Split ends are the bane of any long-haired lady’s existence. You can pamper your hair with the most high-end products and still be plagued with the little nasties. My husband, Chris, will tell you that one of my most common complaints when we’re out in the sun (AKA the most unflattering light for hair flaws) goes along the lines of “Baaaabe, look at all these split ends!”
Does this sound like you?! The good news is, if you want to prevent split ends and breakage, you don’t need any more pricey hair products. All you need are some good home remedies and a couple of new habits, and you can kiss those split ends goodbye!
If you’re wondering how to stop split ends, I’ve got you covered.
Hair is surprisingly sensitive, and split ends are generally caused by rough handling. Implement these simple hair care tips and you will surely notice a difference.
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Scrunchies
Have you heard? Everyone’s favourite ’90s hair accessory is creeping back into popularity. Nobody is more excited about this than my Mum, who has been proudly sporting scrunchies ever since they were last in fashion. Good on ya, Mum.
Not only are scrunchies a fun way to express your personal taste and style, they’re also much more gentle on your hair than regular hair ties. The soft fabric of a scrunchie is much less likely to pull and break your individual hair strands, making them absolutely awesome for split end prevention.
I’ve spotted scrunchies at big department stores like Target and Kmart, and the set pictured above are cheap-as-chips on Amazon.
A good brush & a wide-tooth comb
A decent brush doesn’t need to set you back too much – you just need the right type of brush for your hair. I went to a hair care shop, got advice from the salesperson about the best everyday brush for my hair type and brushing habits, shelled out $20 and received a brush that is 10x gentler than the grocery store paddle brush I had been using for years. I truly can’t believe it took me this long to question my hair brush in my bid to find out why I was getting split ends!
Straight after washing your hair, you want to avoid brushing completely. Instead, use a wide-tooth comb to detangle those tresses. Again, these bad boys won’t set you back much at all. You can find them at the grocery store or any department store for a few dollars. You can even get one that will hang in your shower – how handy is that! (Truth be told though, I adore this gorgeous bamboo comb even more.)
T-shirt drying
Did you know that towel-drying is probably doing damage to your hair? As nice as they are to wrap around your body, towels surprisingly wreak havoc on hair, which is at its most sensitive when wet. Instead, reach for an old T-shirt, which is a lot softer.
Coconut oil & leave-in conditioner
I go through this as part of my post on easy, budget-friendly hair care tips, but the gist of it is that these two products are life savers when it comes to combatting split ends. Your hair needs moisture in order to stay healthy and strong, and this pair of products will be your two new best friends. I personally use this lovely leave-in conditioner, but be warned: a little bit goes a long way! For coconut oil you can pick up any brand next time you’re grocery shopping, or try this one (I haven’t, but it sounds amazing enough to share) which is beauty-grade and 100% raw.
Regular trims
It seems counter-intuitive if you’re trying t keep your hair long, but regular cuts (every 6-8 weeks) are truly the secret to keeping split ends at bay. By getting those ends snipped before they become too problematic, you prevent them from splitting any further, which means you’re actually protecting that length you’ve worked so hard for! So gain your hairdresser’s utmost respect and keep up those regular appointments.
Cut back on heat
It’s no secret that heat is your hair’s worst enemy. Scorching hot showers, hair dryers, curling irons and straighteners all contribute to unhappy hair. It’s unrealistic for me to tell you to avoid heated hair appliances altogether, but keeping that heat to a minimum will do wonders for your tresses. Always make sure your hair is 100% dry before using curlers and straighteners. And instead of grabbing that blow dryer fresh out of the shower, let your hair dry about 80% before finishing it off.
Split ends are a pain, but with these tips, you should notice them decrease significantly. Good luck, and enjoy your new babin’ hair!
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So i am a guy with long hair and i noticed im stasrting to get split ends in my hair, will these tricks help me even though these are directed to a lady with long hair?
Absolutely! Hair is hair 🙂 Treat it well and it will pay off.
I have long hair and notice split ends, but I don’t want to get a trim because my hair takes forever to grow. I’m planning on just taking really good care of my hair!
I totally understand – I swear every time I tell the hair dresser “just a bare minimum trim, please!” I end up losing months of growth. It’s so frustrating!