Curling, styling, and dyeing are our favorite things to with our hair, but at the same time it can also be really harsh and damaging to our ends in the long run! If you’re growing out your hair and want to retain length or if you’re just struggling with chronic split ends, try these steps for a couple of weeks; they are proven to work for all hair types! Here are the 5 steps to maintaining healthy ends.
1. Trim them! I know haircuts scare a lot of people, and scissor-happy stylists may have scarred you a couple of times in the past, but trims are so necessary. Yes, there are products out there that claim to “mend” your split ends, but there is no quick fix to this! The split ends will actually follow up your hair shaft and prevent you from having long locs if you don’t cut them in good timing.
2. Moisturize them! This consists of using water and water based products. The moisture helps the hair stretch more and makes it less prone to breakage. My favorite water based moisturizer is Cantu’s Shea Butter Leave-In. This product is ideal for all hair types, even fine hair! (It smells so amazing too!)
3. Seal them! Olive oil, almond and jojoba coconut oil are great ways to seal the moisture in your hair. If you’ve dyed or bleached your hair, sealing your moisture in with oils is especially important. Make sure you moisturize first, then seal.
4. Care for them! Be gentle with your hair. Try not to play in your hair so much when you’re bored in class, or keep combing and brushing after you’ve already detangled! Too much manipulation will make your hair weak. By the way, heat is NOT your friend! Obviously it’s unrealistic to say you shouldn’t use heat at all, but try to minimize using heat as much; it makes retaining length and moisture a lot easier.
5. Protect them! Wind, harsh weather, and even your clothes rubbing against your hair can affect your ends. After all is said and done, pay attention to how you style your hair. USE HEAT PROTECTANT! Updos and buns are also good protective styles that allow you to tuck your ends. Either wrap your hair up every night or sleep with a satin/silk pillowcase.
Hair care may seem tedious, but it isn’t! Slowly incorporate all of these steps into your hair regime so you can flaunt your crown with confidence!