If you have ever made a major effort to grow your hair out, one of the biggest blights to your efforts will be split and frayed ends.
Ultimately, despite the popularity of rather dubious treatments such as velaterapia, the only way to get rid of split ends once they appear is to cut them out, which is far from what anyone eager to grow their hair would want to hear.
As with anything hair-related, prevention is far better than cure, so it is essential to try and avoid split ends wherever possible. Your local hair salon can help cut them out whilst preserving as much length as possible.
Most of the best ways to prevent split ends involve being as kind and as gentle as possible to your hair to stop it from fraying. This means, aside from regular trims, using a wider tooth comb to detangle your hair, rather than the rather aggressive narrow teeth of a conventional comb.
As well as this, try to avoid washing your hair daily, although this might not always be possible. If you are going to wash your hair, consider skipping the shampoo and only using conditioner, and using a natural shampoo that lacks any harsh ingredients.
Naturally, try and avoid using a hair dryer, straighteners or curling tongs, but if you are going to use them, use a protective spray to preserve your hair against the heat.
Try to avoid particularly tight hairstyles such as ponytails. If you want to keep your hair tied, use scrunchies and softer ties rather than elastic hair bands.
Focus on hydration as well, as dryness is the biggest threat to your hair and the largest cause of damage and split ends.
Finally, only brush your hair if you are styling it and neatening it out. You do not need to brush your hair too much a day, and it can cause damage if you do.
