How To Put An End To Split Ends: Causes, Tips & Products

Everyone is always talking about split ends—trim your ends, hide your splits, stop peeling your ends, etc. Clearly the beauty world wants you to know these are bad news. But why are they such a big deal? And are there other ways to get rid of these pesky splits (other than trimming them) or better yet, prevent them in the first place? 

"Split ends are literally, exactly as they're described but often hard to see upon first glance," Andrea Hans, co-owner, executive director, and stylist at Broome Street Society in New York City, tells mbg.

Feather splits have a few different splits on each side, along with a classic two-way split at the tip. "Feather splits are often due to weakened hair follicles, often from product buildup on the scalp and hair strands," Reavey says.

"Similar to feather splits, triple splits are often the cause of excessive dryness and overuse of heat and chemicals on already weakened strands," Reavey notes.

Tree splits have multiple splits on only one side of the strand.

"Tree splits typically are the result of going too long without a trim or haircut," Reavey says. "When split ends are left untouched, they are more prone to cause additional damage."

Deep splits have a split end higher up on the strand, leaving the rest of the length skinny and fragile. "Similar to tree splits, deep splits are also a result of not trimming or cutting the hair," Reavey says.

As Reavey noted, split ends can come from heat damage—so keep an eye on your hot tool use. This doesn't mean you have to take a break from heat completely (unless you want to, then more power to you). But at the very least, use a heat protectant.

These topical protectant formulas coat your strands with a buffering layer of nutrients that help absorb the damage that comes from hot tools.

If an evening rinse is your go-to, you should try to get your strands at least mostly dry before getting into bed. Wet strands are more prone to damage, and tossing and turning with your hair in an extra fragile state will only increase your chances of creating splits.

Ripping through your strands aggressively, whether with a brush or your fingers, will lead to breakage. Hard stop. As stated previously, your hair is more susceptible to damage when wet, so detangle it slowly and gently.

The best route of action is to load up on a detanger (here are some DIY options) or leave-in conditioner. These coat the strands in a protective barrier, making the fiber less vulnerable to wear and tear.

"​​If you must detangle your hair after showering, I recommend sticking solely to a wide-toothed comb and gently detangling starting at the tips and working up to the root," Reavey says.

You'll want to keep your hair care hydrating, replenishing, and nourishing to prevent creating split ends or worsening the ones you already have.

"Sulfate and silicone-free shampoos and products work to keep the scalp microbiome balanced, giving the hair the best opportunity to strengthen and grow," Reavey notes. Always follow up with a hydrating conditioner on the lengths as well.

"Be careful not to over-scrub your ends with your hands," Hans warns. Even if you use the best products on the market, manual damage is certainly still possible.

You'll want to massage the shampoo deeply into your scalp (perhaps even add a scalp massage) and then let the water run down through the rest of your hair.

As we often recommend, avoid extremes—balance is key.

"I always remind my clients that both temperature extremes (hot and cold) can cause dehydration and constriction of nutrients to the scalp, resulting in weakness and breakage in the hair strands," Reavey says.

Microfiber hair towels can help mitigate frizz and damage that typical towels can produce. If you don't want to buy a specific hair towel, then an old cotton T-shirt will do.

"Split ends are most easily remedied by trimming off," Hans says. If you're in a pinch and need your hair looking pristine ASAP, then a trim is your best bet. You don't have to cut off much, but at least dusting the ends will work wonders for the look, feel, and health of your hair.

Split ends are pesky and can interrupt an ultra-sleek style—not to mention, they can prevent your hair from gaining noticeable length, which might be why they're so often talked about in the hair space. Even if you don't heat style your hair, manual damage via brushing, washing, and simple wear and tear can cause split ends.