How to Remove and Prevent Split Ends

9/13/2015 How to Remove and Prevent Split Ends (with Pictures) - wikiHow

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How to Remove and Prevent Split EndsFour Parts: Removing Split Ends Washing, Drying, and Brushing for Healthy Hair Protecting Your Hair

Avoiding Damage

Magic solutions that make all your split ends vanish are just a temporary trick,and won't halt ongoing damage. To remove them permanently, you'll need tocut them off. However, there are a hundred ways you can prevent themhappening again. Try them out for healthy, soft hair.

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Check for damaged hair. Closely examine your hair with the help of a mirror andgood lighting. Split ends occur most often at the tip, but can show up anywhere in

your hair. Split ends and related damage can occur in several different forms. If you findany of the following, remove them using the instructions below:

Hair tips splitting into two or more strandsA hole in the middle of your hair (more visible if you bunch up the strand)White dots at the end of your hairSingle strand knots (more common in dry, curly hair)

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2 Trim them yourself. If you're not due for a full haircut, take care of the split endsyourself. Trim them off using a small pair of hair shears, since scissors can frayyour hair and lead to more split ends. Cut single strands about " (6mm) above the split.If you cut too close to the damage, the split may reappear.

Some splits form a small ball directly above the damage. Make sure to cutabove this.This can take a long time, especially for thick or damaged hair. However, you'llget to keep the full length of your hair.

3 Cut your hair regularly. A hairdresser can always trim off split ends, but willusually remove about 14 to 1 inch (0.6 to 2.5cm) of your hair along with them.Eventually, all hair will wear out enough to require this treatment. How long you waitbetween haircuts depends on your hair type, hair health, and how much time you'rewilling to spend hunting down your own split ends. This can be anywhere from six weeksto six months.

If you aren't trimming split ends yourself, avoiding the hairdresser will not saveyour long hair. Neglected split ends will become weaker and weaker, eventuallybreaking off.

Part 1 of 4: Removing Split Ends



4 Take steps to save hair length. If trimming off split ends are affecting your hairlength goals, consider having your hair cut into layers. Ask the hairdresser to trimdamaged hair in the surface layer, while leaving lower layers and length intact. If youhave afro-textured hair, a mild texturizer can achieve a similar effect, allowing you tomanipulate your hair more easily and avoid trimming healthy hair.

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Treat hair repair products with caution. There are conditioners and othercommercial treatments that claim to "heal" split ends. These seal the split ends

shut to hide them from view, but the damage is still there. You can use these as atemporary fix, but relying on them long-term may lead to worse damage.

These products may help prevent future damage to otherwise healthy hair.

1 Apply shampoo carefully. Too much shampoo can strip away healthy oils,leaving your hair vulnerable to damage. Follow these tips to find a regimen thatminimizes split ends:

Wash your hair no more than three times per week (or less often if you havethick curls or afro-textured hair.)Wash only your scalp and the hair nearest to it. Leave the rest of your hairdown. It should receive enough washing from the shampoo that runs down onits own.Hot water strips away protective oils, so rinse your hair with the coolest wateryou can stand.If your hair still splits rapidly, try a different, milder shampoo. Avoid shampooswith sulfate or paraben.

2 Use conditioner. After shampooing, apply conditioner along the length of yourhair. Let it soak at least three minutes before you rinse it out.

3 Dry hair gently. Vigorously rubbing your hair dry with a towel is not a good idea.Instead, gently squeeze dripping wet hair with a towel to remove excess water.Once the excess water is removed, let your hair air dry naturally.

If you need to speed up the drying, use a blow dryer on a medium or lowsetting, preferably set to blow cool air. Hold it a few inches (several centimeters)away from your hair to minimize damage.If you normally wrap your hair in a towel, try a cotton T-shirt instead.

4 Deep condition regularly. If your conditioner regimen isn't working, try a "deepcondition" once or twice a month. This involves putting a leave-in conditioner or oilon your hair and leaving it in for a while. Oils like jojoba and coconut oil are fantastic for

Part 2 of 4: Washing, Drying, and Brushing for Healthy Hair



this. Here's an example regimen:

Get your hair nice and wetDrop a coin-sized amount of deep conditioner or oil on your palm. Use a dollopthe size of an American dime for hair below shoulder length, up to a quarter+ forhair that reaches your waist.Rub it through your hair.Let it sit five minutes, or ten minutes for very damaged hair.Rinse out with cold water.

