The only time we like to hear the word “split” is when we order our fave dessert, a Banana Split of course! It’s far from what we like to see when we stand in front of a mirror and zoom in on those damaged ends of our hair. Experts say that it’s natural to see split ends in our strands as our hair grows longer, but since we style, colour and chemically treat our hair very often, we’re fast-forwarding the process. The ends of our hair tend to split, and faster at that, when the hair cuticle wears off. This could be because of excessive pollution, frequent trips to the salon as well as styling experiments at home. Remember, not only do they look bad but also translate to weakened, damaged hair. So what’s a girl gotta do keep her locks healthy? We give you a few ways to avoid split ends – follow them to the T!
1. Opt for Deep Conditioning Treatments and Leave-In Conditioners
Pamper your hair by conditioning it from root to tip at least once a week. You can either go to a salon (if you can afford it every now and then) or do it at home. We swear by the Kerastase Nutridefense Antri-Drying Protective Treatment Masque to leave our manes revitalized and silky soft. If you want to go natural, you can try ingredients like eggs/ yoghurt/ beer to nourish your hair.
2. Use a Wide-Tooth Comb
Be it in the shower (when you should apply the conditioner on your ends evenly with a comb), or after it, use a wide- tooth comb to gently untangle your hair. Never run a brush through your strands when wet – it’s a cardinal sin that causes hair breakage. De-tangle using a wide-tooth comb to avoid damaging your strands.
3. Pick the Right Products
If you’re blow-drying your hair at home, remember to use a nozzle to avoid excessive heat on your hair. Once your hair is dried, switch to the cool setting on your dryer and apply a nourishing serum like the Kerastase Elixir Ultime to avoid frizziness and breakage. If you use a straightener on your locks, spritz on a product like the Schwarzkopf Osis+Flatliner Sleek Flattening Iron Serum to protect your hair against damage and split ends.
4. Shampoo Your Scalp Only
Staying clean is a must, obviously, but shampooing your mane too often can strip your hair of its natural oils and dry out your locks extra fast. Make sure to sud up your roots to cleanse your scalp and avoid rubbing on shampoo on the rest of your hair, especially the ends, to prevent them from splitting.
5. Take a Break
No matter how well you take care of your locks, colouring or rebonding changes the texture of your hair. While we won’t ever tell you not to do it, just make sure you don’t opt for these treatments one after the other. They are heavy on the pocket, and can be heavy on your hair too. So if you’ve just gotten your hair streaked, stay away from any other chemical treatment for about 6 months.
6. Trim Your Tresses
Even women who don’t colour, chemically treat or even blow-dry their mane too often can be prone to split ends. In a bid to grow out our locks, we tend to skip those much-needed haircut appointments, which can result in dry, scraggly ends. Getting a trim (even if it is just an inch) is a must every 6-8 weeks to avoid those dreaded split ends. Trust us, your hair will be much healthier and happier for it!
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