Horrendous split ends... help! (Pics)

[MoanaofMotunui]

Since the end of December the ends of my hair have started splitting. I had my hair cut at the end of January which didn't help much and my hair is getting continuously worse. I'm terrified of getting it cut again as, to cut all the split ends off, I'll be left with an incredibly short bob, which I'm worried will carry on splitting. I straighten my hair (and use a lot of heat defence) to tame it, but brushing it causes so much of the ends to break off. I'm just so worried that I'm going to end up with all my hair falling out. Can anyone give me any advice on how to fix this? 😭

My (naturally curly) hair used to be like yours it was breaking off absolutely everywhere after continuous GHD use (i’d sometimes straighten it 3 x a day ) I grew it from just above shoulder length, to bra strap length in 12 months without going for a big chop (which wouldve left me with a Bob!) I’ll detail how below

So, day 1 of crying and realising my hair was completely f** and something seriously needed to to be done, I sectioned it and sat by natural light from a window. It took me 2.5 hours but I basically ‘searched and destroyed’ and snipped off every bit of damage I saw throughout the hair. It took ages, but after I could run my fingers through my hair and it was so much better, no snagging, not 1000’s of bits snapping off and onto my lap when I brushed it. I then microtrimmed (so literally about a cm) the ends to give it a bit of a trim/ fresh start. Yes it took me a whole morning but the result was healthier hair without a massive chop as for me it was imperative that I kept what length I had.

I then ordered Joico K- Pak reconstructor and the moisture conditioner (imperative as the reconstructor is full of protein and although it’s good for damaged hair, the protein can dry it out so you must ensure you follow up with a moisturising conditioner) I also went to boots and bought some of the Organix hair oil and a pair of Remington steam straighteners that had a low setting of 130 degrees or something.

I then started washing my hair, oiling it once it was towel dried, combing it gently through and then putting it into two (or sometimes one, depending on how deep I wanted the waves) Sleeping in the plaits. I’d take them out the next morning and oh my god, my hair was so silky and had a lovely slight wave. I’d then use the lower temp straighteners to just straighten the very front section of my hair (as being curly they would sometimes go all weord and a bit frizzy) if I was going on a night out or whatever then I would wash my hair the night before or during the day of the night I was due to go out, I’d then blow dry my hair straight (but keep the hair dryer quite far away from my hair so it wasn’t getting the full whack of the heat) then oil and plait it and the finished result would be even nicer/ smoother. You’d plaiting would make it curly but it honestly didnt, it made it straight, just with a bit of a wave.

After 6 weeks for this I went through my hair again and searched and destroyed/ snipped off a bit more of the old damage.

At 4 months, my hair hadn’t seen a GHD or even really a straightener in all that time (apart from the v front section) and I decided to straighten it all with the low temp straighteners so I could assess it. OMG, it had grown so much and the condition was SO much better

At the 4 month stage, I decided to get some extensions (I’d been thinking about it for ages anyway) with them I did exactly the same thing, it looked even better as there was loads of hair and it was lovely and long. After 8 months of the extensions I had them taken out and my hair was down to my bra strap!

I’ll try and find some photos of all this as I did a photo diary of ‘my hair journey’

I’m not saying don’t go and get a big chop and start again, but there’s no point in doing that if you’re going to feel like crap with shorter hair and then constantly still straighten that. Go and get a chop if you’re prepared to wear your hair up for a year and not touch it with straighteners.

Forgot to add I also started to wear my hair up in a French plait during the week (which I hated as I look like crap with my hair up) and just have it down at weekends, that definitely helped too I’m sure.

I hope you (or anyone else) finds this helpful. It is possible to get healthier, longer hair again without going for a massive chop, but it is work and dedication.

There is no product or technique out there that is going to restore this hair back to being healthy.

Honestly, it's the most frazzled hair I've ever seen.

You need to get a very short pixie cut and stop using any heat on it at all.

I don't think there's anything that can save it, it is dead and already cremated.

Sorry but I think you need to get the damaged lengths cut off and limit the damage to the rest of your hair.

Cut off the ends and chuck out the straighteners. I have curly brittle hair which is easily damaged. A year ago I stopped using shampoo and just used conditioner instead, my hair has never looked in better shape. Google the curly girl method, it was a game changer for me.

