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Cause of split ends [how to get rid of them]

Cause of split ends

I know that it is very difficult to determine the cause of split ends, especially if you never had them! split ends can completely ruin the healthy appearance of your hair and they are not flattering at all.

But do not worry! We will see in this article why you get split ends in your hair, how to prevent them and how to eliminate them forever.

The most common cause of split ends is chemical and mechanical damage. That means that if you bleach continuously your hair, or if you overuse heat tools in your styling split ends will appear. The ends of our hair are very sensitive, and the more exposed they are to aggressions, the more you will end up with split ends.

Let’s find out what split ends appear, and the best solutions to fight against them:

What Is The Cause Of split ends ?

Split ends are never welcome in our hair! They appear from one day to the next and make our hair look damaged, dry, and devitalized.

Split ends normally appear in hair from time to time if let ends without care. There are habits in our routine that cause them to come out early.

Most commonly, they are caused by wear or damage. This can occur especially after bleaching.

The color effects if not taken care of with a good product for example Balayage Will Damage My Hair in certain conditions. Also, Highlights Damage Hair if you don’t take care of the exposure time with bleach among other things. Just in this type of situation is where split ends can appear.

Let’s first see why we get split ends:

What Cause split ends appearing?

Why do split ends appear

Split ends can appear for multiple reasons and if you don’t take care of your hair properly they can appear continuously. You must understand the cause of split ends so you can prevent them.

Your hair has a coating that protects it from damage and keeps it soft and shiny. This coating is the hair cuticle. The cuticle that seals the hair is most sensitive at the tip, so when it starts to get damaged, it loses its strength, and split ends appear.

When you have split ends, it is because your cuticle has been destroyed at the ends.

The main cause of split ends is chemical or mechanical damage. By this, I mean that it can be during aggressive styling. Also during color or bleach that you apply to your hair .

The chemicals used in hair color tend to weaken the cuticles. As they pass through they leave the outermost layer thinner, especially dry.

Dryness is one of the main causes of split ends. This can happen when the temperature of the hair is exceeded or when continuous styling is overdone.

I will now explain the 3 main reasons that cause split ends so you can prevent them:

  • Dryness/malnutrition
  • Chemical damage
  • Heat damage
  • During haircutting

When you can identify why it is happening you could avoid them in the future.

#1 Dryness/malnutrition

Dryness does a lot of damage because the cuticle is made up of scales that envelop the hair. These scales must be lubricated and nourished to hold the hair together. It is this bond that protects the hair and keeps it strong, elastic, and healthy.

When there is dryness this layer is no longer lubricated. This causes the scales, called cuticles, to begin to separate.

First, this will answer your question as to Why Is My Hair Frizzy All Of A Sudden. This is because the separated cuticles are What Causes Frizzy Hair.

After they are no longer lubricated they will lose their ability to absorb nutrients. When this happens it starts a chain of dryness that will end up causing the tip to become open and exposed. This is where split ends appear.

#2 Chemical damage

This is one of the main causes of split ends and one of the most aggressive.

Chemicals can be very aggressive because of the way they work. Not only are they aggressive but the reaction they create inside the hair weakens it.

Our hair is chemical inside and has bonds and bridges that give it its shape and strength. When those bonds are destroyed we will notice it immediately.

When chemicals that do this take away specific nutrients they create gaps in those chains that will translate into the split ends we see.

This is why it is very important to pay attention immediately because otherwise, it will continue to progress creating Tree Split Ends which are the most dangerous. They lead to breakage.

#3 Heat damage

Another cause of split ends closely related to the above is heat damage. 

Direct heat generates an accelerated drying that produces the same as we saw in #1 of dryness. In this case, it is extremely aggressive and can cause more than 1 split end. A clear example is a split end in the shape of a candle or tree that you can find in detail in What Do Split Ends Look Like

When exceeding the ideal temperature when using Flat Iron Damage Hair thermal tools and curling irons. That’s why it’s important not to exceed 180 degrees and be careful how many times you run it through your hair. Additionally, make sure your hair is free of moisture. 

Another cause of this happening with heat is if you don’t protect your hair when using these tools with a heat protectant.

Also, the number of times you use these heat tools in a week has a big influence. You should use them sparingly and no more than twice a week to give the hair time to regain the lubrication it needs to keep it from drying out.

#4 During haircutting

One cause of split ends that is ignored and almost unknown is when proper tools are not used during cutting. This can happen if you cut your hair with inappropriate scissors such as paper or fabric scissors. 

This is because their cutting edge is not fine enough to cut the hair without tearing it open. 

An example could be compared to the stem of a flower that must be cut in a certain way for it to continue to nourish and last. 

In the case of hair, it requires an extremely sharp edge and a certain curvature for the hair to continue to grow. 

A common example when this also happens is if a pair of scissors is not sharpened properly or has lost its edge. Another cause is poorly performed razor cuts where the ends will also open up if they do not have the correct movement so that the razor cuts at the correct angle.  

How to prevent split ends?

Cause of split ends and how to prevent it

Bad hair care habits are the cause of split ends appearing earlier than normal.

The best habits to prevent split ends are:

  • Wash your hair a maximum of two times a week.
  • Brush your hair very delicately.
  • Avoid heat tools as much as possible.
  • When you dye your hair, do it only at the roots and not all of the hair.
  • Use professional quality hair products.

SUGGESTIONS FOR YOU: How to use Olaplex 0 & 3 to repair your hair

Get rid of split ends

Get rid of them

If you already have split ends in your hair, you will surely be desperate to remove them.

The first thing we have to do is schedule an appointment at the hairdresser to cut your hair with a repairing treatment on the ends.

This will eliminate most of the damage, and prevent it from coming out again.

But if we have split ends along our hair, even if you cut the ends, you won’t be able to remove them because they are surely higher.

For this, it is very important that you use products that heal the cuticle and close the ends.

You will need:

  • Kerastase Serum Therapist: This creamy textured serum is the most powerful on the market to close split ends. Apply once a day from medium to the ends.
  • Kerastase force architecte masque: Apply this mask once a week and let it act for 20 min. It will repair your hair completely and heal the split ends.

If you use these products, you will see that you begin to eliminate split ends immediately.

The results will surprise you!

SUGGESTIONS FOR YOU: The best treatments for damaged hair

Let’s get better hair!

I hope this article has been helpful to you to know the cause of split ends and how to eliminate them.

Remember that patience and perseverance are very important.

Start changing your habits to take better care of your hair, and help your hair with specific products.

And don’t forget to cut your hair every 12 weeks!

If you have any questions, leave them in the comments.

Until next time.