Split ends are one of the most common issues when it comes to maintaining our hair’s health and overall beauty. Some women like growing their hair very long without even checking if there are emerging split ends on their crowning glory. So today, we would like to answer the common question: what happens if you don’t cut your split ends regularly?
If you’re one of those people who neglect seeing those splitting hair strands, you might want to read along and see how split ends can cause severe damage to your hair. But it’s not just the negative side that we’re talking about - we would also be helping you on how to manage split ends and make your hair grow longer and healthier!
What Happens When You Don’t Cut Your Split Ends
It doesn’t matter what and how much you pay for an expensive moisturizing or keratin treatment for your hair if you don’t pay much attention to your split ends. You can treat split ends like acne - because it is inevitable and it can happen to almost anyone.
Damage
Not cutting your split ends can impose severe damage on your hair if left alone. What happens is that the splitting end of your hair strand comes from the oldest part of your hair which is the tip. If these splits aren’t cut off, they can work their way up and damage the rest of your hair strand.
Frizz
Split ends can affect the overall health of your hair, and not cutting it can also lead to frizziness. This is because unhealthy hair strands tend not to blend with the rest of the hair strands. Since split ends tend to make your hair frizzy, it can also lead to tangled hair - making combing a hassle.
Less Hair Growth
Not cutting your split ends can lead to fewer healthy hair strands to grow. As mentioned earlier, split ends work their way up from tips to the hair shaft. Once split ends reach the middle part of your hair, it can affect the terminal length of your hair, or the maximum length that your hair can grow. Cutting those frays can allow your hair strands to grow healthily without risking their chance to grow as long as they can.
Losing Hair Density
Hair density is characterized by the number of hair stands that grow per square inch on your scalp. Although split ends start from the tip of your hair, since it can climb its way up, the hair fibers can split up more than two times.
Split ends can cause less hair to grow because of the intense breakage that it causes. You could lose 50 to 100 hair strands per day all because of split ends. If you have noticed that your hair is getting thinner, then split ends could be one of the major issues that your hair is experiencing.
Rough Hair Texture
Those annoying fraying ends - as it goes its way up to your hair tends to make your hair texture rough. Leaving split ends untreated can make your hair coarse, rough, dry, and stiff. You would notice that a regular conditioner would not treat your coarse hair. So, the best thing to do is to cut those splitting hair strands and prevent them from damaging your entire mane.
The Splits Will Multiply
If you have been dealing with split ends for a long period of time already, you would notice that they tend to multiply in different appearances aside from the regular split that you see. They can turn into multiple feathers, knots, and other types just like what you can see on the photo below.
Lighter Color
You would also notice some change in color on the tips of your hair especially if you have colored or bleached hair. Unlike healthy strands, damaged and fragile hair affected by the split ends cannot maintain the color of your hair.
In return, you won’t have even-colored hair just because of split ends and other environmental factors like sun damage and pollution. It is highly recommended to manage your split ends especially if you are planning to have your hair colored in vibrant reds and ombre!
How Can You Stop Getting Split Ends?
We talked about how split ends are inevitable but there are a lot of ways that we can stop the split ends from ruining our mane. You can keep your split ends in control by simply following these recommendations:
- Avoid using hair tools that uses heat
- Gently wash and detangle your hair
- Use deep conditioning oils, serums and conditioners once or twice a week
- Use a smooth towel to dry your hair
- Use a satin or silk pillowcase when sleeping
- Switch to organic hair products and refrain from using harsh chemicals
Can Split Ends Go Away On Their Own?
We know that you have been thinking if split ends can go away on their own, especially if you have been wanting to grow your hair long. I hate to break this to all of you but the only way to get rid of split ends is to actually cut it.
It might be tough to lose some of the length of your hair, but the only way to manage and prevent the split ends from damaging your hair further is by chopping them off. Don’t worry, we’ll be helping you with the best methods and practices to help you manage your split ends and have healthier looking hair!
The Best Methods For Trimming Split Ends
Here are some of the best methods that you can consider if you want to cut your split ends at home:
Use Hot Scissors
Using hot scissors is one of the best ways that you can get rid of your split ends and this technique is widely used at salons. If you use traditional scissors, it tends to open up the cuticle of your hair, leaving it more prone to breakage and damage.
Hot scissors seal the end of your hair strands since it melts the tip and locks in the moisture of the strand. The added heat from the scissors ensures that your hair strands are hydrated and moisturized. Thus, protecting your hair from damaging split ends.
Sealing
Sealing your hair strands means that you would be covering the tips of your hair to prevent them from splitting. Some people use Vaseline to cover the ends of your hair and prevent them from fraying and drying.
On the other hand, Vaseline only offers a temporary solution for your split ends. You can ask for some professional help in sealing your hair strands.
Apply Coconut Oil
If you’re looking for the best product to help manage your split ends at home, you can try applying some coconut oil. Coconut oil can help seal the fraying ends of your hair and it is highly recommended to be applied in between your salon appointments.
What Happens If Your Split Ends Reach Your Scalp?
The worst thing that could happen about having split ends is that it can reach your scalp if it is not given proper management and attention. As stated earlier, neglecting your split ends can make you lose your hair density. Thus, your scalp would grow less hair strands with less healthy growth.
How Often Should You Trim Your Split Ends?
According to hair experts, it is highly advisable to have your hair trimmed every 3 to 4 months if you’re not trying to grow your hair very long. But if you are, then you have to have your ends trimmed every 12 weeks to ensure healthy hair growth and keep it in its optimum condition.
Though it might be fun to cut your hair personally, we still highly recommend that you visit a hair professional to check other emerging issues on your hair. In this way, the hair experts can also help you get much-needed salon treatments to help you feel more beautiful about your healthy hair!
How to Cut Split Ends Without Losing Length
Did you know that you can also manage and cut those annoying split ends without losing most of your hair length? I know that some people are scared to cut off their split ends because they are worried about losing most of the length of their hair.
But you also have to know that not cutting your split ends can lead to further damage. So, we have looked upon some of the ways that you can cut your hair without losing so much length.
Step 1: Brush your hair and untangle all the strands.
Step 2: Section your hair into four (4) or more equal parts depending on the thickness of your hair.
Step 3: Trim the split ends accurately starting at the end and towards the end of the splits
Don’t be too scared in battling with split ends! All you need to do is to have a hair check regularly, and if you see some splitting, grab a pair of hot scissors have healthier looking hair!
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