***This may save someone a set back**Define Split Ends on a Natural 4a/b head.

[dlove]

Topic should read set back - sorry--Are split ends the uneveness of your ends when you observe a perimeter or section ( for example only the lower nape area) seeking "eveness" ( even growth) and cutting to make even

or

is it the individual hair spliting at the end of the shaft?

I took a close inspection of individual strands and saw that little pattern of:
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on about 10 individual hairs and according to pictures of split ends, I thought I was due for a trim.

Only to find that all my new growth was taken off in 10 minutes.


I'm so very upset that I went in for a trim to get rid of "split ends". The beautician combed my pressed hair in the nape area and commented
" look at those raggedy ends!- I'll even that up!" He evened the length of my hair in the outer perimeter 1st then the inner perimeter. I lost a good 1 1/2 inches in the nape and who knows all over. He will only trim my hair if it is pressed.

Should I just have "searched and destroyed" the individual strands? I did not retain length last year at all due to "trim for split ends"

Does hair growing unevenly in the same section or area prevent retention?

If you have the answer, please share as this may have your fellow LHCF sister from have a set back or going postal on a beautician!

 

[dlove]

Re: ***This may save someone a back set**Define Split Ends on a Natural 4a/b head.

Doing the bump...

 

[tailormade84]

Re: ***This may save someone a back set**Define Split Ends on a Natural 4a/b head.

i use this chart to identify split ends....

basically if it aint a similar to the roots of your hair then it probably a split end....

 

[maysay]

Re: ***This may save someone a back set**Define Split Ends on a Natural 4a/b head.

That chart details all the split ends. Personally, when I'm detangling I cut any hairs I see that have splits or single strand knots. It's easier for me to keep up that way.

Hair dressers like to cut to make the hair even...they don't want to send you out with uneven hair because 1)that's what their taught and 2) even hair appears "thicker" and better styled, which makes them look good.

They are not going to look at every single strand and assess whether it is split or not. If you want to just get rid of splits, then cut them yourself. If you want a trim to make your hair even, then go to the salon. But uneven hair does not automatically equal split ends. Just like dry crunchy ends does not necessarily equal split ends.

 

[Nonie]

Re: ***This may save someone a back set**Define Split Ends on a Natural 4a/b head.

I agree with the images of split ends. Personally I don't do a search and destroy coz if the split end already tore off, you will not know you're looking at half a strand that is no good to you, so you end up keeping hair that continues to weaken the rest of the strand when it should've been cut off with the splits. I think the solution is regular dusting all the strands and protective styling.

When a stylist straightens natural hair and then claims to even it out, am I understanding correctly, OP that the stylist cut it so that it falls to the same level? Meaning the nape is uber shorter than say the crown? I can see that cut being necessary for a relaxed head that is going to wear her hair down and hanging often times, but unless you're someone who wears her hair straight all the time, that way of cutting reeks of someone who is clueless to me.

The cuts you get at Miss Jessie's make more sense to me for a natural who wears her hair in different ways, not just straight, especially one who wears hanging curly styles like WNGs. But for an afro chick like me, evening out would mean making all the strands the same length. I don't care about all my hair falling to the same level. I care about being able to wear a BAA when I reach my goal and one that is shaped like a microphone. That means if we press my hair for a cut, we need to take out a ruler and make sure you hold my hair up and trim each strand so it's a the same length as the next.

How the bloody hell is a stylist going to feign being "in the know" about natural hair and then cut it as if they don't realize that you might one day want to wear it up?

 

[dlove]

Re: ***This may save someone a back set**Define Split Ends on a Natural 4a/b head.

That chart details all the split ends. Personally, when I'm detangling I cut any hairs I see that have splits or single strand knots. It's easier for me to keep up that way.

Hair dressers like to cut to make the hair even...they don't want to send you out with uneven hair because 1)that's what their taught and 2) even hair appears "thicker" and better styled, which makes them look good.

