HELP!!! Split Ends Are Ruining My Growth!!

[luvovcandy]

So SOME of my hair (the sides) is the longest its ever been (kissing BSL) and the rest (the middle) is neck length. Look at whats happening! I figured i'd search and destroy and just let my hair grow out until it is all BSL and then cut it even. What do you think I should do? I wear wigs and weaves a lot now so it doesnt really matter that my hair is soooo uneven and unhealthy looking. I really dont want to start over and cut off my hair because I want to see how long it can get. What do you pros think I should do? The amount i have to cut off is all that I have grown in 2009 which is about 4 1/2 inches. Do I really have to cut it or can I hold on and take care of what I have?

Side note: My hair seems a lot worse in the solo shot because it is freshly blow dried with no moisture.

 

[PrincessLinzz]

Bumping for you...

 

[shakenspirit]

im having a lot of split ends also but i have gotten rid of many.what i think is just do slight trimming and really baby your hair(dc,treat,moisturize etc.)and im not saying you are going to reverse the damage but you will be slowly getting rid of the damaged ends and preventing anymore.i thought of cutting but i decided it was not necessary.you just have to be willing to trim and really care for your hair.

 

[SEMO]

I think you will eventually have to cut your hair to even it out. You can trim a little at a time and wear your hair in buns (which has the benefit of helping to protect you ends and maybe stopping some of the breakage). Or you can get it cut all at once to near where the shortest bit is in the back.

I know you don't want to cut it. But split ends left untreated just keep splitting further and further up the shaft (equaling more breakage and uneveness).

((hugs)) Because I know this is a hard place to be in.

 

[luvovcandy]

im having a lot of split ends also but i have gotten rid of many.what i think is just do slight trimming and really baby your hair(dc,treat,moisturize etc.)and im not saying you are going to reverse the damage but you will be slowly getting rid of the damaged ends and preventing anymore.i thought of cutting but i decided it was not necessary.you just have to be willing to trim and really care for your hair.

Yeah, thats what Im thinking. My goal for 2010 was for Mid back length and I still want to go for it. I just dont want to cut my hair off. Hope all goes well with your growth too!

 

[orchidgirl]

I would do a slight trim...also do a protective styles and seal your ends. Do this and then trim again in a couple of months to even out a bit. Make sure that your scissors are not the cause of your split ends, otherwise you'll be forever trimming. I learned that too. Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[chasturner84]

I agree with the previous posters. You will have to eventually cut it to even it out, but if you don't want to lose a ton of progress all at once, gradually trim your ends every couple of months and baby them. Good luck.

 

[gissellr78]

Sorry this is happening but if I were you I would do a trim (1/4-1/2")....because the split ends will just get worst. ((Hugs))

 

[Fhrizzball]

What are you doing to the middle of your hair that is causing so much split ends. If you can find out why there's so many splits and damage in that area you can prevent this in the future. Good luck. I would just trim the splits and try to get rid of as many as possible.

 

[JFK]

What are you doing to the middle of your hair that is causing so much split ends. If you can find out why there's so many splits and damage in that area you can prevent this in the future. Good luck. I would just trim the splits and try to get rid of as many as possible.

I agree. Do you tie your scarf too tight in the back? Is that the area where you can adjust your wig and it's too tight as well? Try to think of daily things you do with the back of your hair that may be the cause and then change practices.

 

[Andy1979]

I know you don't want to hear this but I would to a total trim. No use in your hair being long if it is really broken looking.
As far as split ends, I don't know what to tell you. When I was relaxed, I was never able to get rid of split ends. I would moisturize my ends, where protective styles ALL the time, and protect my hair with good heat protectant and quality tools and I still had crazy split ends. I would always grow just barely to bsl then I would need to do a major trim. Now that I am natural I wear my hair curly most of the time and I have barely any split ends and my hair is waistlength and healthy (haven't had a trim since June.
HTH!

 

[Truth]

IMO, I say go for a cut to even it out.. I know I know it's madddddd hurtful to lose a ton of progress, but your hair will thrive sooooo much more if you let go of the damage, baby your ends and protective style... I use to be the sammmeee way, till I learned it's better to just let go, infact it usually comes back so fast you dont realize it .. YES you could trim alittle at a time and protective style tho

 

[chavascandy]

Cut those spilt ends off honey or it will get worse. You have to drop em' like a bad habit!

