Do splits really go up the shaft of the hair?

[kristina]

Okay, everybody has heard this but.....is it true? I ask because I have gone a long time w/o trimming and I never saw this on my head. I trimmed recently but should I really be scared that trimming negligence will cause me to lose all my hair????

 

[swirl]

i've never (to my knowledge) had a split to go all the way up. to prove to myself that they don't, i pulled a strand apart. the split went up about 1 inch before it separated from the main strand. splits are ugly but i'm not convinced that they cause any long term damage. just my 2 cents...

 

[mrslee]

Okay, everybody has heard this but.....is it true? I ask because I have gone a long time w/o trimming and I never saw this on my head. I trimmed recently but should I really be scared that trimming negligence will cause me to lose all my hair????

YES!!! It is NOT a pretty site!

 

[Champagne_Wishes]

It can and it has happened to me once.

 

[LegallySpeaking]

Splits really do go up the shaft, but trimming negligence will not make you lose all your hair if you have healthy ends (i.e., do not have split ends).

 

[pookeylou]

I can attest to this actually happening to me.

It is better to trim than to split.

 

[adrienne0914]

okay, let's be clear on this... if your ends are not split, it's not necessary to trim. in fact, i think that most people trim more often than is needed. some people like to even things up, which is fine, but when you're trying to grow your hair, evening things up should also be kept to a minimum.

trimming to prevent split ends is really counterproductive when growing the hair. i think the best way to do that is by protecting your ends. that's why people who wear protective styles most of the time don't have to trim as often.

to answer your question (i know i'm a tad long winded ), yes, this really can and does happen. i have some of that going on on my head right now. i've found several hair strands where i didn't trim the split end, and it split again further up, which then looks like a W rather than a Y.

 

[skegeesmb]

I agree with Adrienne. Splits on my hair don't necessarily travel all the way up the shaft, but I have seen where my hair is split three good inches. It'll be one main hair, and then a split, and then a split further up and then a split further up. It's not one big split though. It really looks unattractive. I usually go through search for the really really bad splits and then I cut off.

 

[carameldiva]

Yes it just recently happened to me and i had to good a really good trim. got moisturize more, deep condition more and make sure it doesn't occur again.

 

[Ayeshia]

i get mid shaft splits....meaning that the end itself isnt split but if you go about a good 2 inches up the hair is slplit but the ends are still together

 

[OnceUponAtime]

i get mid shaft splits....meaning that the end itself isnt split but if you go about a good 2 inches up the hair is slplit but the ends are still together

Me too! They're little holes through the strand. I thought I read on this board some time ago, that these are caused by the stress of the curl in the hair. I wish I could find that thread.

 

[Poohbear]

kristina... here is a helpful site on split ends... it shows what different types of split ends look like, what causes them, how to get rid of them, and how to prevent them... http://splitends.bebto.com/illustrations.htm

Hope that helps!

 

[CandiceC]

Thanks for the link, Poohbear!

 

[BAILEYSCREAM]

Okay, everybody has heard this but.....is it true? I ask because I have gone a long time w/o trimming and I never saw this on my head. I trimmed recently but should I really be scared that trimming negligence will cause me to lose all my hair????

To answer the question you posed, yes.

I never used to trim my hair and it became quite thin. I would go to the hairdresser, get my touch-up and refuse to get a trim. Anyway, as time went on the splits travelled all the way up the shaft. In the end, I started trimming split ends as soon as they appeared, and I dust (take off the smallest micro amount of hair every few months) as needed to avoid split ends.

Also I noticed that I don't get so many split ends when I take my supplements and grease the ends. Also, I use less heat and that helps too.

So,that's my observation with my hair regarding the splits

 

[deborah11]

i get mid shaft splits....meaning that the end itself isnt split but if you go about a good 2 inches up the hair is slplit but the ends are still together

so what does one do if u have splits up the shaft in some places but not all of the hair. is one's only recouse to cut all of the hair or can u grdually cut off those sections? does it work if u twist that section of hair and cut off the peices that are protruding out? what really is the answer. I am currently having some issues with this and don't know what to do about it? Also since I transitioned for so long, almost 2 years, i am not sure if those sections are in fact split ends or just shorter peices of hair as a result of some breakage from transitioing (where breakage occurred where the natural met the relaxed hair.) when my hair sheds from combing, the strands are generally long with the pulp on the end and the hair doesn't appear to be split. I am totally confused about this whole issue. anyone know what I am talking about and cn offer some help with this one. thanks.

