Of all of the afro hair problems you can deal with, split ends can be one of the most problematic. As your ends are the oldest part of your afro hair, it may split over time due to daily wear and tear. However, once your ends become frayed, it is essential not to let the effects of this process work up your hair shaft as then it can cause damage to your roots.
With this in mind, you should aim to get rid of split ends altogether with a plan to keep your afro curls from frizzing and breaking off. Here is our guide to help you determine the causes of split ends and also highlight ways that you can prevent them.
What Are The Causes Of Split Ends?
Styling methods such as flat ironing and blow drying can dry out your afro hair, primarily if you use too many of these types of tools or opt for a lot of heat when using them. In addition, certain ingredients like parabens and alcohol in styling products, dyes and bleach in colour processes, and sulphates in shampoos can also strip the moisture from your hair which in turn causes split ends.
Even more, if you sleep on a cotton pillowcase without a satin bonnet or scarf covering your curls, the process of your afro hair rubbing on rough fabrics can cause it to break. Lastly, your hair porosity could also be more prone to split ends, especially if you do not moisturise enough. For example, high porosity hair has difficulty retaining any moisture it absorbs, meaning that the curls will will easily get dry.
How Can You Prevent Split Ends From Occurring Once And For All?
Check Your Shampoo Ingredients
Ensure that you are using a shampoo without sodium lauryl sulphate, as this can cause your afro hair to dry out. In addition, if your hair starts feeling drier due to the seasonal changes of spring, summer, autumn or winter, try reducing your shampoo use. So, instead of washing your hair twice a week, you could opt for a co-wash on one of your wash days.
Condition Regularly
When you consistently replenish the moisture in your afro hair, it will be split end and frizz-free. So, in addition to your regular conditioner, why not use for our leave-in conditioner with manuka honey and avocado oil? Avocado oil is a valuable ingredient as it contains a higher amount of polyunsaturated and monosaturated fats. This will help your hair’s moisture and shine last longer. Manuka honey is also a natural humectant that can absorb and retain moisture efficiently, even for those stubborn ends! When used in conjunction with a hair steamer, you could also use our leave-in conditioner as a deep conditioning treatment. This steaming process will help seal these natural ingredients into your hair quickly.
Aim To Trim Your Ends Regularly
If you don't stop split ends from travelling up your hair, it will keep going. To avoid this happening, opt to trim your ends every 6 to 8 weeks to prevent this process from affecting the rest of your afro hair.
Adopt A Better Way To Sleep
The continual practise of sleeping on a cotton pillowcase without a silk scarf or bonnet is harmful to your afro hair. This is because regular rubbing can raise the hair cuticle, which then increases the likelihood of breakage, split ends and moisture loss. Opting for a satin scarf or bonnet can reduce this friction and help retain your hair’s moisture while sleeping.
To maximise rehydration at night, you could also try gently massing your strands with our Curling Creme with coconut & Jamaican black castor oils before putting on your scarf or bonnet. This mixture can improve the length of your afro hair and can stop breakage and split ends in its tracks.
There are various reasons why your afro curls can get split ends. However, your main goal should be to try and diminish their appearance altogether. While developing a regime to tackle split ends can take time and patience, your strands will look and feel healthier in the long run.