 

[snillohsss]

I know you don't want to hear this, but I would cut. This just happened to me. The middle was running by splits. When I took my weave out last year, I didn't properly trim my hair, and although it grew, the splits ruined all my progress. I was also going to try to wait until the broken area reached APL length and then I was going to cut it even, but what happened was the splits kept causing more breakage.

I recently cut it slightly above my shoulders, and it is SO full and healthy looking. I have zero breakage now. So I plan on really babying my hair so it can get to full APL by the end of the year.

I think if you don't cut, the splits will make your breakage worse, and you will end up having to cut much shorter than you would now.

 

[Jaegermany]

I would cut up to the number 5 on your shirt. Then I would totally change my regi...

I dont know exactly what your doing on a daily/weekly basis. But revamp it to include deep conditioning rotating light protein and moisture. I would stop wig wearing and start co washing and wet bunning. I dont know if these things work well with your hair...this is just what I might do given the same circumstance...

Chin up dear....its not all bad those ends are prob. from a time period when you didnt do as well by your hair....when you trim those ends.... as you grow.... it will get better!

 

[LushLox]

You really need to identify what is causing the splits because if you go ahead and trim but yet you are still unknowingly making the same mistakes then you could end up back in the same place you are now. You're going to really have to assess your routine. If you're a regular wearer of wigs could the clips be contributing to the breakage perhaps?

 

[luvovcandy]

Thank you all! This is so depressing!

 

[TeeDee66]

I've experience the same thing so many times. If I were you, I would trim about 1 inch total. Then before going to bed at night put a dab of conditioner on that middle section and bun it for about 1 month.

 

[Bluetopia]

I can't believe im about to say this but it might be wise for you to trim it...if not evenly at least as evenly as you can stand

and then baby your ends moving forward by joining a protective styling, bunning, no heat, and/or baggy challenges. Even tho losing a bit of length can be a bummer seeing how much healthier your hair is will offset that. in the longterm it's the safest bet.

 

[Qualitee]

If spit ends are your problem you have to cut them off. There is no repairing them. I had the same problem you have, with the middle being very shorter than the rest. I had to keep bunning until my hair grew back. smh HTH

 

[GeauXavi]

I would say...start over. Cut to the 3 on your shirt, and trim/layer throughout. Then stay away from the ponytails/heat and whenever you START to see breakage, baby your hair. Sometimes we tend to ignore slight breakage in the beginning...but that only makes it worse, until we have to do a bc. If you do a major cut to SL, and revamp your regimen COMPLETELY, you could be about an inch or so away from BSL by this time next year.

 

[LadyPaniolo]

Lots of good advice in this thread.

You have to figure out WHY you have splits. Then change that situation. It may not be the wigs, but a related factor. For me, my nape was totally broken off. I mean completely jacked up this time last year. I figured out what caused it: I was cornrowing my hair straight back, then flipping the braided ends up to put under my wig... which was putting too much stress on my nape. I started cornrowing in a round-the-world/snake pattern instead, and now that hair in my nape has grown tremendously and looks fab. (If I do say so myself )

Then, after you figure out how to remedy the cause of the splits, you must trim. I know, I know. I struggled to trim off my chewed up ends for like 8 months... I just couldn't let go. It cost me much of what I grew that year, because my ends just kept breaking off But now I know better, and when you know better you do better

 

[Tinkerbell19]

aw sorry well i think the wigs and weaves could be hurting your hair so i would take a break from them. i think you should cut it even so it is healthy again, baby it and wear buns and other protective styles and it will be back in no time! good luck

 

[910danielle1987]

You need to find out what is causing that damage before you cut it, because the same thing will just happen again. That definitely doesn't look like natural unevenness. I know I had some breakage in the middle of my hair because that was where I was pinning my hair up with bobby pins all the time. Once I stopped that, my growth went back to normal and my hair is evening out now.

How do you normally wear your hair?

 

[luvovcandy]

You need to find out what is causing that damage before you cut it, because the same thing will just happen again. That definitely doesn't look like natural unevenness. I know I had some breakage in the middle of my hair because that was where I was pinning my hair up with bobby pins all the time. Once I stopped that, my growth went back to normal and my hair is evening out now.

How do you normally wear your hair?

Buns, weaves, half wigs...I actually think its from the flat iron but i dont know for sure. Thanks all!