What are split ends?
Well, what exactly are split ends? Specifically, it is when the ends of the hair have naturally split due to some form of damage. The ends of the hair shaft are thus also the oldest part of the hair and also often the part of the hair that has been exposed the most. However, split ends can occur anywhere on the hair and not just at the tips. There are 3 common types of split ends.
What do split ends look like?
Split ends can have many different shapes, which we'll try to cover here. Otherwise, here is an illustration of what a split hair can look like:
Normal fork-shaped cleavage
This type of split ends is the most common, where the ends of the hair strand are split, so it has the shape of a fork. This form is most common and also represents the early stage of split ends. If you notice this type of splitting in your hair, it may be a good idea to address it now to save as much of your hair as possible.
Branched splitting of the hair shaft
If your hair strands look like the crown of a tree with a lot of branches, this is an indication that one side of your hair strand is more damaged than the other side. This type of split also often means that those hairs are quite damaged and need a lot of love to get them back on track.
Knots on the hair shaft
Sometimes the hair can also form knots. This means, for example, that it has a significantly greater risk of breaking when you brush it. It can often be people with curly or very tangled hair who can experience this.
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Why do I get split ends?
Now that we know a little about the different types of split ends, let's take a closer look at why you get split ends. There are many different reasons, but basically, split ends occur because your hair is damaged to some degree. We will take you through some of the most common causes of split ends.
The wrong hair products
Split ends can also occur if you use the wrong hair care products. If you have dry hair and use an entirely wrong shampoo and conditioner, you can actually end up damaging your hair more than benefiting it. Dry hair needs moisturizing products that can provide the necessary moisture and nourishment so that the hair does not become even more fragile and split.
Therefore, it is very important to find hair care products that match your hair type to avoid split ends.
A little tip is to avoid sulfate-based shampoos, as they can often contribute to drying out the hair and scalp.
The best shampoo for split ends
Chlorinated water or salt water
Chlorinated water and saltwater are not your hair's best friends. These types of water can dry out the hair massively as they remove the natural oils that protect the hair from becoming fragile. It wears on the hair and requires the right care to avoid split ends or dry hair in general.
Why is it important to avoid split ends?
Split ends are the hair's way of signaling to you that it is not thriving and needs help. If split ends are not treated in time, they can spread further up the hair strand, making the damage worse, resulting in a larger part of the hair needing to be cut off. Therefore, it is very important to listen to your hair's signals before the problem grows.
Often, split ends are a sign that the hair lacks care and moisture to return to a normal state. When split ends first occur, they can also lead to other hair problems like broken hair and frizz, making hair harder to manage and less healthy in appearance. Fortunately, there are several treatments for split and dry hair that we will provide you with shortly!
Which hair types get split ends most easily?
Split ends, also known as split ends, most commonly occur in hair types that are exposed to certain stresses or have certain characteristics. Here are the most common hair types and circumstances where split ends often occur:
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Dry hair: Hair that is naturally dry or exposed to drying factors such as frequent use of heating appliances (hair dryers, straighteners, etc.), chemical treatments (colouring, perms, etc.), and environmental influences (sun, wind, cold air) are more likely to develop split ends.
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Long hair: The longer the hair, the older and more worn it is, especially towards the ends. This makes long hair more vulnerable to splitting.
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Curly or wavy hair: This hair type tends to be drier than straight hair because the natural oils from the scalp have a harder time travelling down the hair shaft due to the structure of the hair. This makes curly and wavy hair more susceptible to split ends.
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Chemically treated hair: Hair that is regularly coloured, bleached or permed is often weakened and prone to damage, leading to split ends.
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Fine hair: Fine hair is less robust and can break and split more easily than thicker hair.
To prevent split ends, it's important to care for your hair properly, use appropriate hair care products, avoid overuse of heaters and chemical treatments, and ensure regular trimming of the ends.
Is it possible to repair split ends?
Unfortunately, no. Once the hair is split, there is no way back other than to cut off the split ends.
There is no real miracle cure to fix split ends - the best thing you can do is to prevent them. Although many products promise to "repair" split ends, they can only temporarily improve the appearance by sealing the hair but cannot actually restore the hair's structure. The only real solution is to cut off the split ends so that the hair does not split further up the hair strand.
