Split End Solutions

Your Guide to Split Ends Solutions
   
       Contrary to popular belief, spit ends can not be repaired. The only way to rid your hair of split ends would involve a pair of hair shears. Products can temporarily seal the ends of the hair shaft, but this "glue effect" is lost once the hair is exposed to water. These products will buy you time, but ultimately your split ends will need to be trimmed to maintain a healthy head of hair.

"Search and Destroy" Method
     The "search and destroy" method helps you to pin point split ends, and this method should be done every 4 weeks (or as often as needed) for split end prevention. This technique will allow you to rid the hair of the damaged ends  without trimming too much of your length at one time.  Because the "search & destroy" method less invasive than regular trims, they are great for maintenance in between regular trims. During your search and destroy missions you will want to be on the look out for "stressed" hairs.  Some may not be broken yet, but will look weak and/or not in a healthy state. 

Trimming your split ends
       Never trim your split ends at an angle, instead they should be trimmed straight across the top of the split, at least 1/8 to 1/4 above the problem. Trimming at a slant will expose the interior of your hair shaft to damage and increase its chances for re-splitting  in the future.
        The broken strands of hair that remains on your head will need to be cleanly cut because allowing your split ends to break off on their own will eventually lead to more splitting ends except on a shorter piece of hair. Secondly, splitting ends do not allow to swang *lol* freely. When you attempt to style or detangle your hair, your splitting ends will catch the other hair and possibly tangle in them further, leading to even more breakage.

Low/ No Manipulation
      This is not a simple technique but is one that should be practiced ( it took me nearly a yr. on my HJ to figure out low manipulation techniques for my hair). By decreasing the manipulation your hair experiences by your combing, brushing, and styling will decrease your number of split ends. Protective styles that keep the hair up and off of the shoulders and out of the elements are great for keeping your ends healthy as well. When washing the hair, avoid vigorously towel drying your hair. The fabric from the towel roughens the cuticles and can cause more tangling problems.  Gently squeeze the hair in a "milking" fashion to release any excess water from the hair. You may gently pat your hair with your towel to catch the extra water, but do not rub.



Adding Moisture to the Hair
    Moisturizing the hair with a water based moisturizer or an oil that penetrates the hair shaft such olive oil or coconut oil, and then sealing in that moisture with an oil will help fight against split ends. This helps protects the hair from the outside elements.
      Deep conditioning the hair with moisturizing conditioners, and treating the hair with protein reconstructors can also help improve the appearance of the hair and fight split ends.  When protein is added to your hair care regimen it strengthens the cuticle to resists chipping, unravelling, or breaking. However, these treatments cannot fix, repair, or stop any splitting or damage that has already occurred. They can improve the hair's appearance and fight any future problems before they happen.


 Avoiding Porosity
      Rinsing the hair perhaps 2x per month with an acidic rinse will help keep the cuticles flatten .These rinses are usually done as a preventive measurement against splitting or for combating problems with hair porosity. A popular acidic rinse is Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) in water. The most popular dilution for this rinse is 2 cups of cool water to 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar. After you have washed and deep conditioned your hair as normal, pour the apple cider vinegar rinse over your hair and then rinse out with cool water. Rinsing the hair in cool water will also help to close down the cuticle layers, preventing splits from forming.  If you still detect the not of pleasent smell of the ACV rinse on your hair after the initial rinsing, continue to rinse in cool water until you cannot smell it. If the rinse makes your hair hard and tangly, reduce the amount of ACV in your rinse next time around.

HTH!!

The Difference In Split Ends & Splitting Ends

   Split ends, who wants them around away?!  Unfortunately, to healthy hair care lovers they are a fact of life. Hair gets old, days when it goes through  manipulation, therefore hair  becomes damaged. When the hair has experienced a great amount of trauma or has reached a certain cycle, these little "healthy hair wreckers" crop up and can destroy our healthy hair dreams . While our hair will never be totally free of split ends, there are certain measures that can taken to ensure that they don't take over what we have worked so hard to maintain!!

