Are you troubled by pesky split ends that keep returning despite regular trims? You aren’t alone—it’s one of the most common hair dilemmas. But before heading back to the salon, understanding the root cause can be key to repairing them. We turned to Aanchal Morwani, celebrity hairstylist and one of our expert panelists, and asked her to shed light on what’s behind those dreaded splits and how to keep them at bay.
She explained that everyday habits like skipping heat protectant, aggressive-brushing, or dehydrated hair can lead to splits. But don’t worry; a few tweaks in your routine can make all the difference. Morwani shared some effective long-term solutions as well as quick fixes. Here’s an expert guide to keeping that salon-fresh finish as long as possible.
Before exploring the dos and don’ts, let’s clarify what split ends are and why they occur. Simply put, split ends happen when the tips of your hair split into two or more strands—a sign your hair has taken a hit. According to Morwani, one of the main culprits is heat. “You could have virgin hair, but extensive use of heated tools can still cause the hair to split,” she explains. She adds, “Excessive heat affects elasticity—the hair’s ability to spring back. It also dries out your hair, leaving it stiff and dehydrated, which eventually leads to split ends.”
We understand that styling hair with heat is integral to most people’s routines, but it isn’t the only factor that contributes to split ends. Morwani explains that certain salon treatments can be equally harsh. “With perms and chemical treatments, you are permanently altering the sulphur bonds that hold the hair’s protein structure together,” she says. “This leads to hair reset, and sometimes, some of those bonds don’t undergo the reset process, which may cause hair breakage.” Bleaching is another major reason. "The chemicals in bleach weaken the hair shaft, making it more likely to snap. Bleaching paired with heat? That’s a recipe for disaster," she emphasises.
Split ends are known for their stubborn nature. Despite being common, the methods for getting rid of them are often debated. It’s a classic case of too much available information. To simplify things, we asked Morwani for the essential rules to keep your hair healthy, happy, and split end-free. She provided a cheat sheet of long-term haircare habits everyone should incorporate into their routines.
You can follow these as a preventive strategy or if you’re currently battling your ends. However, keep in mind that these will only work with regular use; unfortunately, there isn’t an overnight solution for split ends.
Before exploring the dos and don’ts, let’s clarify what split ends are and why they occur. Simply put, split ends happen when the tips of your hair split into two or more strands—a sign your hair has taken a hit. According to Morwani, one of the main culprits is heat. “You could have virgin hair, but extensive use of heated tools can still cause the hair to split,” she explains. She adds, “Excessive heat affects elasticity—the hair’s ability to spring back. It also dries out your hair, leaving it stiff and dehydrated, which eventually leads to split ends.”
We understand that styling hair with heat is integral to most people’s routines, but it isn’t the only factor that contributes to split ends. Morwani explains that certain salon treatments can be equally harsh. “With perms and chemical treatments, you are permanently altering the sulphur bonds that hold the hair’s protein structure together,” she says. “This leads to hair reset, and sometimes, some of those bonds don’t undergo the reset process, which may cause hair breakage.” Bleaching is another major reason. "The chemicals in bleach weaken the hair shaft, making it more likely to snap. Bleaching paired with heat? That’s a recipe for disaster," she emphasises.
Split ends are known for their stubborn nature. Despite being common, the methods for getting rid of them are often debated. It’s a classic case of too much available information. To simplify things, we asked Morwani for the essential rules to keep your hair healthy, happy, and split end-free. She provided a cheat sheet of long-term haircare habits everyone should incorporate into their routines.
You can follow these as a preventive strategy or if you’re currently battling your ends. However, keep in mind that these will only work with regular use; unfortunately, there isn’t an overnight solution for split ends.
Before exploring the dos and don’ts, let’s clarify what split ends are and why they occur. Simply put, split ends happen when the tips of your hair split into two or more strands—a sign your hair has taken a hit. According to Morwani, one of the main culprits is heat. “You could have virgin hair, but extensive use of heated tools can still cause the hair to split,” she explains. She adds, “Excessive heat affects elasticity—the hair’s ability to spring back. It also dries out your hair, leaving it stiff and dehydrated, which eventually leads to split ends.”
We understand that styling hair with heat is integral to most people’s routines, but it isn’t the only factor that contributes to split ends. Morwani explains that certain salon treatments can be equally harsh. “With perms and chemical treatments, you are permanently altering the sulphur bonds that hold the hair’s protein structure together,” she says. “This leads to hair reset, and sometimes, some of those bonds don’t undergo the reset process, which may cause hair breakage.” Bleaching is another major reason. "The chemicals in bleach weaken the hair shaft, making it more likely to snap. Bleaching paired with heat? That’s a recipe for disaster," she emphasises.
Split ends are known for their stubborn nature. Despite being common, the methods for getting rid of them are often debated. It’s a classic case of too much available information. To simplify things, we asked Morwani for the essential rules to keep your hair healthy, happy, and split end-free. She provided a cheat sheet of long-term haircare habits everyone should incorporate into their routines.
You can follow these as a preventive strategy or if you’re currently battling your ends. However, keep in mind that these will only work with regular use; unfortunately, there isn’t an overnight solution for split ends.