What are Split Ends?

Known in the medical world as "trichoptilosis" or "schizotrichia", split ends are result of fraying or splitting of the hair fibre, most typically at the end of the strand, although splitting can occasionally occur further up the hair.

Your hair grows from the root, so the end is the oldest part of your hair. Depending on the length of your hair, the ends may have been with you for several years! Just imagine all the things the ends have seen and been with you through. How many times have they been washed, styled, or straightened? How many hats, scarves, and sweaters have they touched? How many cold, windy, dry, and humid days have they seen?

Not to mention, the end is the most exposed and vulnerable part of your hair. So is it any wonder that your ends can’t last forever? Over time, daily wear and tear on your hair will degrade and wear down the hair cuticle, exposing the inner cortex. The result is split or frayed ends of your hair.

Your ends can split in a variety of ways. You may notice the classic end split in two, or smaller, just barely split ends. You may notice ends that split into multiple pieces (like a tree or broom) or hairs that thin at the end as the cuticle disappears but the cortex remains intact. You may even notice hairs that split all the way up the shaft. The common denominator is, unless you trim your hair every month, all of us will experience some split ends. They are part of the normal life cycle of hair.

Does everyone get split ends?
Not to the same degree. All hair types can suffer from split ends due to other, non-genetic/ethnic reasons. You may have more or less split ends than your neighbour due to how you style your hair, how intensely, what products you use, or if you use heated tools. Certain environmental conditions like the weather (wind, rain, sun), pollution and lifestyle can also affect the quality of your hair, making it more prone to damage and resulting split ends.

How do split ends affect your hair's appearance?
Split ends and broken hair fibres can cause the hair to look dry, straggly and uneven at the ends, with the lengths looking flat and dull. Why? When the cuticles (the overlapping scales that cover the hair strand's core) are damaged, they don't lie down flat against the fibre. This means the light does not reflect as well off the hair, which is why people with split ends often notice a lack of luminosity and depth. These damaged cuticles are also less supple, which means they do not lie smoothly against one another, but have a tendency to tangle, create knots, and break even further.

How can you prevent split ends?
Wondering how to get rid of split ends? When the hair strand is split or fractured, the only solution to restore a healthy fibre is a visit to your hair stylist for a trim.

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