Where do they come from?
        Split ends are caused by many types of hair trauma, but are typically the result of a low moisture balance within the hair strand. When hair is allowed to remain dry, brittle, and under-moisturized for extended periods of time, the cuticle begins to crack and unravel, exposing the cortex of the hair.        Okay, so from what I've learned is that there is a difference from split ends and splitting ends. Splitting ends can be anywhere along the hair shaft where the cuticle is actively breaking apart and the cortex of the hair is exposed. This splitting can occur at any point along the hair shaft, but are the most likely to be near the ends of the hair shaft. Some say that splitting ends that are not "searched & destroyed" will continue to split up the entire shaft, however this is not always the case. Depending on the angle of the split, the tear can reach fairly high up the hair shaft, but a majority of splits simply peel away or break off not far from or right where they start.
      On the other hand, split ends are ends where the main split has already peeled away from the rest of the hair shaft. Therefore these ends are no longer splitting, they have already split and broken off.  These are the ends that we see so many of us trying to hold onto, those thin "see through" ends. Split ends can become splitting ends if not "searched & destroyed with a sharp pair of shears.
      Other types of "split" ends are small breaks in the hair shaft known as trichorrexis nodosa. These are areas where the actual hair cortex has swollen and exploded within the shaft (now that's scary). You can tell these types of splits by the white dot or node, commonly at the very end of the hair shaft. They can also occur mid-shaft where they will appear as a hairs that bend in hard, unnatural 90 degree angles-- ready to break fully away.

 How can I know if I have split or splitting ends?
The best way to check for split ends is by thoroughly inspecting the hair shaft. Most splits occur along the lower half to 1/3 of the hair shaft with a majority being along the  ends Other ways you can tell you tell if you may have split ends are :

*  hair that is lifeless (no swang)
* tangles easily
* just cant seem to hold a curl nor does it straighten well with heat
* varies in length throughout the head
* shows clear areas of dullness or thinness (transparency).
* excessive breakage
*  redder near the ends
       Anytime a hair is split, the end that is left behind has more chances  of becoming a new splitting end because most hairs do not break cleanly when they break off on their own. This is why it is best to trim split ends with sharp hair shears before they have the chance to break off by themselves. 
           Split ends are caused by many types of hair trauma, but are typically the result of a low moisture balance within the hair strand. When hair is allowed to remain dry, brittle, and under-moisturized for extended periods of time, the cuticle begins to crack and unravel, exposing the cortex of the hair.

A Long Hard Road

As I have traveled through out my journeys in life I have found that it is very important for each and every human being to set goals for themselves.

However, in setting goals you will find that these inner visions can not be shared with everyone, and in some cases, not even your loved ones.

I know that this may sound strange to some, but as you begin to set your "eyes on the prize" you will find that some people tend to have no dreams or focus at all. Thus, causing you more mental struggle than necessary.

I came across an obstacle in my road while trying to achieve specific goals that I set for myself. This obstacle was having a very close & special person in my life that just COULD NOT see what I seen in how to go about achieving these goals.
It was like everything that I set out to do was followed by negative comments such as, "it will never work," "nobody will like that,", " that's crazy."

In the beginning it was very hurtful and discouraging. But for my own self and my own peace of mind I had to become stronger mentally. I had to realize that everyone is not going to support me in my dreams and some will NEVER to able to see what I see, but I could'nt give up because of people's opinions. Had I let their lack of vision determine my success, I would have failed before I even had gotten started.

So no matter what your goals or dreams are, just don't expect everyone to understand how you plan to go about achieving them or even why you would want to achieve them.

Yes, it is good to listen to others thoughts and ideas. To learn from others because you may find an easier or better way to be successful in fulfilling your goals. However, your dreams are your own and no one has the right to take them away based upon their lack of insight and/or goals setting.

We often hear others speak on their achievements and stating how some told them that it could'nt be done. But that individual held tight to their dream, put in the hard work that it required and let the negativity of others go in one ear and out the other. This is something that has to be done when striving for any thing in this life.

So do your thang, and don't let others lack of support and/or not being able to see your visions determine your success or failures!!

Finding Myself

Poetry is one of my favorite "pass time." So I wanted to share a poem that I wrote while going through one of my many evolutions in my life!! It is titled "Finding Myself"...and it goes it little something like this...

Finding myself,
yelp I guess I'm still finding myself.

I guess this is important for my soul's better health.

     I met one that unleashed my mind,
and one that challenged my mind.

These two came far and few in between,
     but at least now I know how to dream.

     My heart is pale from waiting to exhale, and now
 my mind is free in search of me.

Analyzing, memorizing, as I sit optimizing me,
       in search of me.

Know thy self...
      well, that's my miseducation,
but I'll take it now and make it my dedication to me.

       I'm so grateful for everything that I'm going through,
it helps me to develop,
              live to my highest potential ,
focus of this and make it my daily ritual.

But no worries, what is meant to be will be,
    if you don't mind, can you excuse me please,
                               while and go and get me!!

