Natural hair care remedies became very popular nowadays, not only because these remedies are very effective, but also, because usually we can find all the necessary ingredients for homemade hair treatments right in our kitchen.
A. Causes of split ends:
In the beauty industry, split hair or split ends is known as trichoptilosis. There are wide range of reasons why split ends occur.
Some causes include:
1. Overuse of chemical treatments (relaxers, perms, hair color).
2. Excessive use of hot styling tools (irons, hot curlers, blow dryers, hot combs).
3. Lack of routine maintenance such as regular trimming. Use the Split-Ender for that!
4. Excessive use of styling products such as gels, waxes and sprays or any with alcohol.
5. Use of inferior styling to ols that rip or snag hair (cheap synthetic brushes or combs, brush rollers, etc.,).
6. Environmental damage from heat, cold, wind and other climate issues.
7. Use of inferior hair care products.
8. Improper detangling techniques.
9. Shower hard water, ocean salt water, pools & spas chlorine, UV rays.
10. Overwashing.
B. How to prevent split ends:
Depending on how the split end is situated on the hair shaft, a single split can unravel and travel quite a ways up the hair shaft. But most split ends simply peel away or break off near their starting points. The best way to get rid of split ends is to prevent new ones from occurring. Here are some tips for preventing split ends:
1. Reduce Your Heat
Heat is often the main cause of split ends resulting from physical hair trauma, because heat quickly reduces the hair’s natural moisture balance. Heat also temporarily alters the hair’s protein structure, which would typically keep the hair’s moisture balance in check. Repeated use of heated styling tools like flat irons and blow dryers should be avoided. If heat styling is a must, only use heat on freshly conditioned, clean hair that has been sprayed with a thermal protectant to prevent split ends.
2. Trim Hair with Sharp, Quality Hair Shears
Trimming your ends regularly with sharp shears before they break off is great split end preventive maintenance. Clean cutting is very important to prevent split ends, and only sharp shears can guarantee a clean break. Make sure that your hair shears are only used on the hair. Using your scissors to clip coupons or to perform other random tasks will dull your shears.
3. Create a Moisture Barrier
Daily moisturizing with water-based moisturizing products and oiling the hair as a seal will also help prevent split ends. These products lubricate the hair fiber and keep the hair soft and supple. They also shield the hair from the harsh sun and other environmental hair stressors, like wind and humidity. Focus daily moisturizers and oils near the ends of the hair shaft, which are more vulnerable to split ends than the roots.
4. Cut Hair Ends Straight Across
In addition to using sharp shears to maintain your ends, the direction of your trim is also important. Always snip straight across the ends of your hair, never at an angle. Angled trims increase the surface area of the new end and introduce more opportunities for splitting and breakage.
5. Increase Deep Conditioning
Deep conditioning weekly with quality moisturizing conditioners and protein reconstructors is great for split end prevention. Protein treatments reinforce the cuticle and hair shaft so that they can resist premature chipping, peeling and breaking, while moisturizing deep conditioners help restore the hair’s delicate moisture balance.
6. Avoid Wet Trimming
Whenever possible, trim your hair while it is dry. Some people prefer wet trimming, but this can lead to split ends, especially if the shears are dull. Think about cutting paper. Cutting wet paper does not give you as clean a cut as cutting the same paper dry. The same principle applies to your hair.
7. Cut Out the Chemicals
Chemical processes like color treatments, relaxers and perms add spice to any style, but they must get deep into the hair’s cuticle to work their magic. Unfortunately, to get inside, these chemicals must break down and degrade the cuticle. When the cuticle is weakened, split ends are bound to appear at all points along the hair shaft. For color, stick with deposit-only colors and rinses.
C. Honey hair mask for split ends
Honey is great as a home hair treatment for split ends, especially when you mix it with curd. All you need is a half cup of curd and a tablespoon of honey, which you mix together well. Massage it into your hair, paying particular attention to the ends, and let it remain there for 20 minutes. When you rinse, just use water. This method will give your hair a gorgeous sheen!
Honey is moisturising and has the ability to cling onto moisture making it suitable for dry hair. Be aware that it also lightens the colour of your hair. Use as much as necessary (not too much or you'll be left with sticky hair), can be mixed into other ingredients such as the avocado or banana.
example:
Mix one egg yolk with 3 table spoons of olive oil, add 1 table spoon of honey. Apply this mask on the length and ends of your hair; let it sit on your hair for about one hour; then, shampoo and condition. If you do this hair mask, at least, once every 2 weeks, you’ll notice how much more nourished and healthy your hair will look.
And finally, remember, if you want to have beautiful, healthy and shiny hair without split ends you need to take a good care of your locks, eat healthy, nourish and protect your hair from excessive sun exposure.