Split ends can be very frustrating and demoralize your self-confidence. Some people are more prone to split ends due to genetic causes. However, such cases are often sporadic. If you consistently get split ends, this could be mainly due to some mistakes in taking care of your hair. This blog post lists some of the most common habits that should be avoided to get rid of split ends without cutting your hair.
1. Avoid Excessive Combing
The most common cause of split ends is excessive combing. If you find it difficult to comb, use a wide-tooth comb. Ensure to avoid friction between the comb tooth and your hair by checking that the comb is smooth and without any ridges.
2. Reduce Exposure to Heat
These days usage of electronic hair straighteners and air dryers/blowers is widespread. These products release heat that can damage the outer protective layer of your hair. Without the outer layer, your hair is prone to split or even break.
3. Avoid Unnecessary Hair Dyes
How often do you dye your hair? Or apply excessive hair products? Such products are known to penetrate the outer (cuticle) layer of your hair and settle in the middle of cortex layers. This can cause the breakage of sulfide bonds and weaken your hair that can ultimately lead to split ends.
4. Nourish Your Hair
There are over 100k hairs on your head that grow up to 0.35 mm every single day. This requires nutrition and nourishment. Without proper nourishment, it is prone to breakage or split ends.
5. Use Oil – To Protect Your Hair
Use oil to preserve the outer cuticle layer. It is the most protective layer of your hair. If the cuticle layer is weakened, it is similar to losing the first line of defence for your hair. Oil helps by filling the gaps between the cells that make up your hair cuticle. Once it is filled, a toxic substance cannot penetrate the outer layer. Hence, it serves as a protectant.
6. Use Oil – To Nourish Your Hair
Protein loss from your hair can also weaken your hair. Coconut hair is known to make up to loss portions. It also increased the stretchiness of your hair. Hence, coconut hair can be used before or after combing. The other commonly used oil are olive oil, argan oil, mineral oil, sunflower oil etc.
7. Avoid UV Exposure From The Sun
Sun exposure leads to excessive treatment of your hair to UV. UV rays can easily damage the sulfide bonds in your hair. This is another sure way to cause split ends. Hence, avoid UV exposures.
8. Increase Zinc Intake
Zinc is one of the essential elements that facilities hair growth. Its deficiency can lead to reduced hair growth. Hence, your diet should contain sufficient zinc. Some of the familiar sources are chicken, legumes, oysters, etc.
8. Increase Iron Intake
The average growth and maintenance of any cell in your body need sufficient oxygen. Haemoglobin is a protein in our body that serves to carry oxygen to our various body parts. This is necessary for our hair because hair follicle cells require it. For the production of sufficient haemoglobin, iron is a crucial element. Diets that can help increase iron in your body are meat such a beef, pork, fish, while a vegan diet could have beans, nuts, apricots to increase iron in your body.
8. Increase Protein Intake
Keratin protein in your hair is made primarily from cysteine and methionine. Keratin is needed for the structural integrity of your hair. Deficiency of protein leads to hair thinning, weakening and even hair loss. Hence, proteinous food such as fish, eggs, meat, and cheese should be consumed
9. Use Hair Conditioners
Dangling of your hair can lead to hair breakage or split ends as well. Try to find suitable hair conditions to reduce forceful brushing.
10. Moisturizing Your Hair
Moisturizing your hair is important to increase flexibility and bendability. Try to identify suitable hair products with a lower molecular weight to penetrate the hair to keep it hydrated.
11. Avoid Combing Wet Hair
When your hair is wet, it is more fragile and prone to breakage. Hence, avoid combing your hair when it’s wet.
12. Avoid Over Washing Your Hair
Washing your hair exerts forces that can lead to mechanical hair breakage. It is not necessary to wash your hair daily. Hence, limit it to every alternate day or more depending on the need.
13. Wash Away Any Toxic Substance
When your hair is exposed to swimming pools with chlorine or salty water, it has to be washed with freshwater since salt and chlorine is known to be harmful to hair.
14. Dry Your Hair Gently
Care should be taken when drying hair. One should not rub your hair against a towel when drying. Instead, a gentle squeeze and air dry are best. If a hairdryer is necessary, use it at the lowest heat.
15. Get A Soft Satin Pillow
To avoid friction of your hair against the pillow when you sleep, it’s better to get a Satin pillow to reduce any damage done to your hair while asleep.