Motives & Thoughts: In the words of Mrs. Lauryn Hill- Marley

Motives and Thoughts



Rotating bodies, confusion in sound,

Negative imagery holding us down

Social delusion clearly constructed,

Humans condition morals corrupted,

Trapped in reaction, lawlessness war,

Dissatisfaction from bowels to core,

Devil's technology strategy for,

Human mythologies urban folklore

Sick of psychology counterfeit cure,

Wicked theology robbing the poor

Scheme demonology misleading the pure

Strict and strategically studying war

A light shone in darkness, image exposed,

Few can see through the new emperor's clothes

Lustful, this hustle turns humans to hoes,

When the blind lead the blind just more trouble and woes,

It's the mind that they chose; it's designed to stay closed,

Standards of jokers, court jester logic,

A sick looking cosmic, from schoolyard to college,

Primitive man in a civilized knowledge,

System collapse and he still won't acknowledge

God as the savior,

Studies behavior,

trying to fix the mixed mind that he gave ya,

Stiff-necked scholars on prescription meds,

Wishing their problems was all in their heads,

Moral dilemma, pride at the root,

Misguided from youth, heart divided from truth,

Egyptians and Grecians spiritually dead,

Empirically led by the gods in their heads

Motives and thoughts,

Industrial wealth,

A global economy in it for self,

Heart full of madness, covered in kind

A pleasure designed to take over your mind,

Furnished in godliness,

Painted in good,

This tainted priesthood has got real saints misunderstood,

While classes of governments set up the veil,

And cultivate the mind for more mythical tales,

Typical Hollywood follies good girl,

While vice and corruption take over the world,

Motives and thoughts,

Check your motives and thoughts

Blind with the wickedness deep in your heart

Modern day trickery is all you been taught

Lying to your neighbors so you get ahead

Modern day trickery is all you been fed

Motives & thoughts, check your motives & thoughts

The Difference From Split & Splitting Ends

These are just some samples of what split/splitting ends can look like!!





Split ends, who wants them around away?! Unfortunately, to healthy hair care lovers they are a fact of life. Hair gets old, days when it goes through manipulation, therefore hair becomes damaged. When the hair has experienced a great amount of trauma or has reached a certain cycle, these little "healthy hair wreckers" crop up and can destroy our healthy hair dreams . While our hair will never be totally free of split ends, there are certain measures that can taken to ensure that they don't take over what we have worked so hard to maintain!!

Where do they come from?
Split ends are caused by many types of hair trauma, but are typically the result of a low moisture balance within the hair strand. When hair is allowed to remain dry, brittle, and under-moisturized for extended periods of time, the cuticle begins to crack and unravel, exposing the cortex of the hair.

Okay, so from what I've learned is that there is a difference from split ends and splitting ends. Splitting ends can be anywhere along the hair shaft where the cuticle is actively breaking apart and the cortex of the hair is exposed. This splitting can occur at any point along the hair shaft, but are the most likely to be near the ends of the hair shaft. Some say that splitting ends that are not "searched & destroyed" will continue to split up the entire shaft, however this is not always the case. Depending on the angle of the split, the tear can reach fairly high up the hair shaft, but a majority of splits simply peel away or break off not far from or right where they start.

On the other hand, split ends are ends where the main split has already peeled away from the rest of the hair shaft. Therefore these ends are no longer splitting, they have already split and broken off. These are the ends that we see so many of us trying to hold onto, those thin "see through" ends. Split ends can become splitting ends if not "searched & destroyed" with a sharp pair of shears.

Other types of "split" ends are small breaks in the hair shaft known as trichorrexis nodosa. These are areas where the actual hair cortex has swollen and exploded within the shaft (now that's scary). You can tell these types of splits by the white dot or node, commonly at the very end of the hair shaft. They can also occur mid-shaft where they will appear as a hairs that bend in hard, unnatural 90 degree angles-- ready to break fully away.

How can I know if I have split or splitting ends?

The best way to check for split ends is by thoroughly inspecting the hair shaft. Most splits occur along the lower half to 1/3 of the hair shaft with a majority being along the ends Other ways you can tell you tell if you may have split ends are :



* hair that is lifeless (no swang)

* tangles easily

* just cant seem to hold a curl nor does it straighten well with heat

* varies in length throughout the head

* shows clear areas of dullness or thinness (transparency).

* excessive breakage

* redder near the ends

Anytime a hair is split, the end that is left behind has more chances of becoming a new splitting end because most hairs do not break cleanly when they break off on their own. This is why it is best to trim split ends with sharp hair shears before they have the chance to break off by themselves.

Split ends are caused by many types of hair trauma, but are typically the result of a low moisture balance within the hair strand. When hair is allowed to remain dry, brittle, and under-moisturized for extended periods of time, the cuticle begins to crack and unravel, exposing the cortex of the hair.