 

[MonaLisa]

okay, let's be clear on this... if your ends are not split, it's not necessary to trim. in fact, i think that most people trim more often than is needed. some people like to even things up, which is fine, but when you're trying to grow your hair, evening things up should also be kept to a minimum.

trimming to prevent split ends is really counterproductive when growing the hair. i think the best way to do that is by protecting your ends. that's why people who wear protective styles most of the time don't have to trim as often.

to answer your question (i know i'm a tad long winded ), yes, this really can and does happen. i have some of that going on on my head right now. i've found several hair strands where i didn't trim the split end, and it split again further up, which then looks like a W rather than a Y.

The Queen...has spoken. Queen, I'm trying my best to live by the advice you have bestowed upon me. I haven't had a really good trim since...I think...2002...so it's time for me to have one this weekend. Probably will be another year before I do this again.

I'm gonna wear my hair down for like two days after I get it done...but after that...I'm slapping back on my half wig. It's cold in NYC.

 

[adrienne0914]

The Queen...has spoken. Queen, I'm trying my best to live by the advice you have bestowed upon me. I haven't had a really good trim since...I think...2002...so it's time for me to have one this weekend. Probably will be another year before I do this again.

I'm gonna wear my hair down for like two days after I get it done...but after that...I'm slapping back on my half wig. It's cold in NYC.

girl, you need to quit with that queen stuff!!!

do you plan to trim yourself or have someone else do it?

 

[MonaLisa]

girl, you need to quit with that queen stuff!!!

do you plan to trim yourself or have someone else do it?

Someone else...at my Dominican Spot...I have prepped her for two weeks by peeping my head in the door...that I only want a lilllllllllllllllllll trim! Don't be cuttin my hair off!

Poquito! Poquito!!!!

I've been doing intermittent tiny dustings...but I really need a real trim...it's been at least two years...it will be at least another year before another one like this.

And you know u da Queen in my eyes anyways. Right after ms. howse...you were the one that helped me get down the right path when I found this board and I will always be appreciative of that.

*Mo bows*

 

[Porsche19]

This thread inspired me to cut about .5 of an inch of my hair all around, and continue to do so every month until I see improvement is the lengths of my hair.

My hair WAS about chin length straightened out, but now it's about an inch above chin length.

What I see is that while most of my hair is at chin length, as you go up you see a lot of... kinda fly away hair. Which means that the hair has broken off, doesn't it? It doesn't look horrible, it just bothers me. I think that it could be overprocessing, which is funny because I only go for the teturized look.

That's my first goal, to grow all of my hair to one, mostly unbroken almost chin length. Should take about 6 months of monthly half-inch trims. I would cut it off to an inch, but barely chin length hair is about as short as I can take

Has anyone every felt depressed, yet hopeful before? That's how I'm feeling now.

 

[kristina]

Wow, ladies. Thank you so much for all the responses. I'm a bit apprehensive about trimming because I just trimmed 2.5 inches of hair a couple of weeks ago but I noticed a few baby splits (ironically, i think they were caused or worsened by the flat ironing that I did in order to trim my hair the first place) so I'm going to dust very soon.

 

[adrienne0914]

porsche, i have a few questions for you:

• what is the condition of the lengths of your hair? is it damaged? if so, what do you think caused the damage?
  
• do you have splits up the length of it? if not, i don't think there's any point in doing what you're planning.

the main thing is to get to the cause of the problem(s) and change it. to me, the only thing that cutting solves is split ends. if you don't have any, and your hair isn't terribly uneven, wait until you get more length to cut again.

don't be depressed. i think you're resorting to cutting too soon. it should be the very last resort!!

p.s. flyaway hair is not a sign of broken hair. that's usually a sign of the wrong product(s) being used.

 

[Porsche19]

My hair isn't damaged... I would call it slight damage, but no where near severe damage. I think that I used a relaxer that was too strong and got overprocessed (this was a while ago though)... also, me not having a stable regimen affected my hair negatively.

Today I did see some splits but they weren't up the shaft, the ones that I saw were at the ends, and not very big.

What products could be giving me fly aways???

 

[adrienne0914]

since your hair isn't split or really damaged, i definitely don't see the point of cutting once a month. however, since you recently cut and still see splits, i'm curious as to how you're wearing your hair on a daily basis.

i'm not sure which products cause flyaways. what are you using on your hair now though? i'm gonna send you a PM, okay?

 

[Porsche19]

ok, I'm waiting for the pm.

I trimmed today, as I was trimming that's when I saw the splits.

 

[BAILEYSCREAM]

Yes, splits go all the way up the shaft. Think of it as having a zip that is zipped shut. When you unzip it the zip separates into two. This is the effect you get with split ends. Once I see splits,they have to go!

I have had split ends damage my hair before because I refused to trim or cut for months and years, but never again.

Besides, if you insist on leaving the splits your hair will just look thinner and see through.