Split ends stand in the way of great hair, and we're all susceptible to them. No matter the color, length, or texture of your hair, split ends can happen. When left untreated, they make hair dull, dry, tangled, and generally uncute.
Split ends can make tresses look thin and frail. "When they split they continue to unravel up the hair shaft, and it will split much more rapidly if you don't cut those ends off," celebrity hairstylist and the star of L.A. Hair Kim Kimble tells SELF.
Unfortunately, you can't treat or repair split ends. So once the ends of your hair become damaged or frayed, the only way to get rid of them is to cut them off. That's why prevention is key to keeping your hair healthy and free of split ends.
Left untouched, a split end will continue to split all the way up the hair shaft, damaging the entire strand beyond repair. Split ends no longer have a smooth cuticle covering them, so they naturally catch and snag on each other and on healthy ends. This causes tangles and (you guessed it) more split ends.
If not trimmed on time, split ends will continue to split all the way up the hair shaft. This will damage the hair strands and lead to brittle and unhealthy hair. To get healthy and lustrous hair, minimize the usage of hot tools for styling your hair.
Conditioning your hair is one of the best things you can do to help get rid of split ends. When you have split ends, your hair needs more hydration than ever. “[Conditioners] coat wet hair so it's easier to detangle, which can lead to less damage and make it softer and more manageable,” Aral says.
Split Ends
Not only does over-shampooing dry out your hair, but it causes it to weaken as well. Your hair is most fragile when it is wet, and the more often you wash your hair the more time your strands spend in this weakened state. This greatly increases the chances of breakage which leads to split ends.
Remember that split ends are a type of breakage. They can make your hair look thinner but don't cause hair loss. A strand of hair that is split at the end will still grow from the hair follicle. Actual hair loss happens when the strand no longer grows from the follicle.
Your Hair "Stops Growing."
"By not cutting your hair, you are actually risking the length rather than letting it grow," says Bivona. It seems counterintuitive, but by frequently trimming your hair, you'll prevent breakage by removing the dead, fragile ends.
Both dry and damaged hair can appear frizzy and dull, and can feel brittle. You might notice stray hairs and split ends.
Surprisingly, if you left your hair to grow without going for a trim, the ends will suffer from damage and breakage. However, if you do not have damaged hair or split ends, then cutting it too often will prevent your hair growing longer, as you'll simply be trimming healthy sections of hair.
Does damaged hair grow back healthy? The only way to get healthy hair is to allow your hair to grow without further damage. If you'd damaged your hair by over-styling, too much heat or over coloring with harsh chemicals, the good news is - your hair will grow back healthy.
Basically, if you don't have a trim, your split ends will run riot and likely split further up the shaft eventually snapping and making your hair short, which stops it from growing long. This way, your hair can continue to grow healthily from your roots, but the ends won't fray and snap shorter.
The hairs on our heads grow about half an inch per month and have an average life of two to six years. From this, you can figure that an average person's hair should grow no longer than 3 feet or so.
If you want to keep your hair at the same length, get it cut every 6 to 8 weeks. But if you want to grow it a little longer, cut it every 8 to 12 weeks.
The growth frequency does not change or accelerate after a few trims. Depending on the length of your hair and your ideal hairstyle, you can schedule a trim for your split ends every 2 to 3 months.
Split ends don't stop hair growth as your hair grows from the roots, not the tips of your hair - which is usually where split ends happen. However, split ends do cause your hair to break off, which can slow the process of hair growth as they break and split much faster than your scalp can produce new hair.
Once it splits, your hair will continue splitting further and further all the way up the shaft of your hair until it reaches the root. Then you're in real trouble, because split ends make your already damaged hair more susceptible to further damage and breakage.
An often-unknown cause of split ends or damage to the hair is towel drying and harsh brushing. Rubbing against the hair too roughly can weaken the cuticles and even break the fibre.
This might be a little difficult to believe but petroleum jelly can actually be helpful in preventing split ends and making your hair shinier. Exposure to sun, wind and even pool water can dry your hair and cause split ends. Just rub some petroleum jelly in your palms and apply on hair ends to prevent split ends.
How long would your hair be if you never cut it for 10 years? The hairs on our heads grow about half an inch per month and have an average life of two to six years. From this, you can figure that an average person's hair should grow no longer than 3 feet or so.
By removing damaged hairs, haircuts promote healthy hair growth and stops the spread of split ends through the strands. This allows long-term hair health with less need for expensive products or conditioners. It is recommended to trim hair once every four months to maintain perfect hair health.
Everything depends on where exactly your hair is damaged. “If you have split ends, you're better off getting them trimmed immediately as the hair fibers have become separated and will never return to their normal self.