Whether your hair is short or long, fine or coarse, straight or curly, it’s susceptible to damage over time, including split ends. Not only can split ends be a nuisance because they tend to catch and tangle, but they can also cause your hair to look dull and rough at the ends. This might leave you wondering how to get rid of split ends and how to prevent split ends from happening to begin with. Let’s dig more into damaged hair and splits ends as we cover all the basics, including:

• What causes split ends?

• How to get rid of split ends

• How to prevent split ends

What causes split ends?

Just like your skin, each strand of your hair has multiple layers, and when one of those layers becomes damaged, it compromises the health of the entire strand. The cuticle protects the outside of the hair, much like your skin’s epidermis. When hair splits, the cuticle wears away, and the more fragile internal structures start to separate.

Split ends typically begin looking like a fork in the road or a “V” shape, though they take on many different forms, sometimes even resembling a tree branch. Many factors cause them, from harsh chemical processing and too much heat styling to brushing, wind, sun, dry air and even your pillowcase (try silk instead of cotton!). When left untreated (i.e. skipping quarterly haircuts), split ends can move all the way up the hair shaft, causing tangling, frizz, hair breakage and an overall dull appearance.

How to get rid of split ends

Wondering how to get rid of split ends? Once split ends are present, your hair needs to be trimmed. After you head to your salon for a fresh cut, you can keep your ends at their healthiest state and prevent split ends from happening in the future with some styling adjustments and targeted products.

How to prevent split ends

If split ends are a concern for you, there are a number of ways you can focus on damage prevention. Read on for our favorite tips, tools and products for preventing split ends and ensuring hair remains healthy between salon visits.

1) Reduce heat styling

Preventing split ends is the best way to keep hair looking flawless between visits to your stylist. Because heat styling with a hair dryer, curling iron or flat iron can contribute to hair damage and split ends, one surefire way to prevent split ends is to lay off the heat. However, it’s not always possible to skip heat styling altogether. You can help reduce heat damage when blow-drying by letting your hair air dry 90% of the way first before styling with a lower heat setting. Concentrating the heat of the dryer on the roots instead of the ends can also help give your ends some reprieve. Since the ends are the oldest parts of your hair, they typically show the most signs of damage and dry quicker in comparison to the rest of the strand.

2) Use a heat protectant

Skin care experts always express the importance of sunscreen—you wouldn’t go outside on a sunny day without shielding skin from the hot sun—and the same should be said for hair. Applying a heat protectant before (and after, if you’re using a hot tool) blow drying prevents dryness, hair breakage, split ends and color fade.

Pureology Colour Fanatic Hair Treatment Spray is a heat protectant spray that’s designed to both prime and perfect, plus it works well on all hair types. In addition to providing heat protection, this multitasking treatment prevents color fade, detangles, hydrates, smooths, adds shine and reduces frizz. Did we mention all of these benefits come in one bottle? Yes, please!

3) Choose the right shampoo and conditioner

Bolster your hair repair efforts by choosing a beneficial shampoo and conditioner. L’Oreal Professionnel Inforcer Strengthening Anti-Breakage Shampoo and Conditioner are specifically formulated to strengthen hair and prevent breakage. In this formula, vitamin B6 and biotin work together to improve hair’s resistance, softness and shine while preventing tangling.

4) Try a reparative hair treatment

When it comes to hair repair, treatments have come a long way in recent years with innovative formulas containing peptides, lipids and bond-building technology to help improve existing damage to hair, while also preventing split ends and breakage from happening in the future.

The entire hair care line from OLAPLEX was created to keep your hair looking and feeling its healthiest. The key ingredient in their products is bis-aminopropyl dimaleate, which is patented by OLAPLEX and helps restore hair by repairing the broken disulfide bonds found in damaged hair.

One of the most popular products in this line is OLAPLEX No. 3 Hair Perfector, which is intended to be used once or twice a week to keep your hair’s disulfide bonds intact.

For hair that needs intense repair, you can add on OLAPLEX No. 0 Intensive Bond Building Hair Treatment. Both products are pre-shampoo treatments, so you’ll apply No. 0 to dry hair, let it process for ten minutes and then add No. 3. After combing through and waiting another ten minutes, you can rinse out both products and follow up with shampoo and conditioner.

For frizz control and to help reduce the appearance of split ends while you wait for your next haircut appointment, we love OLAPLEX No. 6 Bond Smoother. It helps speed up blow dry time, tames flyaways and adds shine without weighing your hair down.

Using a restorative hair serum is another fantastic way to prevent split ends and keep your hair feeling healthy. Alterna CAVIAR Restructuring Bond Repair 3-in-1 Sealing Serum contains caviar extract and bond-enforcing technology to help restore shine, elasticity and seal hair cuticles that have been damaged from heat styling. It also contains phytantriol, which helps moisturize hair, reduce color fading and prevent split ends from forming.

Rene Furterer Absolue Keratine Ultimate Repairing Serum contains a blend of keratin, vitamin E and nourishing camelina oil to help reduce the appearance of existing split ends and protect against future ones. It also helps protect hair from heat damage up to 428 degrees Fahrenheit.

We love to sit back and relax with a face mask, so why not transfer that love to your locks? A strengthening treatment or leave-in hair mask is an excellent way to supplement your routine and maintain salon results longer.

K18 Leave-in Molecular Repair Hair Mask is a unique no-rinse hair mask that has gained a cult following. The star ingredient in this product is K18Peptide, a patented oligopeptide molecule that works to repair broken keratin chains in your hair. This helps restore your hair’s elasticity, prevent split ends and reduce hair breakage. The formula is designed for you to use in place of conditioner for six consecutive washes and then every three to four washes after that for healthy hair maintenance.

5) Replace old tools

While bargain blow dryers and curling irons may get the job done, they may not come equipped with the technology needed to keep hair safe. If you can’t remember the last time you bought a hair tool, it’s probably time to switch them out. On average, hair tools last between two to four years, depending on the quality of the tool and how often you use it. Some signs that may indicate it’s time for a new blow dryer are:

• It doesn’t perform as well as it used to

• You notice it makes a rattling noise when in use

• Hair feels ultra-dry or frizzy after use

When it comes to flat irons and curling irons, however, there are other signs it’s time for something new:

• The coating is worn away or scratched

• Plates appear darker than they used to or have residue built up on them

• Heat doesn’t distribute evenly, requiring multiple passes on the same strand of hair

• The tool pulls or snags hair

Remember, the older the tool, the more likely it is to cause damage. Just like any electric device, wear and tear takes a toll on hair styling tools, and replacing your hot tools is an effective way to keep damage and split ends at bay.

If it’s time for a new blow dryer, we recommend the uSmooth Evolution Dryer. It’s designed to help minimize heat damage and decrease your dry time with ionic infrared technology. You can choose from eight different settings to best match with your hair texture and type. The handle also folds in, which is a great perk for storage or travel. To dry, straighten and smooth your mane at the same time, try the CHI 3-in-1 Hot Smoothing Dryer Brush. It features ceramic bristles and an ion generator to dry and style hair simultaneously for a shiny, frizz-free finish.

Need more hair help? Whether you need to care for colored strands or nourish curly hair, choosing the right hair care brand can help you achieve your hair care goals.