Top Ten Ways to Reduce the Risk of Split Ends

Top Ten Ways to Reduce the Risk of Split Ends

 

Written for Walgreens.com

 

Due to normal wear and tear on the hair, it’s common for most people to have some split ends. These are damaged areas of the hair, not necessarily at the ends, where the hair cuticle is cracked and the inner cortex is exposed. This damage can translate into frizzy hair and worse. It’s not a pretty sight. That’s why we’ve complied a list of our top ten ways to reduce the risk of split ends. Read on for happier hair.

1. One of the best things you can do to prevent split ends, and to get rid of the ones you already have, is to get your hair cut regularly. All hair gets damaged after a while, but a trim of as little as a quarter of an inch every six to eight weeks will do wonders to keep your ends fresh and healthy.

2. Pools are full of chemicals that can dry and damage your hair, so any time you are going to swim in a pool, protect your locks. Thoroughly rinse your hair before getting in the water, which can help it to absorb fewer chemicals. Also, try using leave-in conditioner or hair oil under a swim cap. After swimming, be sure to wash and condition your hair as soon as possible.

3. One of the biggest causes of hair damage is brushing. You should never over-brush hair, or brush hair when it’s wet and most sensitive. Other no-no’s: combing hair back and teasing hair with a brush. Stick to a comb if you must detangle your locks and brush your hair straight.

4. Protect your hair against damage by using gentle shampoo and conditioner. Look for products without drying ingredients or synthetic chemicals.

5. Go above and beyond normal hair conditioner and occasionally use a deep conditioning treatment or a hair mask to help moisturize hair. Hydrated hair is less prone to breakage.

6. Sleep with your hair in a bun or a braid to prevent breakage and damage while you sleep. This is especially important if you move around a lot during the night.

7. The ’80s may be over, but scrunchies are still in style as far as your hair is concerned. They’re ideal for styling while preventing breakage because they don’t contain any metal connectors that can snag and cut hair. If you need to use a rubber band, look for one that is joined by glue, not metal.

8. Use heat protection spray when styling your hair using a blow dryer, hair straightener, or curling iron.

9. Mix sunscreen in with your normal conditioner to prevent hair damage that can come from excess sun exposure. You can make this step even simpler by buying a conditioner that already contains sunscreen.

10. Don’t rub your hair with a towel to make it dry faster. This is one of the leading causes of split ends. Instead, pat hair dry with a hand towel or wrap wet hair in a special hair towel that will wick away moisture. Your hair will thank you.

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>