But before you reach for those scissors, take a deep breath – help is on the way. Here’s how to prevent split ends and, if it’s already too late, to repair them. Follow these simple tips and split ends will be out of the picture for good.
Preventing Split Ends Before They Start
The good news is, pound for pound, healthy hair is stronger than steel, because of the unique protein structure that makes up more than 80% of your hair. The bad news? Damage causes hair to lose the proteins that help hold fibers together. Once proteins are lost, the weak end of the hair fiber begins to unravel, leaving you with jagged, rough fringe instead of the crisp, fresh ends we all covet. #hairfail. There are three main ways to combat this:
- Go Easy with the Heat:
High heat can quickly take hair to the breaking point. Give that flat iron a break, but if you just can’t part with it, always use a heat-protecting product on your hair first to protect your strands.
- Avoid Over-Styling:
Teasing, tugging and pinning your locks can put added stress on your hair. Just because hair is strong doesn’t mean it should go through a daily torture test. Help maintain hair’s elasticity by avoiding harsh styling products—and harsh styling.
- Be Gentle!
Don’t aggressively brush your hair. Tangles are a pain—not just on your scalp, but because they’re a leading cause of hair breakage and split ends. Don’t force the brush through your hair (especially if it’s wet) and use a wide-tooth comb when possible.
But before you throw out your flat iron, brush and blow dryer, know that using a strengthening shampoo and conditioner can help prevent split ends from forming by using technology proven to moisturize and smooth split end prone hair. They’ll also target and reinforce weak spots along the hair fiber, fortifying tips to help prevent split ends before they start!
How To Help Repair Those Dreaded Splits
If breakage has already occurred, don’t sweat it! You can still stage an intervention to repair weak hair. Although the only permanent fix for split ends is a haircut, using Split End Fuser can bind split ends between washes. Its advanced technology (read: positively-charged ingredients that help hold the negatively-charged ends together) works by ‘gluing’ the interior components of your hair back together.