How to Prevent Split Ends (And the Best Treatment Products to Use)
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Celebrity stylists dish on what causes split ends and the best split end treatment products your money can buy.
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Though they may seem basically imperceptible and “not that big of a deal,” a case of serious split ends is a sign your hair’s not in the greatest shape. That said, if you’re dealing with split ends—which are tiny splinters at the bottom of your hair—it’s a good idea to reassess your current hair care habits and incorporate some effective split end treatments into your regimen.
Not quite sure how to give your hair this TLC? We asked celebrity styles for the deets on what causes split ends, how you can treat and prevent them, and the best split end treatments to try.
RELATED: 5 Habits That Are Secretly Damaging Your Hair
What Causes Split Ends?
True to their name, split ends are frayed pieces of hair at the bottom of the hair shaft. If you were to compare a non-split hair with a split end, you’d see that the former is smooth and glossy to the tip, while the other looks dry, brittle, and splintered.
“Hair loses its solidness and splits up the hair shaft; hence, split ends,” says celebrity stylist Rodney Cutler, brand ambassador for Redken. “ You can think of split ends like a run in your stockings—it’s critical to repair right away, otherwise, the run will get bigger.”
Cutler notes that split ends are created by the everyday wear and tear your hair endures, and that they can be exacerbated by things like vigorous brushing, heat styling tools, and exposure to the elements.
Another major cause of split ends is waiting too long in between haircuts. A trim cuts off the dry, scraggly bits at the end of your hair—and all the split ends with it. If you wait too long, though, the split ends can continue multiplying and may even continue rising up the hair shaft.
How Can You Prevent and Treat Split Ends?
The best way to prevent split ends is to take great care of your hair. This means taking it easy on heat styling, being gentle with your hair, deep conditioning weekly, and going in for routine trims.
If you do notice some split ends, this could be a sign that you’re due (or overdue) for a visit to the salon. Getting regular trims is one of the best ways to strengthen hair health and prevent future split ends. However, you may notice some split ends even after a fresh cut. In that case, there are split end treatments you can try.
“While there is no way to fully repair split ends, treatments can help remedy the appearance and structure while preventing further damage,” explains celebrity hairstylist Andrew Fitzsimmons. “Split end treatments should be incorporated into your weekly hair routine as a means of prevention.”
He adds that hair masks (applied once or twice a week) are another great way to keep fragile ends healthy and strong. They work by keeping your hair healthy, hydrated, and strong.
Best Split End Treatment Products
Along with treating your hair gently and not skimping on haircuts, the following split end treatments can do wonders for those stubborn frayed ends.
1. Oribe Split End Seal
This tiny bottle is pure magic, and it’ll last you a surprisingly long time. It’s especially great for color-treated hair and/or dry or brittle strands, and it smells like an expensive salon.
2. Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate Leave-In Treatment
Not only does this leave-in treatment strengthen your strands, but it can also help reduce hair breakage while providing some moisture. It works via an acidic pH balancing formula that defends against everyday styling and exposure to the elements.
3. Kérastase Nutritive Split Ends Serum
If you prefer an oil-based formula, this is the split end treatment for you. This conditioning product quickly quenches thirsty hair while imparting all kinds of protective antioxidant goodness to your strands. The hero ingredient is vitamin B3, which can help improve shine, moisture, and smoothness.
4. amika The Closer Instant Split-end Hair Repair Cream
This super lightweight cream acts as a two-in-one leave-in-treatment and styling product—and it promises to seal 96% of split ends. It does so via a unique bonding technology and infusion of vegan proteins and sea buckthorn, which is rich in omega fatty acids.
5. K18 Biomimetic Hairscience Mini Molecular Repair Hair Oil
Here’s another oil-based split end treatment from science-forward brand K18 Biomimetic Hairsciece. Suitable for all hair types, this “biotech-engineered” treatment features a weightless oil consistency that melts into your hair to tackle damage, nix frizz, boost shine, and seal split ends.
6. Andrew Fitzsimmons Virgin Repair Restructuring Serum
Apply just a little bit of this silky serum to the ends of your freshly washed, damp hair and get ready to be impressed. It helps target breakage and split ends so they look smoother and more healthy, and the formula also helps moisturize and nourish your strands.
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