The Split Ends Hassle: Reasons and Solutions for Hair Breakage

Human hair begins to fray or break every six weeks or so. This can result in Trichoptilosis, or more commonly known as split ends – a condition which many people find unsightly.

1. The Split Ends Hassle:
Reasons and Solutions for
Hair Breakage
Scissor Tech

2. Human hair begins to fray or break every six weeks or so. This can result in
Trichoptilosis, or more commonly known as split ends – a condition which many people
find unsightly.
Ironically, split ends don’t only occur at the end of a hair strand. Hair strands can break
at the middle and can reach up to the hair roots. There are different kinds of split ends,
including tree splits and fork splits.
Tree splits show six to seven splits on one hair strand and usually occur on hair that is
damaged beyond repair. When this happens, the hair must be trimmed at the soonest
possible time. On the other hand, fork splits (three splits) are a result of lack of moisture
and can be fixed with deep conditioning.
Beyond the cosmetics, however, split ends can be a sign of a more problematic hair
issue.

3. The Common Causes of Split Ends
• Detangling through brushing: Brushing through wet, tangled hair can break hair
strands and lead to the formation of split ends.
• Chemicals: Hair chemicals like relaxers, wax or hair dye can strip hair strands of their
lipids which keep hair fibres intact.
• Over-exposure to heat: Lack of moisture results in hair breakage, which leads to split
ends. Hair styling tools that emit heat like hair dryers, irons and curling irons weaken
the hair fibre. Prolonged exposure to the sun can also result in hair damage and
accelerated fraying of the hair.
Prevention and Treatment of Split Ends
• Less colouring and styling with heat: Avoid hair dyes which contain strong chemicals,
as these lead to hair breakage. Limit use of the blow -dryer and curling iron to help
prevent frizz, as well.
• Use hair conditioner: The cationic surfactants present in hair conditioners envelope
the cuticle, which coat the outermost part of the hair strand and strengthen the hair
shaft.
• Go for regular trimming: Trimming eliminates split ends. Only hair -cutting shears
should be used. Regular scissors which are duller than hair scissors are not advisable
for hair trimming.

4. Sources:
https://www.scissortechaustralia.com.au/
https://ngl.cengage.com/assets/downloads/forsci_pro0000000541/4827_fun_ch3.pdf
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4387693/
http://scienceline.org/2014/01/how-does-hair-conditioner-work/