Your hair isn’t critical to your overall health, and some people shave their heads or lose their hair and still live healthy lives. However, many of us adore our strands and want to do what we can to keep them looking great.
When split ends appear, you may notice that your hair has become dull and unhealthy. In this article, we’ll tell you what causes split ends and share solutions to help you fix them for optimal hair health.
What Are Split Ends?
Each strand of your hair is solid from the root to the tip, and just as the name suggests, split ends [1] occur when the strand begins to divide at the bottom. The split usually begins small but over time it can move upward, becoming more visible and making your hair feel brittle.
What Causes Split Ends?
Knowing what causes split ends can help you assess your own risk and ensure that you implement the right precautionary steps to prevent it from happening. Let’s take a closer look at the most common reasons you may develop split ends:
- Frequent use of heating tools like hairdryers and curling irons
- Using chemicals to bleach, color, or treat your hair
- Sleeping with wet hair
- Brushing your hair roughly
- Washing your hair too frequently
- Not using targeted products to improve moisture retention in dry hair
What Do Split Ends Look Like?
You may have this issue without realizing it, which is why it’s important to know what causes split ends and what they look like. One point to keep in mind is that there are different kinds of split ends [2], so let’s take a look at a few of the most common types.
- Double Split: This is a prevalent type, and it occurs when the end of your hair strand starts to split into two parts.
- Partial Split: Also called an incomplete split, this happens when a split begins, but not at the very end of the strand. Instead, it forms a bubble above the end and doesn’t cause the strand to divide into two separate parts.
- Tree Split: This describes when several branches split from the main strand.
- Fork Split: A fork split is a hair strand that has split into 3 separate parts.
Split Ends vs. Healthy Ends
The best way to check if you have split ends is to stand in front of the mirror and look at the tips of your hair strands. It can be difficult to identify them by appearance alone, so feel the hair texture at the same time.
Split ends tend to feel frizzy and dry, and you can sometimes see that the bottom of the strands are not healthy. You’ll also often have healthy strands, so compare them to the dry hair to determine where you have split ends.
How to Prevent Split Ends
When you know how to avoid split ends, you can prevent them from affecting your appearance. There are several effective preventative strategies, so let’s take a closer look at some of them:
Avoid washing your hair daily: It might be tempting to wash your hair every day, but in fact, it can be damaging. Daily washing could even contribute to problems like hair loss in women as it strips the natural oils produced by the glands in your scalp, making your hair dry and brittle.
Change how you brush your hair: If you’re used to being a little rough with your hair when brushing, this is a habit you should stop. If you want to know what causes split ends, the way you brush your hair is a key factor to consider.
Avoid scrubbing shampoo into your hair: When you wash your hair, gently massage the shampoo into your scalp instead of scrubbing with your fingertips.
Make sure to condition your ends first: Use conditioner often and start at the tips of the hair strands. This ensures that you get enough on the ends to keep them healthy.
Don’t use heat to dry the ends of your hair: It’s fine to use a hairdryer on a relatively low setting, but let the ends of your hair dry on their own.
Get your hair trimmed regularly: Go to the hairdresser often to get the tips of your hair strands trimmed, removing any split ends.
In addition to these tips consider taking a product like Nufolix hair growth supplement, as it contains ingredients that promote overall hair health.
Do Split Ends Prevent Hair Growth?
When comparing split ends vs healthy hair, you might wonder which grows the fastest. Healthy hair does have an advantage, but that doesn’t mean split ends stunt hair growth. Hair grows from the follicles [3], and they’re located on your scalp. Split ends affect the ends of your hair, meaning the oldest part of the strand.
Are Split Ends Bad?
Split ends aren’t necessarily bad, and they don’t indicate a disease or condition. However, if you have asked yourself, “Why is my hair breaking?” you may have a different issue due to underlying factors. It’s important to distinguish whether you have split ends or hair breakage.
How to Get Rid of Split Ends
Prevention is the key when it comes to this issue. However, sometimes despite your efforts they appear, and at that point, you need to know how to get rid of split ends.
One of the best methods is to get a regular trim, and it doesn’t have to be a lot of hair. Ask your hairdresser to look at the split ends hair, and to trim slightly above that point. This promotes healthy hair that is easier to care for and helps prevent future issues.
FAQs
Are split ends normal for natural hair?
Split ends are typical for natural hair, and remember that they happen in the oldest strands. However, that doesn’t mean you should ignore them as they can develop and worsen, affecting more of your hair.
Do split ends mean dry hair?
Split ends can mean dry hair, but sometimes, you can have oily hair and still experience split ends. However, if your hair is dry, it can increase your chances of developing split ends.
Do split ends affect hair growth?
No, split ends do not affect hair growth because they happen in the oldest part of the strand, not at the hair follicle where new hair grows.
Why do I often get split ends?
If you often get split ends, you may have dry hair, but there are other possible factors. Examples include using heat tools frequently on your hair or rubbing too vigorously when you apply shampoo.
The Takeaway
When you have a lot of split ends, it can impact your hair’s overall appearance. Fortunately, there are several things you can do to get rid of them, but you first have to understand what causes split ends and how they impact the health of your hair. Addressing the root causes can help prevent split ends and improve your appearance.
References
1] ↑https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4387693/
2] ↑https://www.ogleschool.edu/blog/split-ends-telling/
3] ↑https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK546248/
Amr
Amr Adel Helmy is a 29-year-old pharmacist who has established himself as an experienced medical content writer. He holds a bachelor's degree in pharmacy from the esteemed Faculty of Pharmacy at Alexandria University. Amr's passion for writing stemmed from his interest in healthcare, and he combined his knowledge of the medical field with his creative flair to become a proficient content writer. Throughout his career, Amr has worked on various projects, including medical articles, research papers, and informative blog posts for clients in the healthcare industry. He has a comprehensive understanding of medical terminology and can translate complex medical jargon into easily understandable language for the general public. Amr's dedication to his craft is reflected in the quality of his work, and his attention to detail ensures that each piece of content he writes is accurate, informative, and engaging. When he's not working, Amr enjoys reading about the latest advancements in healthcare and spending time with his loved ones.
