How to Remove and Prevent Split Ends (with Pictures) - wikiHow

This article was co-authored by Arthur Sebastian. Arthur Sebastian is the Owner of Arthur Sebastian Hair Salon in San Francisco, California. Arthur has worked as a hair stylist for over 20 years and received his Cosmetology License in 1998. He believes that the true work of a successful hair stylist comes from passion and a love for hairdressing.
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Split ends aren't fun, and they always seem to reappear not too long after you get rid of them. Fortunately, there are things you can do to get rid of split ends and protect your hair so they don't come back.
Check for damaged hair. You don’t actually need to locate split ends to tell if your hair is damaged. It will feel dry and tangled if it is. However, if you want to find the split ends, closely examine your hair with the help of a mirror and good lighting. Split ends occur most often at the tip but can show up anywhere in your hair. Split ends and related damage can occur in several different forms. If you find any of the following, you may want to remove them:[1]XResearch source
Hair tips splitting into two or more strands
White dots at the end of your hair
Single strand knots (more common in dry, curly hair)
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Trim them yourself. If you're not due for a full haircut, you can take care of the split ends yourself. Trim them off using a small pair of hair shears, since scissors can fray your hair and lead to more split ends. Cut single strands about 0.25 inches (0.64 cm) above the split. If you cut too close to the damage, the split may reappear.[2]XResearch source
Some splits form a small ball directly above the damage. Make sure to cut above this.
Keep in mind that only trimming the split ends may change or ruin the look of your haircut. For best results, see a hair stylist to get your hair trimmed.
Cut your hair regularly. A hairdresser can always trim off split ends, but will usually remove about 1⁄4 to 1 inch (0.6 to 2.5 cm) of your hair along with them. Eventually, all hair will wear out enough to require this treatment. How long you wait between haircuts depends on your hair type, hair health, and how much time you're willing to spend hunting down your own split ends. This can be anywhere from 4 weeks to 3 months.[3]XExpert SourceArthur Sebastian Professional Hair StylistExpert Interview. 29 April 2019.
If you aren't trimming split ends yourself, avoiding the hairdresser will not save your long hair. Neglected split ends will become weaker and weaker, eventually breaking off.
Take steps to save hair length. If trimming off split ends are affecting your hair length goals, consider having your hair cut into layers. Ask the hairdresser to trim damaged hair in the surface layer, while leaving lower layers — and length intact. If you have afro-textured hair, a mild texturizer can achieve a similar effect, allowing you to manipulate your hair more easily and avoid trimming healthy hair.
Treat hair repair products with caution. There are conditioners and other commercial treatments that claim to "heal" split ends. These seal the split ends shut to hide them from view, but the damage is still there. You can use these as a temporary fix, but relying on them long-term may dry out your hair and lead to worse damage.[4]XTrustworthy SourcePubMed CentralJournal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of HealthGo to source
Use conditioner. After shampooing, rinse your hair and squeeze it out to remove most of the water. Then, apply conditioner along the length of your hair, but make sure to focus on the ends. Let it soak at least 3 minutes before you rinse it out.[6]XExpert SourceArthur Sebastian Professional Hair StylistExpert Interview. 29 April 2019.
Deep condition regularly. If your conditioner regimen isn't working, try a "deep condition" once or twice a month. Skip the fancy deep conditioning products, though. The best product to use for deep conditioning is coconut oil, which has the right chemical structure to sink deep into your hair. To deep condition:[7]XResearch source
Get your hair just wet enough so it is damp.
Place a dollop of coconut oil on your palm. If it's in a solid state, gently rub it between your palms until it becomes liquid.
Find a gentle comb or brush. Your brush or comb should aid you in untangling your hair, not pulling it out. The best option for people with thick hair is a wide-toothed, wooden comb or pick. People with thin hair may use a narrow-toothed, wooden comb or a brush with boar bristles or another flexible, natural bristle.
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Brush or comb gently. Start at the bottom and work your way up. When you encounter a tangle, stop and untangle it with your fingers before you continue brushing.
Stop teasing or backcombing your hair. This pulls up the scales of your hair, making it easy to break them off.
Do not brush more than necessary. Once the brush or comb runs through your hair without obstruction, you're done.
Hair is very fragile when wet. Brush it only when dry, unless you have curly hair, which should only be brushed when it is wet.
Eat a balanced diet. Make sure to eat the recommended amounts of vitamins and protein to ensure that your body produces the healthiest hair possible. Healthy fats such as omega-3 fatty acids can also help keep your hair whole and shiny.[8]XResearch source
Vitamin E is particularly useful. Vitamin E can be found in many foods, such as nuts, seeds, avocado, vegetable oils, some leafy greens, and some fish.
