What is the best, most effective way to repair bad split ends?
First of all, get your hair cut - once the ends are split, there's really nothing you can do to 'unsplit' them. However, there are plenty of things you can do to ensure that this doesn't happen again!
Split Ends: Straighteners and Curling Tongs
Do you straighten or curl your hair? Heat damage is one of the main causes of split ends.
I straighten my hair on an almost-daily basis - it's very rare for me to leave the house with curly hair, but if I'm at home, sometimes I'll give my hair a rest and leave it to dry naturally.
I also use shampoo and conditioner that's specifically designed to protect your hair from heat, and I'll spray my hair with heat-protection stuff before I blow-dry it. Doing this, and getting my hair cut every 7 or 8 weeks, seems to do the trick for me. My hair's quite thick, though, so it might not be the same for you.
Split Ends: Hair-Dye If you dye your hair, you're at risk of weakening it - especially if you use bleach. Invest in some quality shampoo and conditioner that'll make the hair-dye last longer whilst protecting it from becoming brittle and dry.
Split Ends: Too Much Hair-Washing It's actually bad for you to wash your hair every day - men seem to get away with it, but for women (unless you've got oily hair) it's best to wash it every other day so that you don't strip away the natural oils.
Don't panic - this doesn't mean you can't shower! I usually tie my hair up and just wash my body on the days I don't wash my hair. If I clean my hair every day, even using conditioner, it gets dry and fluffy and unmanageable, as well as being more prone to splitting.
Split Ends: Straighteners and Curling Tongs
Do you straighten or curl your hair? Heat damage is one of the main causes of split ends.
I straighten my hair on an almost-daily basis - it's very rare for me to leave the house with curly hair, but if I'm at home, sometimes I'll give my hair a rest and leave it to dry naturally.
I also use shampoo and conditioner that's specifically designed to protect your hair from heat, and I'll spray my hair with heat-protection stuff before I blow-dry it. Doing this, and getting my hair cut every 7 or 8 weeks, seems to do the trick for me. My hair's quite thick, though, so it might not be the same for you.
Split Ends: Hair-Dye If you dye your hair, you're at risk of weakening it - especially if you use bleach. Invest in some quality shampoo and conditioner that'll make the hair-dye last longer whilst protecting it from becoming brittle and dry.
Split Ends: Too Much Hair-Washing It's actually bad for you to wash your hair every day - men seem to get away with it, but for women (unless you've got oily hair) it's best to wash it every other day so that you don't strip away the natural oils.
Don't panic - this doesn't mean you can't shower! I usually tie my hair up and just wash my body on the days I don't wash my hair. If I clean my hair every day, even using conditioner, it gets dry and fluffy and unmanageable, as well as being more prone to splitting.