Something similar, but not as extreme happened to my daughters hair, she was straightening it daily. As pps have said, you don't have split ends, you've burnt your hair. You will need to have it cut and regrow it.

You need to slow down on the straighteners. Use them sparingly and on the lowest possible heat setting. Ideally not at all.

But yeah, it's burnt, and it will start to break off at rhe ends if you don't stop with the straighteners.

Also a pps suggestion of hair extensions might be a good Idea if you're worried about loosing length,

I'd say it's your hair brush. Get a boar brush

Cut out shampoo. Seriously. Or at least use it less frequently and on hair coated in conditioner or oil. Shampoo is very damaging.

Look up the "no poo" method or "co-washing" (conditioner-only washing)

Also, my hair gets brittle like that if I use products containing lots of protein. Ditch them.

You have basically burnt the end of your hair. The only way to sort it out is cut until they have gone. Either by a drastic cut or every 4 weeks. Ditch your brand of straightener and gets some with a variable heat setting and use on the lowest possible, try not to use daily.

This!
It happened to me because my hairdryer was overheating. Cutting it off, new hairdryer and turning straighteners down have solved it. Good luck OP!

As pp's have already said you haven't got spilt ends, you've got burnt ends....

This is why the cut in January didn't help as you've simply cremated the hair again.

You're using straighteners too frequently and most likely at too high a temperature (and probably leaving them on your hair too long to try and tame the "split" ends thus making the situation even worse).

Do you use heat protection spray?

There's no product that's going to fix hair that damaged. Nothing.

You need to cut the damage off and find a style that isn't reliant on straightening to give the hair that as yet not fried to a crisp time to recover.

In the longer term I'd certainly not use straighteners daily, use a heat protection spray and check the temperature of your straighteners (and try not to keep them on the hair for too long).

I have a straightening brush. It doesn't give a poker straight finish like irons do, but it smooths out the hair significantly and is far less damaging as it doesn't compress the hair onto 2 hot plates (and yes I always use a heat protection spray).

Something like this might work for you with the right haircut.

Yep like others have said, those are not split ends your hair is literally burnt. I'm afraid there is no recovery for it, except to grow it out.

Heat protecting products only work to a certain extent but they do not completely protect your hair from damage.

Still, your hair is totally recoverable itll just take time and patience.

First you should go buy some OGX products, or hit Japanmart up and get Tsubaki~ extra moist. There are better shampoo/conditioner alternatives but these are just the cheapest options that I know of that definitely work for damaged hair. Dont rely on herbal essence or VO5, your hair needs some intense TLC.

You will need to create a hair routine that works for your hair.

OGX is good because they provide products like mousse, hair butter and oils that work well together with their other products so you can experiment with those if you like.

But anyway for your hair routine you need~ shampoo, conditioner, deep hair mask treatment/conditioner, coconut oil, hair oil, hair serum, and optional boar brush, a silk pillow and a silk hair wrap. Focus on getting products with Keratin in it. These are just basics and you can buy extra mousse/butter etc if you need it.

When you wash your hair~ shampoo it as normal but when you condition your hair, turn off the shower, get out, towel dry it to get off the extra water then put your normal conditioner in the damp hair concentrating on the ends. Leave for 5 mins then rinse~ preferably with warm to cold water (cold is best NEVER use hot water). I know this sounds like alot, but it becomes a habit pretty quickly.

Use the deep hair mask once a week, the same way I've said to condition your hair but leave it in 30mins-1 hour longer. You can just tie it up OR put a hair cap on it~ another option~you can glad wrap the hair then put a hair cap on top, and for added effect you can optionally sit under a warm hair dryer to help heat the hair in the cap so it absorbs the moisture. Not too hot tho~ just warm.

Use the coconut oil as a hair mask overnight once a week (you can also add egg and mayonnaise which helps to build up the protein in the hair). Again, use glad wrap/a hair cap to help lock in heat and you can optionally sit under a warm hair dryer for 10-30mins to help. Rinse off in the morning and wash as normal.

Whenever you wash your hair, try to air dry as much as possible. Remember as the water leave the hair follicles it will dry it out, so add hair oil (such argan oil) from midway to the ends to prevent this happening. If you like now you can blow dry it~ but never straighten wet hair as this really damages it. Once your hair is dry add a hair serum to the ends to prevent breakage.

