How to Get Rid of Split Ends – and Stop Them Coming Back
‘How do I fix split ends?' It's a question every professional hairstylist gets asked, and if we're honest, there's only one true solution to ditching the splits: trimming them away. But fixing split ends doesn't just mean getting rid of them. To truly tidy up the tips of hair, you need a routine that also prevents further hair breakage, while disguising any splits between trims.
So, here's your complete guide on how to get rid of split ends from every angle, whether you're treating your own or helping a client whose hair is prone to breakage…
How to Prevent Split Ends
1. Wash With a Nourishing Shampoo
Healthy hair starts with the shampoo you choose. It needs to purify the scalp, lengths and ends, while being gentle enough to not strip away the natural oils that make up hair's protective barrier. That's why, to prevent split ends, we always recommend ULTIMATE REPAIR Shampoo. It's our most nourishing formula, harnessing AHA to replenish the hair fiber, and Omega-9 fatty acid to smooth the outer layer of strands. Plus, not only does it detox locks from harmful metals – the kind you'll find in the air and the water you wash with – it also kick-starts the bond-rebuilding process. Massage the luxurious lather through wet hair, then follow it with the creamy-yet-lightweight ULTIMATE REPAIR Conditioner. Together, they rinse completely clean to give all hair types 12x smoother hair* with 99% less breakage**.
2. Use a Hair Mask Weekly
While the ULTIMATE REPAIR Shampoo and ULTIMATE REPAIR Conditioner are go-tos for everyday washing, we recommend using a hair mask once per week to replenish brittle hair. ULTIMATE REPAIR Mask is one of the most powerful damaged hair products around, delivering a dose of nourishment wherever hair needs it most. This is thanks to the innovative adaptive technology, which detects the areas where strands are craving the most care, then delivers targeted repair to keep hair healthy from root to tip. Before you apply it to shampooed hair, squeeze out excess water, so tresses can absorb the mask's replenishing ingredients. Then, leave on for five minutes before rinsing thoroughly.
3. Dry Hair With a Microfiber Towel
Friction is one of the many causes of hair breakage and, in turn, pesky split ends. But because combing, brushing, styling and drying are unavoidable, your goal is to lessen the stress they put on strands. One easy way is to swap your traditional towel for a microfiber towel, which is softer and gentler on locks that have just been cleansed and conditioned. After washing hair, use it to blot – not rub – water out of your hair through roots, lengths and ends. If you have curly hair, you could then wrap locks up high on your head for a body-boosting air-drying technique called 'plopping'.
Don't have a microfiber towel to hand? Use a soft cotton t-shirt, which will absorb the moisture while still being gentle on strands. Press it through roots and lengths to soak up excess water – no friction necessary.
4. Repair Damaged Hair in 90 Seconds
Whether it's caused by flat irons, UV rays, chemical treatments or normal wear and tear, hair damage is the ultimate culprit when it comes to split ends. So halt it in its tracks with a deep conditioning treatment that fortifies stressed strands. ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue repairs hair damage in 90 seconds***. Potent and powerful, yet wonderfully weightless, it's designed to be misted through clean, towel-dried hair from roots to ends, then – crucial step – allowed to absorb for 90 seconds. Use it on its own or layer it with your go-to styling products.
5. Brush Your Hair Gently From Tip to Root
Yes, you read that correctly. Dragging your hairbrush from root to tip doesn't only put you at risk of hair breakage; it can also split the shaft, leading to a stressed-out, ragged look. The right way to brush your hair sees you start at the tips, gently teasing knots away. Gradually, you can start brushing higher and higher, until you've detangled every strand. Try this technique when distributing hair conditioner or hair masks evenly too. Apply the treatment to wet hair first, then use a wide-tooth comb to delicately work through knots from the bottom to the top.
6. Avoid Tight Ponytails with Elastics
The ponytail might be one of the most effortless and easy-to-wear hairstyles around, but beware: tight elastic can put stress on fine strands, resulting in splits and breakage. Wear locks loose when you can, and when you can't, stick to clips or soft, silky scrunchies. Over time, you'll notice fewer split hairs, and that scrunchie will keep your look on trend, too.
7. Safeguard Your Strands From Heat
From hair dryers, to curlings irons, to flat irons – heat tools cause damage to hair that's not protected. They strip away natural oils from the cuticle, leaving locks fragile and paving the way for split ends. So, before you start styling with your favorite hot tools, you need a hard-working heat protectant. For shine and shielding in one, use ULTIMATE REPAIR Protective Leave-In. The silky cream works to safeguard strands against the five most common types of hair damage: frizz, UV exposure, breakage, friction and, of course, heat. In fact, it serves up 450-degree heat protection, while reducing frizz. A true styling staple.
8. Sleep With a Silk Pillowcase
Did you know? Even the softest cotton pillowcases can ruffle up the hair cuticle, leading not just to frizz (hello, bedhead), but to brittleness and breakage, too. That's why we recommend silk pillowcases to everyone with fragile locks. But you don't have to stop there: for curls and coils, silk sleep caps also make a noticeable difference to the look and feel of hair.
