There’s nothing worse than running your fingers through your hair and feeling those dry, scratchy ends that seem to frizz out in every direction. They won’t stay the way you style them, the way you straighten them, the way you smooth them down. Those are split ends! While split ends are tiring, they’re super common and completely fixable with expert tips and the right products.
What Are Split Ends?
In the most basic sense, split ends develop when the outermost layer of your hair, that is the cuticle, is eroded or torn at the end of each strand, resulting in the splitting of the hair shaft. When this occurs, your hair not only looks frizzy and dry, but also becomes weak and breaks off when you brush or comb it.
Different Types of Split Ends
Believe it or not, not all split ends are formed the same way. Here are the most common types of split ends you might spot:
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Baby Split: You can define a baby split as one that has just started to grow and is not as big as a fully formed split end yet.
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Basic Split: This is the most commonly seen split end type, where the hair tip simply divides into two.
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Candle Split: This occurs when the hair strand tends to get thinner toward the end and eventually becomes very prone to breakage.
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Y-shaped/Triangle Split: This type of split end leads to the formation of the letter Y (triangular) as the hair splits gradually into three segments.
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Feather Split: The hair strand can also look like a feather if the hair tips split into very small but large numbers of segments. This is one of the worst kinds of split ends.
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Tree Split: This can be regarded as the worst of the worst, as it is a more severe type where the split is further divided into multiple branches, looking like a tree.
Causes of Split Ends
Understanding the causes of split ends is the first step to stopping them in their tracks. Most of the time, it’s a mix of bad habits and environmental stress. Here are the usual suspects:
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Heat Styling: Overuse of blow dryers, flat irons or curling wands can dry out your strands. We recommend you apply a heat protectant to your hair before using any heat styling tool, as this protects your strands from heat damage.
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Chemical Treatments: Bleach, dye, relaxers... they all strip your hair of moisture and weaken its structure.
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Over Washing: Washing too often can strip hair of its natural oils, making it dry and brittle. We recommend washing hair 2-3 times a week, depending on your type of hair.
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Towel Rubbing: Vigorously drying with a towel causes friction that roughs up the hair cuticle, we recommend using a microfiber towel to gently dry your hair.
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Skipping Trims: When you avoid trims, splits can travel up the strand and cause more damage over time.
Once you know the causes of split ends, you can start being a little kinder to your hair and it’ll thank you.
Tired of dry unruly strands? Revive Your Hair With the Best Anti-Frizz Hair Products.
How to Fix Split Ends: 7 Game Changing Tips
While you can’t magically glue your ends back together, you can take steps to manage the damage and prevent more from forming.
1. Get Regular Trims
Once split ends are formed, the only true resolution is the snip-off. Having regular light trims every 6–8 weeks will keep ends fresh and prevent splits from climbing the shaft.
2. Invest in a Good Leave-In Conditioner
Leave-ins are like daily moisturizers for your hair. They fill cuticles, trap moisture, and also help shield cuticles from heat and friction. Search for ingredients such as aloe vera, shea butter and argan oil for the most impact. Infuse moisture directly into your strands with GK Hair’s Gold Conditioner.
3. Ease Up on the Heat Tools
We understand some days a flat iron is as essential as air. But a big difference can be made by simply giving your hair a rest from heat styling tools. Consider air-drying, flexi rods, braids, and buns for no heat styles.
And if you do use heat styling tools, always apply GK Hair's ThermalStyleHer Cream to protect your strands.
4. Air Dry Whenever Possible
Blow dryers are convenient, but air drying is way gentler on your hair. After you’ve washed, you can pat your strands dry with a microfiber towel or soft cotton all you want, but don’t go rubbing them all over—let your hair air-dry as often as possible.
5. Switch to a Silk Pillowcase
Cotton pillowcases might be cozy, but they can be both fricative and damaging as you slumber. Silk or satin pillowcases are slick, so they won’t absorb moisture from your hair or leave you with a crinkly tangled mess when you wake up. Apply GK Hair Argan Oil Serum to hydrate and moisturize your hair.
6. Deep Condition Your Hair Once a Week
Deep conditioners are kind of like a spa day for your hair. They go all the way into hair's cuticle to moisturize, soften and restore strength. Concentrate on your mid-lengths and ends. Apply GK Hair's Deep Conditioning Masque once a week to revitalize your hair.
7. Protect Your Hair From Harsh Weather
The sun, wind and pollution, gets your hair worn out. Protective factors include a hat, scarf or even a UV protectant like GK Hair’s Shield Shampoo and Conditioner.
Final Thoughts
Here’s the thing—split ends may be part of the hair process, but they don’t have to take charge over your strands. Now that you know the types and causes of split ends as well as treatments and how to stop split ends, you’re way ahead of the game. The key? All it takes is a little extra love, regular trims, and GK Hair Products. After you get on board with a healthy hair routine, your hair will become resilient, shiny, and way easy to handle.
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