Moisture & Protein Go Hand "N" Hand

    Do you find random hairs in your comb, on your shirt, sink, and/or the room where you are grooming?! If your answer is yes, then it's possible you maybe experiencing breakage. For black hair in particular, hair breakage is typically caused by an imbalance of moisture and protein.

Moisture:
   Hair needs water to maintain it's ability to stretch. Because water is the ultimate moisturizer for the hair, water based moisturizers are superb at providing the hair with moisture. Ideal moisturizers will not contain filler-up ingredients such as petroleum, lanolin, and/or mineral oil. These ingredients are sealants that will actually seal out the much needed moisture that the hair needs.

Protein:
  There are various types of proteins, which some are stronger than others. But daily/weekly use of the most mildest protein treatments can throw off your moisture and protein balance depending of the individual. You would need to dabble around with products to find out which one works with your hair type the best, because your hair tolerance of protein level will vary from product to product and not necessarily protein to protein.
Women with relaxed or color treated hair need more protein than others because these chemical processes wear down the protein bond within the hair.

     The moisture & protein balance are not opposing forces, one trying to overthrow the other. These two componets work hand "n" hand to produce a healthy head of hair. Having the proper balance is achieved by using the correct combinations of moisture & protein based products for your hair type. Here, take a look at these two scenarios:

Scenario 1: Kim's hair is breaking like crazy and feels like a brillo pad. It is just plain crunchy and dry! Every time she touches it, pieces seem to just pop right off. Snap, crackle, pop. Combing is impossible without tons of little hairs covering her sink and back. Her hair feels hard and rough even when wet. She's given it protein treatments because the product says it is supposed to stop breakage in its tracks and rebuild the hair. But so far, nothing is working and her problem is getting worse. 



 Scenario 2: Trina's hair is breaking like crazy as well. Her hair feels dry, looks dull, and is very weak. Her hair is too weak to withstand simple combing. It feels extra stretchy when wet and almost follows the comb as she pulls through to detangle. Her hair is just limp and has no life. She's deep conditioned and done hot oil treatments on her hair once a week. Since her breakage began, she has stepped up the conditioning but her problem has gotten worse.

Same Problem- Different Solutions
Growing healthy hair is a task because you have to maintain proper moisture and protein balance. Hair that is shifted to far to either side will break.

How to access your hair and what it is lacking:

{ wet or dry } Stretches slightly without breaking and will return to its normal length. Great balancing act, stick with what you are doing!!

{ wet or dry } Stretches a little more than normal and then breaks. You are in need of protein.

{ wet or dry } Stretches waaaayyyy out, but does not break. You guessed it!! More protein.

{ wet or dry } A small amount of tension causes it to snap. You are in need of moisture.

{ wet or dry } Rough, dry, brittle, tangles. You are in need of moisture.



Signs of too much moisture
  Hair that is shifted too far on the moisture side will be "super-elastic" and stretch more because it lacks protein structure. Over-conditioned and over-moisturized hair has a  "mush-like" or "overly soft," feeling, especially when wet. This kind of hair is a weak & limp. Protein deficient hair will tend to pull and stretch along with the comb and then break because of the low structural protein stores, and overabundance of moisture. As this was the issue with Trina's hair

Signs of too much protein:

 Elasticity is what allows us to style, stretch, and manipulate our hair without breakage. Hair that breaks with very little tension or stretching is a sign of too much protein, and a deficiency of moisture.  Too much structure makes the hair hard or brittle, and decreases its elasticity. This was the issue with Kim's hair, too much protein and not enough moisture.

Yesterday as I was cleaning the house I noticed something about myself. The style/way of cleaning my house!! I was shocked because this has always been the way I cleaned but I never really paid any attention it but when I did I giggled to myself and wondered does anyone else clean like this.

I started out down stairs cleaning the living room. Sat everything on the stairs that needed to go up stairs so when I go up stairs I can take all that stuff then. The time came that I needed to go upstairs so I grab the stuff, (mind you that I'm not done cleaning downstairs) went up stairs and put that stuff away. Now while I'm up stairs I make the bed and clean my room. Needed to put something in the bathroom, see things out of order so I clean in there. Needed to take somethings downstairs, so hey... remember I was'nt done down there anyway so I finish up down there. Grabbed what I needed from downstairs and  headed back upstairs to complete my house cleaning

.From listening to myself say all this...it really sounds like I'm all over the place but from doing it this way for so long, it actually works out great for me.LOL. A mess!!! I just thought it was interesting being that the "normal" way to clean is one room at a time, Right!?!