While split ends are usually associated with women, men are equally prone to them along with other types of hair damage. This false association is because men tend to neglect their hair as it is usually short. As a fact, anyone who wants healthy, conditioned hair will frequently struggle with split ends.
Despite its strength, your hair is susceptible to wear and tear from daily activities. The ends of your hair, which are also the oldest portion of the shaft, can become brittle and lose their protective coating. Research indicates that this may cause the hair to split, exposing the inner cortex.
In other words, when the outer protective layer of the cuticle deteriorates, the hair strand splits as a result. There are many reasons why men are prone to split ends. For starters, they are most likely to wear helmets for extended periods when riding bikes.
Men are also known to wing it (all the time), leading to a minimal to zero hair care routine compared to women. They might also be less inclined towards frequent salon visits or time-consuming hair masks, meaning they need added help at home.
Other explanations include that many men today use mass hair care products and hair-grooming tools like blow dryers and even straighteners. They also seem to be having more issues with frizzy hair, possibly due to a change in lifestyle and poor hair care practices.
Luckily you don't need to shell out on expensive salon treatments or buy a bucket load of unique hair products – some cheap and simple techniques will help keep your mane healthy without breaking the bank!
Factors Causing Split Ends In Men
Split ends in hair are almost unavoidable. It looks like you have taken scissors to your hair with a blindfold. Hair appears jagged and broken at the tips–as if you have just been electrocuted! That's not all; split ends can make your hair weak and prone to breakage if you have long hair.
Before we uncover the question "How to prevent split ends in men" let us understand the causes and factors affecting your hair's health, resulting in split ends. Some of the most typical reasons for split ends include:
Rubber Bands
Have you ever noticed how many hair strands are yanked off when you undo your man bun? Not investing in the right hair accessories can do more harm than good to your hair. This is because of the friction the material places on your strands. Consider using a padded or fabric-covered hair tie or satin hair ties like scrunchies to avoid those gnarly split ends.
Chemical Treatments
You may have gotten that silky smooth straight finish or your favourite colour, but such treatments have side effects. Your colour and bleach come with a cost.
Procedures like curling, smoothening, straightening, blow drying, and colouring frequently use a lot of chemicals, which can deplete your hair of its natural moisture and dry it out. As these procedures weaken the cuticle and cause internal damage, the likelihood of split hair increases.
Over-Washing & Drying
If you think vigorously washing your hair or drying it will help remove the dirt or dry out hair faster, you are in for a surprise! Overwashing can strip away the natural oils in your scalp leading to dry and brittle ends.
On the other hand, towel drying can lead to unwanted friction and can damage your locks. Prefer using microfiber towels, which are gentle on your manes.
Excessive brushing
Anything in excess can lead to no good. Just like over–washing, drying, shampooing, and conditioning is a hair haphazard, over-brushing can lead to breakage of hair and promote split ends. If you constantly need to detangle your hair, you don't need a detangler brush but deep conditioning to reduce the dryness.
Types Of Hair Split End
Every hair type is vulnerable to damage. This frequently affects the ends, which are usually the most exposed and first to experience dryness, brittleness, and breakage. It may eventually cause your ends to separate somewhere along the hair shaft.
There isn't just one way your hair can split but six common ways. Read below to understand the type of splits you should be careful of.
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Incomplete Split End
An incomplete split is formed when a hair strand splits down the centre and loops back around to the main shaft. This specific type of split end appears when the hair strand weakens but does not entirely split.
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Classic Split End
This split looks like a fishtail and is the most common type of all. Usually, the split separates in half at the tip. It occurs in dry and damaged hair that is overexposed to heat, and usually resembles the letter ‘Y’.
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The Tree Split
The damaged cuticle has been unable to withstand the strain due to the tree's split ends, exposing its cortical cells and leading to numerous splits. If you have many split ends in your hair, use a split ends hair trimmer.
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The Taper Split
Though this is technically not a split, in this case, the taper makes your strands weaker and thins out towards the end as opposed to the rest of it. If you have this issue, it is a good indication to consider trimming.
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The Three-Way Split
This specific split, which resembles a three-pronged fork, clearly indicates dry, broken hair. These splits may cause frizziness and an unruly appearance because of the number of frayed strands they contain.
Can Split Ends Stop Hair Growth?
Although split ends won't prevent your hair from growing, they weaken the strands and make it very challenging for it to emerge strong and healthy.
If ignored, split ends will continue to fray and split, eventually spreading higher up the hair strand.
Tips For Preventing Split End Hair In Men
Sadly, split ends of hair cannot be repaired or treated. Therefore, cutting off damaged or frayed hair ends is the only way to get rid of them.
Prevention is key to maintaining the health and absence of split ends in your hair. You may not be able to prevent split ends completely, but you can lessen how frequently they occur.