9. Protect Hair When You Swim
The chlorine in pool water and the salt in seawater are bad news for your hair. Ultra-harsh and drying, it's no wonder locks can feel straw-like and brittle when you return from a vacation. So, to put a stop to sea and chlorine damage on your next getaway, try soaking – and we mean soaking – your hair with clean water before you go swimming. Hair is like a sponge; it can only hold so much moisture before hitting the point of saturation. By drenching it with fresh water, you create an invisible barrier that stops chlorine and salt getting in. Level it up by adding a drop of conditioner to lengths and ends for extra protection.
How to Disguise the Appearance of Split Ends
1. Apply a Styling Cream to Damp Hair
A hydrating styling cream or balm acts like a temporary ‘glue' to smooth split ends. Apply it to just-washed, damp locks before air-drying or blow-drying, and enjoy a silky glow. If you're using heated tools, make sure you spritz through your EIMI Thermal Image heat protection as a base (thinnest products go first), then smooth EIMI Flowing Form just through the mid-lengths and ends, focusing on the most split sections.
2. Use a Hair Oil to Smooth the Splits
Once hair is dry, use an oil to nourish ends and further disguise pesky splits. This should be used after your curling or straightening iron, so you don't end up sizzling strands. Our go-to hair oil for coarse or ultra-dry hair is Oil Reflections Luminus Smoothing Oil, which features a blend of macadamia seed and avocado oils. You only need the tiniest amount to give those tired ends a touch of gloss. Squeeze it into the palms of hands, then gently massage it through just-styled locks.
3. Tame Flyaways with Hairspray
When hair splits, flyaways can happen. They'll mess up even the most groomed ‘do, but a simple trick with hairspray and your brush or a spoolie will tease them back into place. All you have to do is mist a light hairspray, like EIMI Flexible Finish, onto the brush or spoolie, then sweep and tame the flyaways into place. Make sure you do it while the spray is still tacky. Simple.
How to Get Rid of Split Ends
There's only one way to really get rid of split ends, and that's by cutting them off. No matter if they're inches long or found just through the tips, a thorough trim is needed to restore a tidy shape. When the splits go far up the hair shaft, consider shorter cuts, like a pixie crop or modern bob. The latter can even be worn long (heard of ‘the lob'?) if you're worried about losing too much length.
But if it's just the ends that need a snip, try the Cut & Seal Service. It's like an invisible cut, which simply targets the splits and takes off as little length as possible. You (if you’re a hairdresser) or your stylist will trim off breakage through the hair shaft and the ends, before washing with the ULTIMATE REPAIR Shampoo and ULTIMATE REPAIR Conditioner or ULTIMATE REPAIR Mask. To ‘seal’ strands ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue is then applied from root to tip, followed by ULTIMATE REPAIR Protective Leave-In to prep strands for styling.
By booking it in regularly, you can keep on top of split ends as and when they happen, allowing you to keep them at bay while maintaining your (or your client’s) chosen style from season to season. Just make sure you book in that subtle trim every four to six weeks. Goodbye, split ends.
Your Split Ends FAQs – Answered
Do Split Ends Stop Hair Growth?
Because hair growth starts at the root, split ends won't stand in your way if you're growing out your hair. However, if ends are wispy and frayed, this can make hair appear shorter than it actually is. Plus, the higher up splitting hair goes, the more your hairdresser will need to trim off. So, if long, luscious locks are your goal, it's important to take care of split ends first.
What Causes Split Ends?
Along with dryness and dullness, split ends are one of the many symptoms of damaged hair. Heat tools, too-harsh hair products, UV exposure and friction are some of the most common culprits that lead to snapping. That's why one of the most important products in every routine is a protective serum; one that not only shields strands against heat, but also daily wear and tear. ULTIMATE REPAIR Protective Leave-In is the all-rounder locks deserve, giving fine, medium, oily, dry, thick, straight, wavy, curly and coily hair an invisible shield. The delicate cream also makes hair more manageable for easier styling, and keeps frizz at bay for smoother hair.
Is it OK to Break Split Ends?
Don't do it. As tempting as it might be to pull apart those splitting hairs, snapping off the breakage can actually leave hair strands thinner, while causing damage to the cuticle. Sure, it might mean one less split end through the lengths of hair, but trimming is the best and kindest way to tidy up any ragged tips.
What Happens if You Don't Trim Split Ends?
Split ends won't just close up or vanish. If you skip a trim, they'll stick around, and the splits could even work higher up the hair shaft, leaving locks looking wispy and thin. Hair may also appear to stop growing, although that's not truly the case. What's really happening is that, as hair grows from the roots, the ends are breaking off, so the length stays the same. That's why it's important to keep up with regular trims – even when you're growing hair out.
Looking for more tips to care for hair? Discover our complete collection of Hair Care Guides, featuring advice for every type and concern.
* Vs. non-conditioning shampoo.
** When using ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue. Instrumental test versus non-conditioning shampoo.
*** When using ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue.
