Hair Liberty’s Nicole Harmon, our Resident Curl Chemist, is answering your most urgent hair questions. Check it out!
Q: I have split ends all the time even right after a trim. How can I get them to stop?
A: Your hair splits when the cuticle has been completely worn away. That can happen anywhere on the strand, but it’s most likely to happen at the ends because they’re the oldest hair. The cuticle is made of about 7 layers and those layers get damaged every time you style your hair. Damage is unavoidable, but if split ends are always popping up that means you’re pushing your hair passed its limit. Are you using heat? If you heat style your hair, you must only do so after your hair has been freshly shampooed and conditioned. It’s also really important to use a heat protectant. If you’re still getting split ends after taking those precautions, you may be using too high of a setting. Whether you’re using a blow dryer, bonnet dryer, flat iron, or curling iron, you should turn the heat down. If you usually use high, use medium, if you usually set the temp to 350°F, set it on 300°F.
If you don’t use heat but you’re still seeing constant split ends, you probably need to comb your hair less. Natural hair is really sensitive to combing because of the way our coils tend to wrap around each other. You may be trying to comb gently or limit your combing to a few times a week, but split ends are a sign that you’re still doing too much. Do you wet your hair (with a water/conditioner blend for example) to re-style it during the week? Split ends are more likely to happen when your hair is wet than dry. That’s important to remember on wash day, but also when you apply products between washes. Only use enough product to slightly dampen your hair, not wet it, and always start by finger combing.
Once you find the cause of your split ends and create a routine that prevents them, don’t change what you’re doing. That means don’t change your products and don’t experiment with different styles for a while. Give yourself a chance to see the long term benefits of a good regimen.
It's so dry in Colorado I use 'll over coconut oil treatment with a shower cap on my hair often especially after a cut before shampooing with a non sulfate shampoo.
I condition into the oil hair before Shampooing and conditioner.. shampoo and condition.. I only shampoo every other week.. the rest of the time.. I just condition and put coconut oil on the ends..
I thought the scissors could be an issue also. Dont people always say to make sure the scissors you use are for hair and are actually hair scissors? I read somewhere that if you cut your hair with a random pair of scissors, that is really really bad and could start you on the path of split ends all over again.
Miss Nicole says: "Your hair splits when the cuticle has been completely worn away." Wow, never knew. I didn't know the cuticle had to be completely gone, I thought it was purely based on dry hair. Now I do really believe in low manipulation styles. Thanks for breaking that down!
Yes thank you so much for the advise. I was just talking about this issue with a friend of mine.
Thank you for the advidce. I had the same problem. But I restore my hair using Pro Naturals Moroccan Oil Hair Treatment with Heat Protector which protects my hair and prevents new split ends. I totally recommend it ! 😀
I believe the way your hair splits depends on the hair type and how you handle it as well. I say this because I notice with my fine texture if I try to comb even in the shower while wet my hair splits (stopped doing this a few months ago.) If I am to rough when detangling (even with my fingers) my hair splits. If my hair is not properly moisturized before styling my hair splits. In my particular case I have to make sure to be very, very gentle and well moisturized when detangling and styling but as the article stated no wet head and I'm ok. If I don't follow these steps I am back in splitsville zone.
Me too! I don't even use heat and I comb my hair about once every two weeks to detangle. I've tried finger detangling, but I don't find it as effective as using a comb for my hair. I've tried using slippery conditioners and I moisturize and seal with oils. My hair rarely feels dry, and I don't do a lot of styling. But nothing seems to be working. I'm braiding my hair this week to give it a break :p
I have the same issue. I follow the steps to minimize splits in my strands but it is an ongoing issue. It is even more difficulty to accept when you see the splits following a trim. I am beginning to think it is just a characteristics of my strands. I will continue to low manipulation, limiting heat, etc. but I can't find a long term solution.