Let's look at six tips and techniques that could prevent split ends.
Check Your Habits
First things first, take a look at your hair care routine and see if there are any changes you can make to prevent split ends and damage. One of the most common mistakes people make when it comes to hair care is to wash their hair more often than required.
While this may sound counterintuitive, washing your hair too often strips it of its natural oils, drying it out and making it even more prone to damage. You should aim to wash your hair every 2-3 days and use a shampoo or conditioner designed for daily use if you're prone to oiliness.
It would be best if you also were sure to use a wide-tooth comb when drying/styling your hair, as it is gentler than a brush.
Shampoo Regularly
As mentioned above, you should shampoo your hair every 2-3 days to prevent it from drying out and becoming too oily. When it comes to choosing a shampoo, you should opt for a cleanser that is designed for daily use.
Look for shampoos that contain natural oils/nutrients, like coconut oil or argan oil, which will help nourish your hair without weighing it down. When it comes to shampooing, it's also important to remember to massage your scalp.
This will help stimulate blood flow, promote hair growth, and prevent hair loss.
Use Conditioner
Not only will this help to soften and hydrate your hair, but it will also help seal your cuticles, preventing them from fraying and causing split ends. Be sure to massage the conditioner through your hair as you would the shampoo – this will not only help to thoroughly coat each strand but will also ensure your ends are getting a little tender, loving, and cared for!
Don't Over-Dry Or Heat-Train Your Hair.
As with women, men tend to gravitate toward high-heat tools like straighteners and blow dryers – but these can cause severe damage to your hair, leading to split ends and breakage.
Try to avoid using these on a daily basis and opt for a gentler, lower-heat styling method, like air drying your hair or using a towel to blot excess water.
You can also use a serum on your hair before drying it to protect it from heat damage – look for products that contain heat-defending ingredients, like arginine.
Remember The Protein
As we previously mentioned, split ends are caused by a loss of protein in the hair, so it's essential to combine your other hair care habits with a protein treatment. There are a few ways you incorporate it in your routine:
- Deep conditioner: If you're already using a daily conditioner, you can enhance its effects by doing a deep conditioner every now and then.
- Hair mask: Try to do this at least once a month and leave it in your hair for 20 minutes. Be sure to use a wide-tooth comb when rinsing it out!
- Hair oil: If you're short on time or patience, you can try using hair oil instead – be sure to massage it into your hair and the scalp thoroughly!
Try A Leave-In Treatment And Hair Care Product With Protein.
If the above suggestions aren't enough to prevent split ends, try using a leave-in treatment containing protein. This will help ensure your hair stays nourished for longer, meaning there's less of a chance of it breaking and causing split ends.
Apart from that, it would be best to look for a hair care product containing protein. This will help strengthen your hair and prevent any further damage from occurring.
Protein is a vital component of healthy hair, so make sure to check the list of ingredients next time you're at the store! You can also try combining a leave-in treatment with a hair oil or deep conditioner – any of these will help lock in moisture and keep your hair hydrated.
Takeaway
Men have split ends, and other types of hair damage, just like women do. Thankfully, you can adopt a few simple habits to keep your hair in tip-top condition! From shampooing regularly to avoiding high-heat styling methods, there are many ways you can help prevent split ends. Now that you know a few simple ways to protect your hair from damage, you can get back to looking fresh and feeling confident in your hair!
However, if you are facing excessive hair fall or cannot stop worrying about your hair health, consider taking a hair test at Traya. We are backed by science and years of successful experience. Our solutions can help you achieve those hair looks and confidence.
FAQs
Q1 - How Can Men Stop Split Ends Of Hair?
Ans: Here are some ways you can prevent split ends:
- Get regular trims and haircuts, preferably once in 3 months
- Please don't wash your hair daily, and use a microfiber towel to dry it.
- Use a gentle yet effective shampoo followed by a deep hydrating conditioner.
- Avoid detangling wet hair or use a wide tooth comb.
Q2 - How Do I Fix Splitting Hair?
Ans: Although split ends cannot be repaired, you can take care of them by trimming your hair regularly. One can also apply nourishing oils like Almond and coconut to moisturize the ends.
Q3 - Why Is My Hair Splitting At The Top?
Ans: Most of us frequently have hair problems, such as splitting at the crown area. It happens because of decreased moisture when you section your hair into tight hairstyles like high ponytails and excessive heat styling. To determine if your hair is breaking at the crown, look for hair thinning and/or soreness in the area. If you have queries related to your hair health, take a hair test at Traya.
Q4 - Can Males Get Split Ends?
Ans: Yes, diverse factors can lead to split ends among men. Split ends result when the hair cuticle's outer protective layer deteriorates. Various factors can lead to split ends in men.
