At some point or another, we have all been plagued with the dread of unsightly split ends. Whether or not we choose to equip ourselves with the knowledge of how to deal with them are solely up to us. It is perfectly natural to question whether to chop off the split ends or attempt to repair the damage. Ideally, repairing or mending those split ends would prevent departing with them. But really, can split ends be repaired?

Essentially, a split end occurs when the protective layer of the strands have been damaged and the structure of the hair begins to split apart. When the cuticle of the hair is damaged, the ends split and eventually snap off, resulting in the little pieces you see in the bathroom sink. It is important to be aware that when your split ends are not addressed, the damage travels up the hair shaft, encompassing more hair. So, in essence, more hair will eventually have to be cut off. The damage itself results from several factors. For starters, daily wear and tear can cause damage to the hair’s shaft. When the hair is handled and styled using products and tools that tear away the protective layer, it can lead to major splitting of the ends. Certain tools such as brushes and small tooth combs can do this for sure. Not properly handling hair can lead to ends fraying and being destroyed as well. Other causes of damaged ends are heat styling, chemical processing such as dying, perming or relaxing, and even some hair care products.

Let’s be honest, it is better to avoid damaged ends altogether by taking measures to ensure good hair health. But if you’re already dealing with damaged and split ends, you are taking the first step to healthier hair simply by educating yourself.  Here are some suggestions for helping to mend already split ends and avoiding further split ends:

Be kind to your hair. Caring for your strands require the most gentle treatment when handling or styling your hair. Use wide tooth combs as opposed to tearing through hair with combs with small teeth. Avoid brushing hair with harsh bristle brushes. Refrain from excessively brushing your hair. Paddle brushes or boar bristles are less harmful to the hair. When manipulating hair or styling wet strands, treat your hair with extra TLC.  Wet strands are more vulnerable and prone to damage. It is also important to eliminate the use of tight ponytail holders that can also damage the cuticles of your strands. Consider wearing loose buns that are just as cute as they are protective! Your strands will appreciate the extra care and your ends will be stronger as a result.

Protect Hair While You Sleep.  Wearing a mulberry silk bonnet at night ensures the safety of your strands as you snooze. A mulberry silk pillowcase can be used as well. You’d be surprised at how damaging a cotton pillowcase can be to your hair as you slumber. Unlike satin (polyester), mulberry silk contains 18 naturally occurring amino acids that promote strong, shiny, full hair. It also reduces dryness, frizz , and breakage by smoothing the hair cuticle, eliminating friction, and promoting moisture retention.

Avoid excessive heat.  Simply put, hair that is heat damaged leads to split ends. The way this works is simple, direct heat actually robs your strands of moisture. Once the hair is depleted of moisture, the cuticles are damaged and the next stage is split ends. Blow drying and curling irons used regularly without heat protection are the number one culprits here. Although avoiding heat as often as possible is suggested, the use of a good heat protectant that will properly coat the cuticle and protect the hair up to 450 degrees should be used each time direct heat is used. Air drying is always a better option. Even allowing your strands to air dry before using a blow dryer can cut down on the amount of direct heat required to achieve your look.

Ditch the harsh chemicals. Your hair strands are made up of layers, and products can actually strip them away. The use of milder products or those that contain natural ingredients can help to keep the cuticle stronger. To start, your products should be free of what we call “The Awful 8” ingredients: Silicone, Sulfates, Mineral Oil and Petroleum, Parabens, Phthalates, PEG, Propylene Glycol (PG), and Chlorine.  Chemical processing can lead to damage as well. Even cutting back on the frequency of processing or dying hair can aid in healthier hair overall and give hair a chance to repair. Using a good quality silicone-free leave-in conditioner that coats the cuticle can help to improve or mend the split ends.

Get regular hair trims. If you trim your ends regularly, you will notice less issues with damaged ends. Regular trimming is advised because ends are very vulnerable from rubbing against clothes. How often you actually need a trim may vary for each individual, however the standard recommendation is every 6-8 weeks.

You can mend the ends! Hairfinity Revitlizling Leave-In Conditioner improves the strength and health of each individual strand. Scientific tests on processed hair exposed to excessive heat and brushing proved that this leave in will improve up to 92% of split ends and protect hair from heat up to 450 degrees with just one use! Take a look at the results (under a microscope) of split end repair after just 1 use of the Hairfinity Revitalizing Leave-In Conditioner.