Women all over the world with long hair have had this problem at least once in their lives. It drives them crazy and they then resort to different types of treatments and expensive beauty products. What are split ends anyway and how do we treat them at home without breaking the bank? Are there home remedies that really work?
Split Ends Defined
Trichoptilosis or schizotrichia, but more commonly known as split ends, is the splitting or fraying of the hair-shaft. It occurs when the protective outer layer of the hair cuticle wears away. It doesn’t seem so bad if you think about it but it does look terrible if you see it up close. Split ends may also give clues of how dry your hair really is.
Causes
Hair experts say that split ends are inevitable, thanks to the damaging heat tools, brushing, coloring, and all kinds of other elements. In general though, anything that involves thermal, chemical, or mechanical stress can cause split ends. In extreme cases, split ends can be seen as a symptom of Menkes disease and occipital horn syndrome which you definitely need your doctor to take a look at.
Home Remedies
The only way to truly remove them is to snip them off. However, you can treat them so they’re less noticeable between cuts. The best part is, you don’t need a fancy hair mask or serum to do it. Here are some ways:
- Use plain coconut oil as a conditioner
- Mix honey and olive oil and apply it on your hair as a conditioner then rinse afterwards
- Mix an avocado, an egg, and a bit of olive oil and apply it on your hair. After leaving it on for 10-20 minutes, shampoo your hair then rinse.
- Take Vitamins B7 (Biotin) and B9 (Folic Acid), as well as Vitamin C regularly
Prevention
On the other hand, here are some ways wherein you can prevent split ends from plaguing your hair. These are simple tips that are often overlooked:
- Blow-dry the right way by using a nozzle to control and direct the flow of air
- Treatments like hair coloring, highlights, straightening, and perms all cause trauma and should therefore be limited
- Use high quality heating tools as inexpensive tools tend to dangerously overheat over time and burn ends into splits
- Getting regular trims or cuts are your best weapon against them split ends
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