The cuticle protects the inner structure of your hair, provides it with elasticity and also helps with moisture retention. When damaged, the cuticle cracks, becoming dry and brittle. Healthy hair begins with proper care. Taking care of the ends of your hair involves a combination of washing, conditioning, drying and styling in ways that will limit hair damage. Avoiding practices that can cause your hair ends to split and fray will help to prevent breakage and keep your hair looking lustrous.
Step 1
Allow your hair to dry naturally. Using a hair dryer after every washing can dry out the ends of hair and cause split ends.
Step 2
Avoid curling irons, flat irons, crimpers and hot rollers. The heat from all of these styling aids can eventually lead to damaged hair ends. Instead, twist your hair around your fingers and allow your hair to dry in healthy ringlets.
Step 3
Comb your hair with a wide-tooth comb. This will cause less pulling on your hair, especially if it is thick, and reduce the risk of split-end damage.
Step 4
Have your hair trimmed regularly. Damaged hair ends will not grow; instead, they will break off, giving your hair a brittle look. Once-a-month trimmings will help to keep your hair ends smooth and free of splits and breaks.
Step 5
Steer clear of chemical treatments. Chemicals such as those used in perms, hair color and relaxers can damage your hair ends.
Step 6
Condition your hair after washing with a daily conditioner. Conditioning will add moisture to the ends, keeping them healthy. Deep condition your hair once a month for increased protection to your hair ends.
Step 7
Gently massage your hair and scalp when shampooing. Scrubbing your hair can cause it to frizz. If you normally wash your hair every day, try to wash it two to three times a week instead. Less washing will help preserve the moisture that shampoo washes away.
Tips and Warnings
- If you cannot afford to have your hair trimmed on a monthly basis, you can do it yourself. Simply twist sections of your hair around your finger and snip off any damaged ends that stick out of the twist with a pair of sharp scissors.
- Do not rub your hair vigorously with a towel after washing. Rubbing the towel against your hair can cause frizzy ends. Gently blot your hair with the towel to avoid the frizz.
Things You'll Need
- Wide-tooth comb
- Daily conditioner
- Deep conditioner
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