- What are split ends?
- Causes of split ends
1.Environmental causes
2.Nutritional causes
3.Genetic causes - Ways to combat split ends
- How to fix split ends?
Unless we are all as versatile as Anne Hathaway who looks fabulous in a blunt bob or sleek, straight hair (Remember her epic transformation in Princess Diaries!), we can’t keep experimenting with our hair. If you planned on letting your hair grow till it attains your dream length, beware! Even the best-laid plans can go awry when split ends arrive on the scene. What starts out as a split in a single hair strand soon takes over your entire head, and you are left with hair ends that are scraggly and dry.
Split ends can change the way your hair looks and irrespective of how many times you rub in serums into those dull strands, there will still be a lack of luminosity. So, how to fix split ends? Your well-wishers might have some interesting insights into this, but instead of subjecting your hair to more experiments, let’s take a look at what exactly are split ends and what causes them in the first place.
What are split ends?
There are various split end causes, but do you know who’s the prime culprit when it comes to causing your hair strands to split? Bad hair care habits. Shocking! Split ends occur when your hair shaft splits into multiple strands and appear badly frayed. These pesky split ends can cause your hair to look dry, straggly, unkempt, and uneven. Your hair’s cuticles are severely damaged and refuse to lie flat against your hair’s fibre. This is why even when there’s plenty of sunshine outside, the light does not reflect properly off your hair. Hence, split ends cause your hair to appear dull and lack-lustre. So, what causes split ends? There are several factors at play, let’s find out.
Know the Causes of Split Ends
You can round up the causes of split ends as excessive use of styling products or subjecting your tresses to chemical hair treatments. When you use blow dryers, straightening irons, or other styling devices that make use of high heat, you are unknowingly inflicting severe damage on your tresses. These heating devices removes whatever natural moisture your hair has and leaves it dehydrated and damaged. The various split end causes can be categorised as follows:
Just as your skin needs protection from the harsh UV rays of the sun, your hair too needs the same degree of protection. The UV radiation causes your hair to lose its natural sheen by dulling its colour. Your hair’s protein and keratin bonds are weakened by prolonged exposure to the sun, and your hair loses its flexibility, shine, and strength.
Weren’t we all chastised to eat our veggies as kids? That’s because the lush, green veggies are a great source of nourishment and keep you healthy. A poor diet does not give your body the nourishment it needs. And the result is poor health and weak hair. A balanced diet that is rich in vitamins, minerals, and protein is what you need to make your hair stronger, longer, and split end-free!
This is and is not your fault. The irony! Some people have a genetic predisposition to having poor hair health. A genetic condition called Trichorrhexis Nodosa, an inherited autosomal dominant disorder of the hair shaft, causes your tresses to become weak, making it more prone to breakage. This condition is also called 'Bamboo Hair'.
Another genetic disorder that is listed as one of the split ends causes is Trichothiodystrophy. It is a rare condition that affects various systems and tissues in the body. In fact, it is characterised by sulphur-deficient hair that is fragile and brittle. Since sulphur gives hair its strengthen, lack of sulphur makes hair weak, and it cannot withstand the everyday regimen that your hair is subjected to.
