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Understanding and Preventing Split Ends

Split Ends 101: What Are They and What Causes Them?

Split ends: almost all of us have had to deal with them at some point. Whether your ends are frazzled or you’re just now checking out your strands and seeing the damage, split ends are never fun to find. The good news? They’re easy to deal with. Let’s talk about what causes split ends, and how to keep your strands strong.

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Simply put: damaged hair splits at the ends first and then damage travels up the strands. The environment, hot styling, overbrushing and chemical treatments can all affect the health of our strands, but even the most pampered hair can start to split. That’s why stylists often recommend trimming hair frequently, even when we’re trying to grow it out – we want to grow out healthy hair, not hair that’s prone to breakage and frizz.

What Causes Split Ends?

Preventing Split Ends Comes Down to a Few Factors

#1: Get trims regularly. Cutting off the splits as they happen will help the rest of your strands stay strong.

#2: Be gentle! Simple swaps like squeezing hair with a towel, instead of rubbing or exchanging your brush for a wide-tooth comb, can have a big impact.

#3: Choose the right products. Quality shampoos, conditioners and treatments can help protect and nourish your strands, potentially resulting in less breakage.

#4: Style sparingly. Don’t forget to give your hair a break from the hot tools. After all, the healthier your hair is, the better it will look in any style.

How to Prevent Split Ends

Not all split ends look alike! Here are a few common ways the shaft can split.

Types of Split Ends

As the name implies, the “Y” split makes your hair look like a Y at the end, meaning one solid strand becomes two thin strands.

The Y Split

The feather is what happens when a split end gets even more damage. Rather than a single split, like the Y, a feather split has many different, smaller splits, giving it the appearance of a feather.

The Feather Split

Sometimes, the strand doesn’t split all the way to the end: it splits further up the shaft and then comes back together. An incomplete, but still annoying, split.

The Incomplete Split

While not (knot?) technically a split, a knot in the strand can be caused by the same issues as split hairs and can cause damage down the line.

Want to know more about what makes your hair, your hair? Learn more about the science behind the strands at our [Tips & Tricks](/articles/).

The Knot

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High or Low? How to Do a Hair Porosity Test

Why do some people seem to have effortlessly sleek strands, while others deal with dryness and frizz? The answer lies I hair porosity: your hair’s ability to absorb and retain moisture. Finding the right products for your hair porosity, whether it’s high, medium, or low, can help you unlock your hair’s vibrant potential. Read on to learn quick hair porosity tests... 

Hair Care Tips for Your Hair Type

You might have a hair care routine down, but it’s always helpful to see what else you could be doing to amp up your style!... 

Find the Right Hair Care Routine for Your Hair Type

If you struggle with your hair care routine and need something that works better for your style goals, hair type, and lifestyle, take a look at these ideas that explore some of the top tips from stylists based on the most common hair types out there... 