@Meritamen
Sorry, I wanted to reply sooner but needed more time to do the research to be able to provide some links.
I believe those are also called mid-shaft splits or incomplete splits.
From all of my time on the boards, they seem to be pretty inevitable whether you're doing everything right or not. Especially those of us with kinkier or more tightly coiled hair bc we tend to have to do more to stretch our hair in order to style it in a presentable manner. BUT they can be exacerbated by unhealthy hair practices like, mechanical damage (the tools used to detangle or style), too much tension on wet hair, high heat, improper moisture/protein balance, etc. So when they are found, most ladies turned to henna, ceramides and/or increased protein to help. Some ladies recommend chopping them off. But many of those ladies, over the years, never reached their hair goals bc they were constantly trimming and cutting.
I personally don't chop my hair every time there's an imperfection. Bc sometimes, what I see as an imperfection, is just my hair working its way to being great! Kinda like the "ugly" phase of a lot of life's swan stories. I'm not saying we should reach length goals with raggedy hair. IME, I've found that if I just leave them alone, trim/dust (not cut) once a year and keep doing healthy hair techniques (which includes regular protein and no-to-low manipulation styles), my hair looks and feels great when I reach my hair goals.
Here are some things I was able to find, I hope they help!
Really awesome and simple blog posts with microscopic views of the mid-shaft split.
Mid shaft splits are generally viewed as a peculiar mystery. Hair is supposed to split at the ends where there is more wear and less cuticl...
www.thenaturalhavenbloom.com
Some LHCF posts - I see posts on this topic dating back almost 20 years so it has plagued us for a while:
I think one poster here said it best, curly hair is more prone to being fragile simply bc the curling of the hair creates weak points.
MY HAIR IS IMPOSSIBLE: It never grows past 5 - 7 inches. No matter what.
note: to follow my journey, subscribe to this thread. Updates within!
Hi all! Long time lurker, first time poster.
I am on a mission. I am determined to figure out how to grow my hair long. I have the toughest, roughest, most fragile hair in the world. I give others hair advice and their hair grows to lengths mine cannot even begin to imagine. My hair is ear/chin length and has been so MY ENTIRE LIFE (whether relaxed or natural). I am constantly fighting set backs or staying stagnant.
I really need...
I have been taking really good care of my hair but I still have them. ANyone with healthy hair but still having mid shaft splits? What can I do to get rid of them? trimming does not help.
And very good point in this really good thread too
What's your views on what causes split ends and mid shaft splits
dontspeakdefeat
Question on split ends
Do split ends = mid-shaft breakage?
They could. More than likely mid shaft breakage is from something you're doing. It could be splits traveling up. But a lot of times people see mid shaft breakage from ponytails. Like pulling your hair back in the same spot all the time. Or pulling back wet hair too tight.
There are so many more gems to find. Try searching "mid shaft splits" or "incomplete splits" and I think you'll be able to compile enough corroborating suggestions to pinpoint the cause for you. GL!