DO's and DON'Ts of Hair Care: Damage Control and What Causes Split Ends?

What causes split ends? The real question is, "What doesn't cause split ends?" Everything you do to your hair causes stress to it and almost everyone has some sort of damage in their hair. The only way you can really avoid split ends is by not doing anything to your hair at all, but who in there right mind could succumb to that? Certainly not anybody that gets any kind of enjoyment from styling their hair. However some things you do to your hair are defiantly worse then other things.

Trichoptilosis , (the technical term for split ends), happens when the cuticle of the hair strand wears down. Obviously the more you abuse your hair the more split ends your going to get. Although I do have to say that a little damage to the hair gives it more body and makes it fuller. So here are some tips on how to keep the damage and split ends down to a minimum.

DO's and DON'Ts of hair care and damage control.......

DON'T use to much heat when styling. All that heat will burn the cuticle of your hair strands right off. Keep your flat irons, curling irons, and blow-dryers on a medium to low setting and be careful not to direct it on any one area of the hair for too long. Run the irons through your hair quickly during use and move your hair dryer back and forth constantly while drying your hair so the heat doesn't stay on the same spot for too long.

DON'T over process your hair with color or bleach. Be careful when you color your hair. You don't want to stray too far away from your natural color. Hair color is awesome when properly applied and cared for, but if you abuse your hair with too many harsh chemicals the results can be detrimental to the condition of your hair.

DON'T tease or back comb too much. Too much vigorous styling can rip and tear at the hair. Be gentle when your are teasing by going slowly and handle the hair lightly without too much tension.

DO get your hair cut on a regular base. The best way to get rid of split ends is
to cut them off. You should get your hair trimmed around every 6 weeks, because this
is when you will notice the ends starting to look dry or even split.

DO deep condition your hair. Getting a deep conditioning treatment will help
replenish the moisture back into your hair. You can get treatments at the salon or you can buy a treatment to use at home. Try to avoid hot oil treatments, they won't work as well as a hydrating or a moisturizing treatment will.

DO use an oil or serum in your hair. Just a little bit of oil can go a long way and it leave your hair healthier and shinier looking. Put a few drops in your hands and spread it out in your hair, focusing more on the ends of course.

Controlling the damage and split ends in your hair can be beneficial to us all. Learning the right tricks when it comes to taking care of your hair is something you will utilize for a lifetime.