new thread
Hi,
I've seen many posts here in the past about split ends but at the time I had none and so wasn’t interested. To be honest, I actually could hardly believe that a hair could split! But I know now - they can :|
Anyway, I was wondering if anyone could give me a link or advice on split ends. I'm not ready for a maintenance cut yet - I’m very against cutting for any reason other than I’ve grown my hair further than what I wanted. What I’d like to know is
Does this mean my hair is Damaged in some way?
Will a hair that has split continue to grow?
What causes split ends and how may they be avoided?
Anything else you think is worth knowing about split ends
Ok, well thanks in advance. Sorry to bring up a topic that I know has been widely discussed by you guys - I’ll pay more attention in future. ;)
Does this mean my hair is Damaged in some way?
In all honestly, yes. Split ends are a sign of years of wear and tear. I grew my hair from a completely shaved head, and I didn't start noticing split ends until my fringe was falling to my shoulders.
Will a hair that has split continue to grow?
Yes, hair grows from the roots. However, I have observed in my own hair that one 'prong' of the split end eventually breaks off. This may result in a shortening process if the same hair splits again, but we're talking millimetres here.
What causes split ends and how may they be avoided
One of the main causes in my lifestyle is moving from hot to cold (or vice versa) environments. I used to cycle 4 miles to my school every morning for a year. I'd move from my warm home to the cold, biting winds outside - I'm pretty sure this wreaked havoc on the ends of my hair.
I also believe over-washing and using unnecessarily hot water on your hair will do more harm than good. I shampoo once a week at the length my hair is now (mid-back).
Anything else you think is worth knowing about split ends
They happen, they're more noticeable in full sunlight, and a miniscule trim every 3-6 months will do a lot to control them.
As for the "they will travel all the way up to your scalp" claim - I'm highly skeptical. I've heard people say this has happened to them, but it seems highly unlikely. A hair is more likely to split at several different points, rather than undertake the mammoth task of continuing all the way up.
Hope some of that was helpful!