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Oil your hair for protection. Use a nutrient-rich oil such as almond oil, argan oil, egg oil, castor oil, or extra-virgin olive oil. This can lubricate the hair shaft, preventing it from splitting. Oil up to twice a week, leave it on overnight under a cap, and it wash off in the morning.[9]XResearch source
Avoid products that contain paraffin or kerosene, which cause drying.
Apply oil to the middle and ends of your hair. Applying oil near the scalp can cause a buildup of dandruff or damage the roots.
Apply a hair mask. A hair mask once every 1 or 2 weeks can help keep your hair healthy, moisturized, and damage-free. Leave it on for thirty minutes, everywhere except near your scalp.[11]XResearch source
Protect your hair from heat. Heat denatures the keratins (proteins) of the hair shaft weakening it and making it prone to split ends. Heat treatments are a major cause of damage and split ends. This includes hot blow drying, heat styling, straightening and curling through heat, and steam treatments.[12]XExpert SourceArthur Sebastian Professional Hair StylistExpert Interview. 29 April 2019. If you do use these treatments, take these precautions:[13]XResearch source
Do not straighten or use other high-heat treatments more often than once every two weeks, or preferably once a month.
Look for irons or other tools that allow for exact temperature control. Keep them set to below 356ºF (180ºC).
Protect your hair before swimming in a pool, ocean, or lake. Consider applying a special pre-swimming moisturizer product. Alternatively, use a leave-in conditioner, oil your hair, and/or wear a swim cap. Rinsing your hair thoroughly before swimming may reduce its absorption of harmful chemicals. Be sure to rinse and shampoo your hair as soon as possible after swimming.
Reduce reliance on dye, perms, and bleach. Hair dyes, perms, and bleach are particularly damaging, but any product can damage your hair. Try to limit how often you get your hair colored, permed, and bleached. Instead, opt for occasional touch ups to dye and bleach, such as once every 6 to 8 weeks.
For example, if you have dyed or bleached hair, get root touch ups only as needed. Do not re-dye all of your hair every time the roots grow out.
If you have a perm, only get it touched up when it is absolutely necessary, or consider not getting it permed again at all if your hair is damaged.
You can get split ends from brushing hair roughly, overusing heat styling tools, or from chemical services. Fine hair may be more prone to split ends.
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Unfortunately not. Split ends can be temporarily sealed but not repaired. The best thing to do with split ends is to cut them off before they spread.
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If you don't cut split ends they could continue to split up the hair shaft. The longer you wait, the higher the damage can spread.
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About This Article
This article was co-authored by Arthur Sebastian. Arthur Sebastian is the Owner of Arthur Sebastian Hair Salon in San Francisco, California. Arthur has worked as a hair stylist for over 20 years and received his Cosmetology License in 1998. He believes that the true work of a successful hair stylist comes from passion and a love for hairdressing. This article has been viewed 3,484,659 times.
To get rid of split ends, cut your hair a 1/4 inch above the splits using shears. If you're worried about messing up your hair, go to a hairdresser to get your hair trimmed. Once your split ends are gone, only wash your hair 3 times a week using a mild shampoo so you don't cause more damage. Also, avoid towel drying your hair and brushing it when it's wet — these things can cause split ends. For tips on preventing split ends with oils and hair masks, read the article!
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 3,484,659 times.
Reader Success Stories
Naomi Loise
Mar 15, 2016
"Very informative. I now know what I'll do to tame my split ends. I find that split ends can appear in anyone's hair. Even if you're using masks that are deeply hydrating for the hair, they can still appear. My advice is to get regular trims, use split end products, and this article should help. Anyway, it's not a big deal if you have split ends, as everyone has them. Don't go working yourself up over something pathetic."..." more
"Very informative. I now know what I'll do to tame my split ends. I find that split ends can appear in anyone's hair. Even if you're using masks that are deeply hydrating for the hair, they can still appear. My advice is to get regular trims, use split end products, and this article should help. Anyway, it's not a big deal if you have split ends, as everyone has them. Don't go working yourself up over something pathetic."..." more
Reeha Suleman
Jul 16, 2016
"I loved the part on finding out (yes, honey!) lightens your hair. I'm an 11 year old girl from the UK and I had split ends, but used these tips! "..." more
Serene
Apr 18, 2016
"A very informative article with facts about remedies and oils that can be used. Also, the point of not oiling the scalp and not combing wet hair."..." more
Ashlynne Reids
Mar 7, 2017
"I was worried about my hair for a minute, because I have split ends. The tips that have been stated helped a lot. Thanks!"..." more
Alisha Faye
Sep 10, 2016
"I liked the way they told me about using a type of brush and how to use it, because that really helps!"