How to deal with split ends

Split ends are a painfully familiar problem for those whose hair reaches at least their shoulders, and in general for most women who often color, style, and straighten their hair. Unappetizing "bristles" on the tips themselves look sloppy, but most importantly, the section of the tips is very difficult for those who want to grow their hair. A vicious circle is formed: you cut 1-2 cm of cut ends, diligently grow your hair, after a couple of months the ends split again - and you again go to the hairdresser, where you cut off all your progress, in the end, without moving a single centimeter towards your goal, long and healthy hair. Why is this happening - and what to do?

The main reason for cutting hair is a violation of the structure of the tip of the hair shaft, in which the lipid layer decreases, the surface scales of the hair cease to adhere tightly and "loosen up", and the hair itself splits, partially breaks and loses any appearance. Most often, the section covers up to 1.5-2.5 cm of hair from the tip, but if you do not take action, then the destruction can progress and lead to even more significant splitting of the hair. If you cut the split ends, the hair remains intact for a while, and then history repeats itself. Usually, the split ends are accompanied by increased dryness, brittleness and a tendency to tangling.

So why is the structure of the hair tip disturbed?

The prevalence of this problem is explained by a very long list of negative factors, under the influence of which hair splits. Among the most common and influential reasons are:

• Generally unhealthy hair. Overly dry, brittle and damaged hair is simply doomed to split ends.
• General diseases, lack of important elements in the body, hormonal disorders, unhealthy diet (hard diets), bad habits (eg, smoking).
• Hair coloring with chemical dyes.
• Use of aggressive styling techniques. First of all, this applies to thermal styling - a hair dryer and all kinds of stylers, irons. Hair ends are almost guaranteed to split under constant exposure to high temperatures. Drying shampoos with a high content of sulfates, parabens and other "chemicals"; curling, long-term hair straightening. Strong hold varnish in combination with bouffants. In general, everything that "hits" the hair with temperature, chemistry or mechanical stress.
• Poor hair care, combs with traumatic teeth, chronic stress, prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation ... any adverse factors can lead to hair splitting.

What to do?

To get rid of split ends, you will have to make a choice: either sit in a hairdresser's chair every 30-60 days and cut the damaged part of your hair, or completely change your approach to hair care. First, give up thermal styling of your hair: do not curl or straighten them, dry only with cool air or generally in a natural way. Secondly, switch to natural shampoos, conditioners and masks, getting rid of sulfates and parabens. Thirdly, do not permanently curl and reduce hair coloring to an absolute minimum (or switch to herbal natural dyes). Fourth, get safe combs with rounded ends, do not comb wet hair, and refuse harsh hairsprays. Fifth, eat right, avoid hard diets. And also to provide your hair with natural and very gentle care with the help of strengthening shampoos and balms, that is, take care not only of the ends, but also of the hair in general. Well, against the background of such care, measures for the treatment of the tips themselves will be especially effective.

Local tip care.

Wax with caring oils, special conditioners and oily end balms, as a rule, simultaneously nourish the hair and restore the lipid layer, and also act for the future, strengthening the hair. Such products are applied to wet or dry hair after washing, trying to limit themselves to the ends (due to the fact that such products are usually quite oily, oily, when applied to the entire length, they noticeably grease the hair), and do not wash off. Also, hair ends are often designed to protect against high temperature styling.

Broccoli oil. Several natural vegetable oils at once are able to protect and strengthen hair, for example, jojoba, argan, coconut, but broccoli oil is a champion in this matter: when applied to split ends, its beneficial effect begins to affect within a few weeks. After each hair wash, add 2-4 drops of broccoli oil to the palm of your hand, rub and apply to the ends of the hair. Do not rinse.

General hair strengthening. The hair, its bulb and shaft, the scalp are all an integral system, therefore, the treatment of cut ends should be comprehensive. Replace your regular shampoos with natural shampoos, add a natural nourishing, moisturizing or regenerating conditioner to your daily care program, apply a strengthening mask 1-2 times a week - and your hair will gradually begin to return to normal, both at the roots and at the ends.