Which Hair Type is Prone to Split Ends

[Miosy]

I'm convinced that my 4a/b type is prone to splits no matter what I do because of my curl pattern. I am more 4b with some 4a in the back area.
Whether I stop using heat or diligently take care of my ends or use more heat that usual, I still get these horrible splits!

So, let's do a poll on type 3s and 4s to see who deals w/ splits most often.

Vote your hair type if you constantly have to battle with those little splits ends and cannot go long w/ out dusting or trimming.

 

[ravenmerlita]

My hair is 3c, very dry and very fine. I have battled with splits for a long time. I think it has more to do with my hair being very dry and very fine, than it does with the texture. Since I've started washing/conditioning almost daily and doing monthly protein treatments, I've gotten them under control.

 

[Miosy]

Hmmm, that's good info. My hair is ALWAYS dry even when I did daily CO washes or moisturized my ends daily.

 

[camellia]

I don't really know my hair type, it's somewhere in the "3 family" I think. Some parts are barely wavy, a 2B at most, and other sections are ringlets more like a 3B.

When I was using heat all the time I had loads of split ends. Now that I rarely use heat and my hair is very well moisturized I hardly have any.

I trim very rarely. I wear my hair up in buns most of the time. I think that has more to do with the lack of splits than my hair type. I didn't vote on the poll.

 

[Cichelle]

My hair is something like a 3b, I guess. I don't get split ends. I haven't trimmed my hair in about two years. But, like camellia, I keep my hair moisturized and up in a bun nearly always. And I also think that has a lot to do with why I don't get them. I basically do very little with my hair.

(I didn't vote, either.)

 

[LocksOfLuV]

I am a 4a/b mix. And I don't get splits so I didn't vote.

I take care of my hair and avoid heat usage.

I kinda don't think (in the long run) it has anything to do with hair type. I know white girls with type 1 hair that got splits all the way up to heaven and vice versa. If you take care of your hair it will take care of you.

But it is a fact that the curlier the texture the weaker it is. So knowing that, you have to tak extra care of your hair. But that's my stance.

 

[ladylibra]

i've been told that split ends don't travel all the way up the hair shaft of curly/coily/kinky hair like it does with straight or wavy hair. so even though the "more fragile" hairtypes may be more prone to split ends, the splits usually stop at the first major bend in the hair.

i believe this is true... I can go 6 months without trimming and when i do trim, it's never more than an inch. i have more problems with knots than splits though...

 

[PinkSkates]

My hair is 4a natural, and I use direct heat twice a month and I have no split ends. My last trim was 6 months ago. I agree that it has less to do with your hair type; and more to do with how you handle and take care of your hair.

 

[GeorginaSparks]

I get splits all the time and i rarely wear my hair down. And its not dry or anything. Just something i need to live with i guess. Im 4a/b

 

[LocksOfLuV]

Ps: Your poll might be biased so don't go off of the results of this poll soley.

The majority of the board is type 4 women period. So it's gonna SEEM like type 4s (which may or may not be the case, I am just stating the bias info) are more prone to splits when in fact just more type 4s voted because they ARE is the majority. In an ideal situation we would have a variety of ALL types to vote, but, it's not. Majority (*disclaimer some not all) of black women fit in the type 4 hair type.

 

[Serenity_Peace]

I'm convinced that fine hair is most prone to split ends regardless of hair type. Sadly, we fine ladies have to be very careful and treat our delicate tresses like a baby's bottom.

 

[bablou00]

I think it depends on the condition of the hair. Like others have stated I know white, asian, and mexican girls w/ straight hair who have split ends. I think 4b hair is more prone to breakage due to our curl pattern if we dont moisturize our hair. But split ends depends on how you wear your hair, heat, and products IMO

 

[tsturnbu]

the results may be slightly skewed. if it hasnt been done so already, i think we need to take a poll of the type of hair that the majority of women on this site have. because from your poll, it seems as if those with 4a/b combo are more prone to splits, but if they represent the majority of woemn on this board, then it would make sense that the majority who voted on your poll who suffer from splits are 4a/b. may not be an accurate and reliable sample.


still a good poll though. i am 4a (maybe 4a/b combo) and i always deal with splits. when i trim, it seems like only weeks later i have splits again...very frustrating.

 

[Miosy]

I get splits all the time and i rarely wear my hair down. And its not dry or anything. Just something i need to live with i guess. Im 4a/b

Me too! I rarely wear my hair down, I do not dry comb at all (I usually style with my hands). I carefully detangle in sections, deep condition, treat my ends, AND still splits...I do have a lot of fine strands.

 

[Miosy]

the results may be slightly skewed. if it hasnt been done so already, i think we need to take a poll of the type of hair that the majority of women on this site have. because from your poll, it seems as if those with 4a/b combo are more prone to splits, but if they represent the majority of woemn on this board, then it would make sense that the majority who voted on your poll who suffer from splits are 4a/b. may not be an accurate and reliable sample. quote]

We do have a poll on the majority of hair type on the forum somewhere
We have a mixture of all types of hair types here

 

[Miosy]

bumping
Only 13 people suffer from split ends on the forum

 

[cmw45]

I've found that my split ends have decreased the most with sealing and protecting my ends. I'm 4b which tends to matte much easier gets split ends easier as well.