It is best not to brush wet hair, as when hair is wet it is more flexible and prone to damage. Try brushing your hair with your fingers as much as you can. NEVER brush through a tangle, always use your fingers to gently untangle your hair. Make sure you use a good hair brush that is not too old, nor has split or broken bristles. The best brush to use is a boar brush, as they promote the natural production and spread of hair oils that help keep hair strong and healthy from the scalp.

If you want to go the extra mile to protect your hair from damage you can either get a silk pillow or a silk hair wrap that will prevent your hair from pulling and breaking while your sleeping.

You will need to stop straightening if you want to see fast results, but I understand that you probably will end up doing it anyway. Just try your best to keep the straightening on the low and always use heat protectant and make sure your straightener is not too old, nor use it at a setting higher than 130°. Also it would be great if you could get a hair dryer with a cool option to use when drying hair, and a heat option to use when heating your hair caps.

For your hair as it is right now, you can either try all the things I've just listed and see how it goes for a month, whether it improves or not and if it hasnt, give it another chop. Only as far as your comfortable.

As long as you follow a hair routine your hair from the scalp will grow back healthier and stronger. But as long as you continue to use a hair straightener it will continue to split up the shaft.

You can optionally get a weave or hair extensions if you are not comfortable with the current length, and dont be ashamed to wear a wig if you need to. There are some gorgeous wigs out there that look natural and honestly hardly anyone notices.

Trim your hair every 4 weeks for the next few months then re-evaluate your hair needs. Once you really start taking care of it and get into this routine your hair requirements will change as it becomes healthier and stronger.

Also I should mention~ depending on the different hair serum you buy~ you can either apply it prior to hair oil when it is wet or after it has dried. Just look for the best option for you and see what the directions on the bottle say.

Dont worry, 6 months to one year of dedication to your hair, itll look so much better!

Do a hot oil hair treatment. Warm some oil like coconut or jojoba and apply on your hair. Use a hot towel (soak towel is not water) and wrap your hair in it. Do that a few times then wash it out. Best to leave oil overnight then wash out in morning

*soak towel in hot water

And one more thing lol a professional keratin treatment at the salon may be an option for you~ its $300-600 but I suggest you do not opt for this until after a few months of TLC when your hair has grown a little healthier and stronger. Right now it would just cover up the underlying problem or may have no affect at all. Your hair is burnt, not split so you would definitely have to have the burnt parts chopped off to recieve the treatment.

You need to mist on the heat defence and then wait 5 mins or until you are sure it's evaporated and your hair isn't damp

This makes so much sense! Great tip! When my hair sizzles after I put on the spray and run the straighteners over it, I didn't worry because of the heat defence, but I guess a sizzle on the hair sounds alarming for a reason

Oh and OP, you really do just need to bite the bullet and cut it off. That's incredibly damaged hair and I don't believe any treatment will help.

I don't mean to be rude! But there's no point in wasting your money and being constantly disappointed.

Cut it and start again, minus the heat :-)

Get the burnt ends chopped off, stop using straighteners and sit it out. If you colour, do it less often. Your hair needs a holiday! Wash and blow dry less too. Let your hair's natural oils do some of the work. When it gets longer, learn to braid!

I would get it cut short and start again. That is criminally-damaged hair !

I've been using Aveda damage remedy for a couple of months and it is fantastic. Not an instant fix - no change for me for about six weeks but my hair looks so much better.

Using heat protection spray is an absolute must, though you shouldn't be using it on dry hair and you also need to check that it is heat defence (up to 220c) and not a heat styling spray.

I wash, dry and straighten my hair everyday, but always always use a heat spray which goes on before drying your hair.

Once damage has occurred there is no real way of fixing it other than a drastic cut and then starting again and really looking after your hair.

Hey OP, I hope this hasn’t been too upsetting. You can fix your hair with time. You’ll need a cut and to stop straightening and probably wash less. But you can do it!

OP the good thing about hair is that it grows out the hair we see is literally old dead hair so healthy hair is growing every day! I have grown out my own damaged hair and it's basically a waiting game and protecting the damaged ends in the meantime. It's all perfectly possible, but I would recommend a micro trim as often as you can (I did my own every 3 weeks, rather awkwardly using a mirror to see the back!) but it helped. Of course you could get a basic wet cut at a basic salon with no blow dry to keep costs down. Hair grows between 1.5 - 2.5cm per month, so you could have that off every 4 weeks and not really notice the difference in length.