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A
common condition, split ends is most often seen in long hair but
also found in shorter hair that is out of condition and is an
affliction of anyone trying to grow their hair. This problem is
easily solved with good hair maintenance and we have put together
all the solutions below:
The Causes:
As
your hair grows, the natural oils from the scalp (which flows
down through the hair to protect it) can fail to reach the ends.
·
The ends
of your hair are getting "old" once they reach 10 cm
(4 inches). They have had a long exposure to the sun, gone through
many shampoos and been overheated by hairdryers and tongs. This
all results in dry and brittle ends which are prone to splitting.
·
Not trimming
your hair regularly.
·
Damage
due to relaxers, perms and colours when done to excess also causes
dry brittle ends.
·
Poor quality
brushes and combs can also cause this problem.
·
Some hair
types are naturally prone to split ends so they require extra
care.
The Cures:
If
you already have split ends, a sure cure is to cut them off but
that is not always what you want especially if you are growing
your hair. Bear in mind that if you don't do something about them
then your hair will gradually get shorter anyway because split
ends drop off and contiue to split backwards towards the scalp
at a faster rate than your hair can grow. To get your hair back
into shape and keep it looking that way we suggest you try some
of the basic methods below:
·
Use specialist
products that are designed to seal the splits temporarily in order
to catch any splits that are shorter than the length you want
to cut your hair to and to allow your hair to grow a little longer
before you trim. Lee Cohen from Reds salon in Cairns recommends
Schwarzkopf's bc bonacure 'Sealed Ends'.
Always
condition hair longer than 10cm (4 inches). A weekly treatment
is also a good idea especially if your hair is prone to splitting,
chemically treated or exposed to harsh elements/heated appliances
like tongs and flat irons.
·
Trim regularly
(every 6 weeks for shorter hair 8 to 12 weeks for longer hair)
and apply regular treatments. Following the advice in our long
hair, detangling and conditioning sections will all help.
·
Layers
in your hair can catch splits that have become really bad which
is better than losing lots of length. Discuss this thoroughly
with your stylist to ensure that this option is for you.
·
If you
have had a perm or relaxor, then it is a good idea to get the
ends trimmed on the same day.
·
Avoid
excess heat and too much brushing and combing.
·
Invest
in a quality combs and real bristle brushes. Throw away combs
immediately a tooth is lost and never use metal combs.
What
ever you do, if you want to keep your hair long, don't ignore
split ends because, as they split they also break away, meaning
that your hair is in effect getting shorter every time you brush
it!
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VirtualHairCare
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