 

[Cleve_gryl]

I didn't vote because I know all different hair types are prone to splits if not taken care of properly (heat, color, etc). I'm a mix of 3 and I get splits in my highlighted strands

 

[sweetwhispers]

My split ends travel very far up the hair shaft

 

[FlowerHair]

I don't think it has as much to do with the hair type as with the thickness of the hair strand and first and foremost, how you treat your hair.

My friend has silky very thin 3c strands and they break just from her pony tail holder. My hair on the other side is coarser and thicker and doesn't break as easily. However, it used to break like crazy when I was still combing my hair and not moisturizing enough.

 

[Poohbear]

All hair types are prone to split ends. I do not think one type is more prone than the other. Getting split ends has nothing to do with hair type...it has everything to do with how you care for your hair. Splits are caused by heat, excessive combing/brushing, overmanipulation, rough handling, hair accessories, dryness, among many other external factors. I know I get splits on my natural hair from overmanipulation. If I left my hair alone like I did before I ever found the hair boards, I wouldn't have any splits.

 

[Syrah]

From what I've learned and heard, split ends have nothing to do with hair type and everything to do with hair regimen.

And split ends aren't always a sign of dry hair. OVERCONDITIONED HAIR will also split. Hair that is too heavy do to product will split.

I have 4b hair and had split ends like a MUG. Chopped them off. Changed my regimen. Split ends are gone.

The biggest thing that helped my split ends was washing my hair more often. I went from once every 10 days to once every 2-4 days (I'm 100% natural at the moment).

 

[BillyJay]

All hair types are prone to split ends. I do not think one type is more prone than the other. Getting split ends has nothing to do with hair type...it has everything to do with how you care for your hair. Splits are caused by heat, excessive combing/brushing, overmanipulation, rough handling, hair accessories, dryness, among many other external factors. I know I get splits on my natural hair from overmanipulation. If I left my hair alone like I did before I ever found the hair boards, I wouldn't have any splits.

I agree! Overhandeling is definetely a contributing factor.

 

[SleekandBouncy]

While I do think a lot of things can be affected by hair type, I don't think split ends are one of them. I have 4b hair and my hair used to have LOTS of split ends. You could see the white tips from several feet away.
For the last year I've been applying a leave in protectant (Tigo Ego boost or Salerm21) as a moisturizer only to my ends. The Ego Boost is specifically for sealing the ends from damage and daily abuse, it uses some kind of polymer or silicone IIRC.
Anyway, since doing this I've noticed that I don't have to trim my hair as often and my hair is 99.99% split end free. Also, I don't use direct heat. Those are the only changes I made.

 

[audacious1]

My hair is 4a natural, and I use direct heat twice a month and I have no split ends. My last trim was 6 months ago. I agree that it has less to do with your hair type; and more to do with how you handle and take care of your hair.

Wow. Not fair. I use direct heat about once every 3 months, and I'm too lazy to use indirect heat no more than once a month (so yes, I be looking a mess unless I do an airdried braidout), BUT I still manange to get split ends. It isn't split end heaven up in my head or nothing like that, but I do get them.

I honestly didn't it was possible to not have split ends. Out of billions of hairs, not one is split whatsoever (a rhteroical question)? Pretty hard to believe in my opinion. Everyone gets split ends in my world. Some people just get them worse than others.

 

[Poohbear]

From what I've learned and heard, split ends have nothing to do with hair type and everything to do with hair regimen.

And split ends aren't always a sign of dry hair. OVERCONDITIONED HAIR will also split. Hair that is too heavy do to product will split.

I have 4b hair and had split ends like a MUG. Chopped them off. Changed my regimen. Split ends are gone.

The biggest thing that helped my split ends was washing my hair more often. I went from once every 10 days to once every 2-4 days (I'm 100% natural at the moment).

Wow MsNadi! I just checked out your fotki for the first time and your natural hair is beautiful and long!!!

 

[PureSilver]

My hair is 4a natural, and I use direct heat twice a month and I have no split ends. My last trim was 6 months ago. I agree that it has less to do with your hair type; and more to do with how you handle and take care of your hair.

TRUE WORD, it also brins back to memory my natural days, i never had split ends, well at least i don't remember having any.

 

[Desert Skye]

I'll tell you what type of hair is prone to splits. Its my 3 something hair. The ends are so dry no matter what I do. I just had a trim yesterday but I know those splits will be popping back soon.

 

[happycakes]

I got more split ends when I had relaxer hair. Now that I'm natural, I really don't get split ends.

Relaxing the hair may have something to do with this. The more the hair strands have been broken down the likely you are to have split ends.

JMO

 

[Valerie]

I used to have a problem with split ends or thin ends whenever I wanted my hair to grow longer, and especially when I had it relaxed. Now I have it natural and I keep it moisturised, I have found that the problem has been greatly reduced.