WHAT CAUSES SPLIT ENDS AND HOW TO AVOID THEM
Split ends are exactly what they sound like... when one single strand of the hair shaft splits in half and begins to break off. They're not as scary as they sound because no matter how healthy your hair is you can still get them!
They are a natural process of the hair growth cycle. We know everyone hates to hear it but there are certain factors that speed up the split-end process and we have everything you need to know below. Basically, anything that can damage the outmost layer of the hair shaft, the cuticle, can cause split ends. They can develop from any of the following:
Thermal Damage
Chemical Damage
Physical Damage
UV Damage
3 WAYS TO AVOID SPLIT ENDS
AVOID EXCESS HEAT
Thermal heat as we all know is very taxing on the hair. A few tips to avoiding excess heat starts with lowering the heat setting on your hot tools. It isn’t necessary to have your curling iron and straighteners on the max heat setting. Also, when it comes to blow-drying your ends, avoid going over the ends of your hair multiple times. The ends of your hair are the most fragile and do not need any more damage done to them. If you do have to blow dry, try to wait till your hair is about 80% dry to cut down on heat time.
STAY HYDRATED
Hydration is key to avoiding split ends or any damage for that matter. When your hair is dry it’s more common for split ends to occur as the hair cuticle is open and very weak. Healthy hydrated hair preserves and protects the cuticle layer and will not allow ends to split. Get in the habit of using a leave-in conditioner or adding a hair serum into your everyday hair care routine to ensure your locks are never left parched.
BE GENTLE
Be kind when brushing, detangling, styling and touching your hair. Our everyday routines become second nature and we may not realize how rough we are actually being on our hair. Our hair is most susceptible to damage when it is wet, this is why choosing the right brush is imperative. A wet hair brush for in the shower and a gentle brush to carefully detangle when out of the shower will help you get the job done while being gentle. Lastly, avoid towel drying your hair and opt for a microfibre towel as they are more gentle on the hair.
Thankfully we have the wet hair brush, wooden paddle brush, wooden denman brush and micro-fiber towel to help with all of this!