Splitting Hairs

If your hair is dry and damaged, you probably have split ends. Split ends keep your hair from looking its best, and they can get worse over time. You can not "repair" split ends once they are already there, but there are steps you can take to make them manageable and maybe even prevent them from happening at all.

• Get regular trims so the damaged ends are cut off. If you do not remove the splits they will continue to work their way up the rest of the hair strand and cause further damage.

• Vent brushes with plastic bristles can break hair and contribute to split ends. Use natural bristles on dry hair and a wide-toothed comb on wet hair to help prevent hair damage.

• If possible, cut back the number of times you shampoo your hair. Too much shampooing can be drying, and dry hair is a candidate for split ends.

• Use a leave-in conditioner on a regular basis. Deep conditioning hair masks used regularly are also very good for keeping your ends in good shape.

• Look for treatment products that specifically mention they are formulated to treat split ends. The products can not repair the splits, but they can improve the appearance of your hair.

• Longer hair is more likely to split because it has been on your head for a long time; therefore, it has experienced more damage than short hair. If you have a lot of split ends, you may want to consider a short haircut so that the damaged hair can be removed, and you can start over with healthy un-split hair.

• Minimize your exposure to sun, chlorine and heat. All of these elements cause damage to hair.

• If your hair is in very bad condition, you should avoid perms and coloring. These processes can aggravate the problem.

Blow drying your hair should be avoided, but if you must, put the dryer on the lowest setting possible and hold the dryer as far away from your hair as possible.

Taking care of your hair does require a certain amount of diligence. For any hairstyle to look fabulous it is important to start with a base of healthy hair.