Good prevention of split ends is to focus on providing the hair with a lot of moisture and care.
Our best advice for you with split ends
Now we finally get to the exciting part: what you can do to reduce split ends. We've collected all our best advice here. There are both recommendations for products, but also tips for your hair care routine that can make the difference in the fight against split ends. Read along here!
Get new shampoo and conditioner
Among the causes was using the wrong hair care products for your hair. It may therefore be very good to look out for just that. If you often experience split ends, dry hair, or static hair, you can benefit from finding a shampoo and conditioner that contain a lot of moisture and care.
Additionally, it can be advantageous to find sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner. Sulfate-free products will help maintain the hair's moisture and reduce the risk of drying, which is essential to avoid split ends.
With this, you have taken a very good first step toward reducing your split ends. By choosing products that better suit your hair type and needs, you can effectively prevent further damage and help your hair remain healthy and strong.
Best shampoo and conditioner for dry hair
Try a protein hair treatment
Protein treatments for the hair are very good at repairing your hair. Proteins help strengthen the hair by restoring the proteins that the hair loses through styling, coloring, and other damaging processes. If you get a protein treatment at a hairdresser, it can quickly become an expensive affair. Fortunately, there are many good products on the market that provide a great alternative if you want to do it at home.
We highly recommend our Grow and Glow hair mask, which contains hydrolyzed wheat protein, keratin, and many other fantastic ingredients that nourish your hair to the maximum. Hydrolyzed wheat protein helps strengthen the hair's structure, while keratin repairs damage and restores elasticity. By regularly using a protein-based hair treatment, you can strengthen your hair strands and prevent split ends from occurring.
Take care of your hair when it is wet
We can almost not say it enough times, but you should really take care of your hair when it is wet, especially if you tend to have dry and split ends. When the hair is wet, it is even more fragile, and you can easily damage it. Therefore, be careful not to comb your hair too much when it is wet and make sure it is dried gently. We recommend our microfiber towel for the hair, which has an effective absorbency.
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Make sure your hair is dry before using heat styling
If you plan to style your hair, it is very important that you ensure your hair is dry, and preferably clean. If there is moisture left in the hair or if you have left conditioner in, you risk damaging the hair further with heat styling. Heat styling on wet hair can result in severe damage as the water in the hair heats up and creates steam, which can lead to burnt or split ends.
The same applies to various serums or sprays for the hair – they should ideally be applied after you have used heat styling. Serums and styling products that are not heat protective can also damage the hair if exposed to high heat. However, if they are heat protective products, you should, of course, always apply them before using heat styling.
Especially heat protective products are very important when it comes to heat styling, as they form a barrier that reduces heat damage and minimizes the risk of split ends.
Get a haircut regularly
We've already covered it a bit further up, but a regular haircut can be worth its weight in gold for your hair, especially if you suffer from split ends. Start by letting your hairdresser know what the purpose is, then you are sure to get a good result. We recommend getting approximately 1-2 centimeters cut approximately every 3 months. You can advantageously ask your hairdresser to use the cutting technique "dusting", so that it does not go too far beyond your lengths.
Make sure your ends get plenty of moisture
When you suffer from split ends, it is often the hair's signal that it is dry and lacks moisture. That's why it's important to add a lot of moisture to your hair and especially your ends. You can use a hair mask approximately once a week, where the hair really gets a lot of care and moisture. It is important to use conditioner after the hair mask, as the conditioner helps to close the hair shaft again and thereby bind the moisture in the hair. You can also supplement with a hair oil to add moisture to the hair as needed. We can highly recommend our Anti Frizz hair elixir, which is a fantastic hair oil that provides lots of moisture and nourishment.
Consider changing your pillowcases
Have you ever thought that your pillowcase can greatly influence your hair? Something so simple can be quite effective. When you sleep on a traditional cotton pillowcase, the fibers are not particularly smooth, which can create friction between your hair and the pillowcase. This friction can cause the hair to wear more, break, or become frizzy - especially if your hair is already dry or fragile.
Conversely, a bamboo pillowcase has smooth fibers, like silk, which means that the hair does not have the same friction against the pillowcase and is thus spared. You will notice a big difference already after the first night, as the hair is no longer exposed to the same wear.
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