How to keep your hair from getting split ends

Stopping your hair from getting split ends is easy if you follow a careful hair care regimen. While it does require some time and effort,  your tresses will stay healthy for longer.

While split ends are inevitable due to heat, shampoo, and general wear, it is possible to reduce their occurence. Use these tips for keeping the split ends at bay.

Regular Hair Cuts

Visit our salon for regular trims every 6 to 8 weeks. Generally, this is when hair starts to weaken and lose its shape. Frequent trims will not only keep your hair fresh and attractive, but they actually encourage stronger ends, which are less likely to damage from simple brushing or styling.

Moisturize

Use a moisturizing shampoo often and a conditioner. Concentrate on rubbing the conditioner into the ends and leaving it there for a few minutes. Seal the ends of your hair with a blast of cool water. Every few weeks, put an intensive conditioning treatment on your hair such as Well SP Hydro Mask or a Colour Saver Mask. Apply the treatment to your hair according to directions. In some cases, you leave it on for a few minutes and wrap your hair in a warm towel, before rinsing your hair out thoroughly.  This will leave your hair silky and manageable. Do not use conditioner after a mask as this will make your hair heavy and difficult to style.

Avoid washing your hair every day. Waiting a few days between washes  as this actually lets your natural oil coat and protect your strands. Wear your hair in a bun or ponytail on days you skip washes.

After washing your hair, gently squeeze the water out of it to help it dry. Avoid twisting your hair into a towel turban on top of your head or wringing it violently. This can lead to breakage and weaker ends.

Use a wide tooth comb to detangle your hair. Gently move the comb through your wet hair starting at the roots and sliding through to the ends. Avoid yanking or pulling on it. Apply a bit of detangling lotion if your hair is thick. Never use a brush on wet hair.

Blow Dry

Using a hair dryer can give you sleek smooth locks, but heat is a major cause of end breakage. Let your hair dry naturally a few times a week or wait until it is damp before using a dryer. In winter, when you need to use a drier more often to style  your hair, make sure to use a heat protector such as Wella High Hair Flat Iron Spray, Wella SP Split Ends intensive repair or Bedhead Some Like it Hot. These products will help sealing the ends. Apply a small quantity on your towel-dried hair and ensure that the ends are well care for and then style  your hair as usual.

When you brush your hair make sure you alway start from the ends and move your way up along the lengths as opposed to start with the brush right at the top and push the knots down. Brush gently! Especially if you have long hair. In doing so you will reduce breakages and keep you hair looking healthier for longer.  Avoid brushing your hair too often. In the past, beauty experts used to recommend brushing your hair 100 strokes a day, but this grooming rule is outdated. Brushing can actually damage the cuticle, causing the hair fibers to separate.

Avoid Over-styling

Curling irons, flat irons, and hot rollers all weaken the hair over time. Use a heat protector on your ends if you’re styling with any of these approaches.

Otherwise, experiment with heat-free styling such as foam rollers, pin curls, or braids. Wash your hair at night and wait until it is damp. Put in rollers or pin curls and sleep on it overnight. You’ll wake up to hair with lots of texture that needs minimal styling.

Finally, purchase hair ties and bands without metal pieces which can pull on or snag your hair. Also, consider sleeping on a satin pillowcase, which can reduce tangles.