They are not going to look at every single strand and assess whether it is split or not. If you want to just get rid of splits, then cut them yourself. If you want a trim to make your hair even, then go to the salon. But uneven hair does not automatically equal split ends. Just like dry crunchy ends does not necessarily equal split ends.

Thank you. You learn something new everyday! I could be APL and beyond. I was taught early in life that the uneveness of the ends were called split ends and that if your dont even up the length of your ends that your hair breaks and splits up the shaft.

I treat my hair with care and very minimal heat. I should have just cut the splits and kept it moving. I hardly ever press and mostly wear my hair in twists and an occassional afro. I will be dusting in twists as needed from now on.

You ladies are the greatest!

 

[dlove]

Re: ***This may save someone a back set**Define Split Ends on a Natural 4a/b head.

NONIE QUOTE:
When a stylist straightens natural hair and then claims to even it out, am I understanding correctly, OP that the stylist cut it so that it falls to the same level? Meaning the nape is uber shorter than say the crown? I can see that cut being necessary for a relaxed head that is going to wear her hair down and hanging often times, but unless you're someone who wears her hair straight all the time, that way of cutting reeks of someone who is clueless to me.

Hey Nonie!

I believe he was cutting so that the hair is even in its prospective place in relation to the coordinating opposite side, not really cutting so that there are layers.

Thank you.

 

[dlove]

More insight anyone?

 

[dlove]

Bumping again...

 

[Millahdoowop]

I don't like for stylists to cut my ends. I have my friend do it for me because she listens. To keep from having set backs I'd say to do protective styling and seal those ends. I was able to maintain even ends that way.

 

[dlove]

Bumping for more insight...

 

[LadyPBC]

QUESTION - if you have tightly coily hair how can you tell if you have split ends. I know if I have SSKs cuz I can feel them but I have trouble identifying split ends and the stylists insist on blowdrying bone straight for a trim. Is there a tutorial out there or any sage advice you can share with me?

 

[dlove]

QUESTION - if you have tightly coily hair how can you tell if you have split ends. I know if I have SSKs cuz I can feel them but I have trouble identifying split ends and the stylists insist on blowdrying bone straight for a trim. Is there a tutorial out there or any sage advice you can share with me?

Thats a very good question. I havent trimmed by ends since I posted this thread in January. Guess what? I recently found out that my beautician passed away in March.

 

[Nonie]

QUESTION - if you have tightly coily hair how can you tell if you have split ends. I know if I have SSKs cuz I can feel them but I have trouble identifying split ends and the stylists insist on blowdrying bone straight for a trim. Is there a tutorial out there or any sage advice you can share with me?

You can see split ends depending on how bad they are by looking at your ends. But looking for split ends is a waste of time, because they could be at any stage. You might be looking for them after the end has torn off so only half a hair that isn't split is left, or you may be looking at ends that are just at the start of a split and it's so microscopic that your eyes cannot see it. Split ends will happen whether you like it or not, so rather than waste time looking for them, I say just dust regularly, and call it prevention.

This is a split that your eyes might not be able to see:

But you leave it in your hair because you can't see it and it grows into one you can see by which time, you may have thousands of them in this stage and if you're going by looking, by the time you get to the last of the thousands, they'll have torn off and you'll think all's well coz the end doesn't look split. And next thing you know, you have thin ends you cannot understand because you swear you searched and destroyed split ends.

This is a split end you might be able to see because the shaft is split, but look how far gone the damage is:

Why wait till this point where you're basically trying to save ghost ends when you could've prevented this stage by dusting all your ends while they were in the earlier unseen stage?

 

[BEAUTYU2U]

Re: ***This may save someone a back set**Define Split Ends on a Natural 4a/b head.

i use this chart to identify split ends....

basically if it aint a similar to the roots of your hair then it probably a split end....

This chart helps me the most ... I get a lot of d's and e's in my head. DC's have helped and I realize I might have to keep my hair stretched more than I used to when it was shorter to avoid the SSK's.