This Is the Only Way to Get Rid of Split Ends Once They’ve Hit
Not only can you see split ends when you have them, you can feel them. Running your fingers through your hair might start out nice, but once you hit the ends, you’ll notice dryness, breakage, and an overall unevenness that makes you want to dunk your strands in a vat of conditioner for immediate repair. But when it comes to split ends, a fix isn’t quite that easy. Hairstylist Sam LaBella breaks down exactly how to get split ends, and what types of products you can use at home to keep unruly strands as healthy as possible.
About the Expert:
Sam LaBella is a hairstylist and Aloxxi stylist and educator based in Denver.
The Split Ender Pro is an at-home tool that clips split ends without the guesswork. See what happened when we put it to the test here.
What Are Split Ends?
If you’ve ever noticed split ends, you know that you can actually see this damage with the human eye, unlike deeper follicle hair damage. The hair will quite literally be split in two strands starting at the ends of the hair.
“Split ends are the fraying or tearing at hair fiber,” says LaBelle. “Usually this happens at the ends but hair can fray throughout the mid lengths as well,” she adds.
What Causes Split Ends?
Unfortunately, there are many causes of split ends, so it might be difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of yours. Here are the main reasons someone could find themselves with split ends, according to LaBelle.
Chemical Distress
If you’re constantly coloring or chemically treating your hair, it will become weaker over time, so it’s important to get regular trims and to regularly condition it.
Physical Distress
Heat styling is one of the biggest culprits of split ends. Make sure to never touch a blow dryer or heated styling tool to your hair unless you protect it first with a heat protectant spray, like OUAI’s Heat Protectant Spray that shields temperature up to 450 degrees.
Environmental Changes
Your hair, just like your skin, can suffer from UV damage, so if you’re spending a lot of time in the sun, make sure to protect strands (and your scalp!) with UV-blocking hair cream, like the KERASTASE Soleil Creme UV Sublime. It’s formulated with a UV filter that absorbs UV rays before they can damage your hair.
How to Get Rid of Split Ends
1. Get a Trim.
According to LaBella, “the only sure fire way to get rid of split ends is to visit your hairstylist for a trim.” Contrary to popular belief, there’s no amount of conditioning or product application that will repair a hair follicle once it’s been split. You should aim to get a trim at least every two months. If your hair is extremely damaged, talk to your stylist about more frequent trims and what they’d recommend.
2. Conceal Split Ends.
Although you can’t repair an already split follicle, “you can, however, conceal split ends,” says LaBella. Picking up products that are high in essential fatty acids and proteins can help “re-stick” split ends together for a temporary fix so hair appears healthier, stronger, and more conditioned. “One of my favorite products is ALOXXI’s Split Ends Mend,” says LaBelle.
If you prefer a spray formula, SEBASTIAN PROFESSIONAL’s No Breaker spray is an easy way to repair damage on wet strands before blow drying. It’s formulated with apple acid and styling polymers that helps condition hair without sacrificing volume. Plus, it smells fabulous.
3. Switch Your Shampoo.
Make sure to reach for a sulfate-free shampoo, like BRIOGEO’s Don’t Despair, Repair! Shampoo. Shampoos with sulfates may over-cleanse hair, making it weaker.
4. Switch Your Conditioner.
Use a detangling conditioner to ensure you’re not causing more breakage in the shower by snapping weak hair as you wash and condition it. We love REDKEN’s Diamond Oil Glow Dry Detangling Conditioner that actually helps reduce dry time post-shower.
5. Sleep with a Silk Pillowcase.
Breakage can happen as you sleep, so make sure not to sleep in a harsh hairstyle (like bun or ponytail) and consider sleeping on a silk pillowcase to reduce friction, and therefore breakage, as you sleep. The SLIP silk pillowcase is made from pure mulberry silk and is machine washable in the gentle cycle.
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