Excess heat, dry air, lack of hydration, harsh hair products, and lack of nutrition can all add up to damaged hair, increasing the likelihood of split ends or hair breakage. Split ends can be made even worse due to using chemical-based shampoos, towel drying your hair too v
igorously, and using hair dryers and other heat-based styling tools too often. If you want strong, thick, and luscious locks, try these tips:
-
1. Towel dry the right way
As tempting as it is to rub your hair dry with a towel before rushing off to work, do not do it. Human hair is vulnerable when it is wet, so you should take care of it to prevent split ends. Rubbing the hair will only lead to excessive breakage and may cause split ends to travel upwards. Instead of rubbing the hair, gently squeeze out excess water with a bath towel.
-
2. Blow dry the cool way
If you blow dry your hair immediately after you get out of the bath, you are more likely to damage it. The best solution is to let your hair air dry completely, but, if that is not possible, try to let it mostly air dry and only use the hair dryer on slightly damp hair. Additionally, make sure that you use heat only from the roots to the mid-length of the hair strands. Avoid using heat on the ends, as this will make them prone to split ends. For the least damage, blow dry your hair on the cool setting if possible. Also, make sure that you use a hair product to protect your hair from heat damage.
-
3. Say no to straighteners and curlers
One of the biggest myths perpetrated in the market is that the hotter your styling tool, the better the results. On the contrary, human hair can only take heat till 180°F, and anything above this can damage the hair strands and rob it of its manageability, softness, shine, and luster. At the same time, using these styling tools at low temperatures still may not help. It will take a lot more passes of the tool to get the desired look, and this may leave the hair dry and prone to split ends.
-
4. Ditch the brush
We often hear that we should not brush wet hair at any cost. This is because hair strands are prone to breakage when they are wet. It is therefore best to avoid brushing until the hair is dry. To tame your hair while it is still wet, start with a wide tooth comb and divide the hair into sections. Then, untangle the hair from the bottom and work your way upwards so that you don’t cause more damage by pulling the knots down and breaking the hair strands.
-
5. Consider a keratin treatment
A keratin treatment can give excellent results if you have frizzy, tangled hair and split ends. Frequent hair styling robs the hair of keratin, and this treatment replenishes it, helping to reduce and reverse hair damage.
-
6. Moisturize the hair
Moisturizing your hair will not get rid of split ends, but it can help disguise them. Shampoos and conditioners with natural ingredients increase the strength of the hair and reduce breakage. Think of it as a slow remedy to split ends.
-
7. Trim hair regularly
Stylists recommend a trim every 6-8 weeks, depending on the condition of the hair. Frequent trims enhance hair growth and reduce the risk of split ends, while not trimming the hair can lead to breakage. If you are worried about your hair length, ask your stylist to work on minimal layering. This hairstyle will make your hair look longer while still cutting off most of the split ends.
