Why do hair splits

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In order to keep your hair healthy and strong, you want to keep the outer layers of your hair in the best shape possible. So why do we get split ends? Image courtesy of Rachel C. Any other ways to prevent split ends? Here are some easy tips that can help reduce your chances of seeing splits in your hair.

Dry your hair gently. Invest in better tools. Tie back with care. Give your hair some time off from heat and chemicals. Keep your scalp healthy. A more advanced version of the double split but not quite as damaged as the tree split, the fork split resembles a three-pronged fork.

These splits are a sign that your hair is extremely dehydrated and is splitting even further because of a lack of hydration. The more directions and splits a single strand of hair has, the more unruly and frizzy it will look. At the end of the day though, the best way of resolving split ends of any kind is to keep up with routine trims.

The Double Split The double split is the most common and arguably most recognizable of all the splits. The Partial Split Very similar to double splits, the partial split is the initial sign that a double split is coming soon and is marked by a short split at the end of the hair.

The Tree Split The tree split is a sign that your hair is damaged beyond repair and that you need to get your hair trimmed fast. The Fork A more advanced version of the double split but not quite as damaged as the tree split, the fork split resembles a three-pronged fork.

Solutions At the end of the day though, the best way of resolving split ends of any kind is to keep up with routine trims. About the Author. Try to turn down the temperature on your hair dryer, straightener, curling wand or other heat tools to give your hair a break. Tackle your hair in smaller sections and be willing to take more time to work at a lower temperature. Using hair products with a lot of chemicals, or bleaching and dyeing your hair, can also increase the strain on your hair and dry it out faster, leading to split ends.

Try to not wash your hair every day, and use a gentle, natural shampoo free of sulfates and parabens. Another tip is to only shampoo the scalp and only condition your ends.

Brushing your hair when it is very tangled can also cause your hair to break off or split at the ends. Forcefully combing through knots strains the hair and can lead to breakage and split ends. What can you do differently to prevent split ends caused by brushing? Detangle your hair carefully with your fingers before using a brush or comb. Once you start brushing or combing, move gently and carefully through the hair, tackling knots at the end of your hair first instead of trying to force your way through from above.

If combing or brushing is proving difficult, move your tool further down and try again. If your hair is proving too difficult to comb or brush, apply coconut oil, a detangling product or leave-in conditioners to your strands before brushing it out. A condition called trichorrhexis nodosa , which is when nodes around your hair shaft grow thicker or weaker than usual, causes the hair to break more easily and could also be the cause of your split end woes.

Sometimes this is an inherited condition, but it can also be caused by iron deficiency, hypothyroidism, too much ammonia in the body or because of another syndrome. Some hairstyles, like a tight ponytail or bun, cause a lot of pressure and friction on the hair shaft and can lead to breakage and split ends.

Loosen your hair elastic or opt for a more gentle scrunchie material to reduce the force on your hair.