5 Find a gentle comb or brush. Your brush or comb should aid you in untanglingyour hair, not pulling it out. The best option for people with thick hair is a wide-toothed, wooden comb or pick. People with thin hair may use a narrow-toothed, woodencomb or a brush with boar bristles or another flexible, natural bristle.

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Brush or comb gently. Start at the bottom and work your way up. When youencounter a tangle, stop and untangle it with your fingers before you continue

brushing.

Stop teasing or back combing your hair. This pulls up the scales of your hair,making it easy to break them off.Do not brush more than necessary. Once the brush or comb runs through yourhair without obstruction, you're done.Hair is very fragile when wet. Brush it only when dry, unless you have verythick, curly hair that can only be brushed wet.

1 Protect your hair while sleeping. Sleep with your hair in a braid or bun to helpprevent tangles and breakage. A sleep cap or a satin pillowcase may help as well.

2 Eat a balanced diet. Make sure to eat the recommended amounts of vitamins andprotein to ensure that your body produces the healthiest hair possible. Healthy fatssuch as omega-3 fatty acids can also help keep your hair whole and shiny.

Vitamin E is particularly useful. Vitamin E can be found in many foods, such asnuts, seeds, avocado, vegetable oils, some leafy greens, and some fish.

3 Oil your hair for protection. Use a nutrient-rich oil such as almond oil, argan oil,egg oil, castor oil, or extra-virgin olive oil. This can lubricate the hair shaft,preventing it from splitting. Oil up to twice a week, leave it on overnight under a cap, andwash off in the morning.

Avoid products that contain paraffin or kerosene, which cause drying.Apply oil to the middle and ends of your hair. Applying oil near the scalp cancause a buildup of dandruff or damage the roots.

Part 3 of 4: Protecting Your Hair



4 Use hair friendly accessories. Tight, elastic bands or any bands with metal partscan damage hair, especially if left in for a long time. Scrunchies and ribbons treatyour hair more gently.

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Apply a hair mask. A hair mask once every one or two weeks can help keep yourhair healthy, moisturized, and damage-free. Leave it on for thirty minutes,

everywhere except near your scalp.

Try mixing your own out of olive oil, honey, and conditioner.

1 Protect your hair from heat. Heat denatures the keratins (proteins) of the hairshaft weakening it and making it prone to split ends. Heat treatments are a majorcause of damage and split ends. This includes hot blow drying, heat styling,straightening and curling through heat, and steam treatments. If you do use thesetreatments, take these precautions:

Do not straighten or use other high-heat treatments more often than once everytwo weeks, or preferably once a month.Look for irons or other tools that allow for exact temperature control. Keep themset to below 356F (180C).Let hair stylists know that you prefer low-heat treatments.

2 Protect your hair before swimming in a pool, ocean, or lake. Consider applyinga special pre-swimming moisturizer product. Alternatively, use a leave-inconditioner, oil your hair, and/or wear a swim cap. Rinsing your hair thoroughly beforeswimming may reduce its absorption of harmful chemicals. Be sure to rinse andshampoo your hair as soon as possible after swimming.

3 Wash with gentle water. If you have delicate hair, minerals or chlorine in yourwater can damage your hair. Consider a water softening system if your local wateris "hard" and contains high levels of calcium carbonate. Use a filtration system toremove chlorine if necessary in your area.

4 Protect your hair from the sun. Ultraviolet rays can be as damaging to your hairas your skin. Wear your hair in a bun underneath a hat, or use leave-in sunscreenconditioner

Part 4 of 4: Avoiding Damage



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Reduce reliance on hair products. Hair dyes and bleach are particularlydamaging, but any product has the chance to wear out your hair. Try to use them

only when necessary, and your hair may stay healthy for much longer.

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Drink plenty of water to keep your hair healthy.Try using a wide tooth comb to comb out your hair.Use almond oil once a week.Some people lighten their hair with honey. This only has a small effect,but it's much less damaging than a commercial hair dye.Apple cider vinegar may help after excessive use of hair products.Don't brush your hair roughly; brush slowly and smoothly.

Never tighten a ponytail by dividing it into two sections and pulling themapart. This is equivalent to back brushing, and can cause significantdamage.

Regular hair trims

Weekly hair mask

Conditioner

Leave in conditioner and hair detangler

Wide-toothed comb

Proper hairbands (if used)

Pair of hair scissors

Tips

Warnings

Things You'll Need



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How to Remove and Prevent Split Ends