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!!