new thread
Hey guys, I am trying to get some advice here. I have been growing my hair for about 14 months now, and can finally get it in to a tail when I am working. I have noticed that the ends are splitting and could probably use a trim, but I don't think I can sacrifice the length just yet. What did you do when growing? Can I wait for another inch or so before trimming the ends? Maybe one of you gents has a tip for taking care of it at home...
I trimmed mine. If you don't trim, the ends will look more and more crappy. It's best to trim just a little every now and then, and trust me: the loss in lenght is won in hair quality! You'll get a more even look as well as less tangles, and it's definitely worth losing half an inch or an inch of hair for that. At least for me.
Hair grows all the time anyway, so i would rather wait 2 years to have a great looking mane, than wait 18 months and have the same lenght, but with split ends.
You can avoid a lot of split ends in the first place by using various conditioners or oils, and brushing/combing your hair with care, not being rough on it. A lot of the members of this board use different oils in their hair. It seems to be trial and error to find what works best for your hair. Personally, I swear by a product called Biosilk, a clear leave-in serum conditioner for hair. Sold (in the US) in many salons and I've also seen it at Target. It seems expensive when you look at the price per ounce, but it really isn't -- because you only need a tiny bit every few days. For me, a $25 bottle will last 8 months or more, and I rarely find a split end.
As for repairing existing split ends, I don't know if you can. Sometimes you just have to cut them off, and doing so sooner rather than later is the better option. If you leave them alone, they will probably split even further up the hair shaft, and you will end up having to cut off even more length. :( I would trim the least amount necessary, and immediately start using a product to help avoid split ends from forming. Good luck! :)
I'm gonna go against the proposed trim method to remove split ends. The way I see it, the hair that usually splits, is predominantly located near or at the bottom of one's hair, or the end of a strand, to put in simpler terms. Think about it like this, hair that is the longest, has been subject to the elements the longest, and so you can assume that it will be more damaged than the rest of your hair. Of course you can set out with the goal of preventing split ends from the start, taking great care and trimming every few months. My choice of dealing with them is null, I have chosen to ignore such mishaps until the day I reach a few inches or so past my goal, then I will trim back the hair to my goal, and hopefully remove any damage that has occured throughout the years of growing.
I apologise for such a long text, I know some will disagree, but that is my view when it comes to split ends :)
Regards, James
Hi
I made this video back in 2008 as part of a series when I still had long hair growing. About a minute or so into the video will tell you just what you need to know and you can do it all by yourself. Take care-
Justin~
http://youtu.be/9q9_4L9Qyg8
If you have a lot of split ends, you may have to trim.
If you have just some of them here and there, use the search & destroy method: spend some time looking for each one of them, and cut the hair just above the split end.
To prevent split ends, try using conditioner or oil, brush gently and avoid heat.
Good luck!