair shaft.
Overuse of chemical treatments can also lead to more split ends, affecting your overall hair health.
There are some simple home remedies that can help prevent or repair split ends, such as apple cider vinegar, coconut oil, and aloe vera.
Hopefully, if you follow any of these tips, they’ll allow you to keep your hair as healthy as possible, and prevent split ends from happening.
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Hi, my name is Gemma, and I’m the owner of MakeupMuddle.com. I’m a true beauty obsessive, and love writing about anything to do with beauty. In addition to Makeup Muddle, I also own GemmaEtc.com, and love sharing my thoughts and feelings about the greatest (and not so great) beauty products!