What exactly do split ends look like?

[Anavrin]

While I know to trim every 12-16 weeks, I'd like to go longer if I feel like I have no splits.

The only problem is I can't tell if I do.

I know that up close, split ends are usually forked, or have a variety of other appearances that represent damaged ends (see chart), but mine are just sort of... bushy? They're not actually "split," but they point in every which way, and some have a slight curl to the ends.

'Nother reason I'm asking is because I'm not much of a person who focuses on it being 100% aesthetically pleasing. I kind of just throw it up into a protective style and go, so I didn't know if maybe my messy buns were causing it?

TL;DR (Too Long; Didn't Read) Can ends be split without actually being split? When do you know when to cut?

 

[getoffmylawn]

I usually cut any hair that is crunchy or dry looking on the end. Tried the search and destroy method but it takes wayyyyyyyyyyyy too long plus it's pointless. I think hairs can be split without being visible to the naked eye. Nonie is good at explaining this.

 

[SerenavanderWoodsen]

Whitish ends if it's severe. Thin ends can also be a sign. Uneven ends MAY be a sign.
Look at your hair under a very bright light and see if you can see little hairs that look split into two, it's hard to miss them.

 

[WyrdWay]

Bushy? Are you looking at a single strand of hair that is bushy or do you mean a group of stands look bushy?

 

[manter26]

Nonie will break it down for ya.

 

[Anavrin]

Whitish ends if it's severe. Thin ends can also be a sign. Uneven ends MAY be a sign.
Look at your hair under a very bright light and see if you can see little hairs that look split into two, it's hard to miss them.

Thank you. My hair doesnt have white ends and is actually pretty even considering my last cut was in August. Hmm..

Bushy? Are you looking at a single strand of hair that is bushy or do you mean a group of stands look bushy?

A group. Like as in many arent perfectly straight, and they curl and point in different directions, but they arent split. Even under a light, hell, even under a microscope.

Nonie will break it down for ya.

I usually cut any hair that is crunchy or dry looking on the end. Tried the search and destroy method but it takes wayyyyyyyyyyyy too long plus it's pointless. I think hairs can be split without being visible to the naked eye. Nonie is good at explaining this.

Oh i KNOW she will. That lady knows her stuff. Ive seen her lectures on it in previous threads. Cant seem to find it though.

 

[LadyPBC]

Nonie - where you at? LOL!

 

[SerenavanderWoodsen]

Sounds like they aren't split then... You'd be able to see those little frayed ends under the light...
Id wait much longer between trims.

Blame it on the Phablet

 

[Nonie]

@manter26, @LadyPBC, @getoffmylawn, I should line y'all up and spank the heck out of you . Seriously as much as I've talked about split ends and you've been in my classes, you couldn't just fill in for me?

@SerenavanderWoodsen, if you're able to see splits, then you need to give yourself a good trim coz you've waited way too long.

@Anavrin this is what a split looks like:

So you haven't seen anything like that on your own hair, I'm guessing, right?

I'll tell you why: it's coz to see that, you would have to be able to see something as tiny as 1/10 of this line -. So whether you want to accept it or not, it is true that splits start at a scale where you cannot see them so every single person who has not just cut her hair NOW has split ends.

I doubt majority of splits ever look like the images you posted, especially in fine-haired folks. Usually what we of the fine strands end up seeing is hair that isn't growing...or hair that looks like this--starts off thick and ends up as dust:

...as opposed to like this with fullness all the way to the ends:

​

No one's hair is made of steel so with every passing second, hair is aging and wearing away. So just coz you don't see splits with you own eyes doesn't mean they are not there. Oftentimes you won't even get to see them coz they break off when they are so tiny, leaving a weaker end that breaks off too...that you swear you don't have any...then wonder why you aren't retaining as you should.

As you can see from this very magnified strand of my hair, the split has been there, done that, bought the T-shirt and headed off to other lands...and it did all that at a scale that I couldn't see w/o magnifying my hair so much that my thumb is about 3 times its size. And even with that magnification, what you're looking at (in the enlargened state is less than 1/4 inch!!!):

You just need to be realistic and realize that you cannot avoid them. And rather than wonder whether you have them (BELIEVE ME, YOU DO!) just get into the habit of dusting regularly before the damaged ends have grown to a size where their loss costs you length.

I don't care for my hair the way most of you do. I don't moisturize, seal...etc. All I do is dust regularly and I didn't do this I was in my 30's, when I started to dust more as preventative measure than a cure (the way it used to be when the stylist would say my ends needed trimming). I do it before they need trimming. Until I started doing this NL/SL is the longest my hair ever got. Clearly normal wear and tear on hair whose damaged ends went unaddressed was costing me retention. I didn't see it breaking...but if splits can be so "invisible" so can breakage that is happening at that scale. Now I'm at around BSB--and that was after a BC in 2007 that took me below 3 inches.

So compare 30+ years w/o regular dusting (just getting necessary trims after the fact) = NL/SL vs 5+ years with dusting every 8 weeks (nothing more) = BSB

 

[Nonie]

Can ends be split without actually being split? When do you know when to cut?

Anavrin, there's the example of my own strand magnified. And the middle strands in the enlarged image below show strands that aren't forked but they are definitely post-split.

The arms have just broken off. So looking for forked ends is a waste of time. Damaged ends don't stick around when they are weakened waiting for you to see the arms waving. Some may look like that but most break off leaving weaker thinner ends that WILL break off.

 

[Ciacia]

Hi all, for my part I can see some splits in the middle of my hair (not only the end) so I guess I will do another big chop (first one was in August 2010) and do some regular dusting.... So far I was doing the search and destroy method but it clearly did not work

 

[LadyPBC]

Nonie - oh know you didn't call me out I've never been to your split in conference (have I?erplexed) Entyway - thanks for the refresher course. I've been hanging out at below shoulder but not yet armpit length for years it seems. Maybe I should incorporate the dusting method.

@manter26, @LadyPBC, @getoffmylawn, I should line y'all up and spank the heck out of you . Seriously as much as I've talked about split ends and you've been in my classes, you couldn't just fill in for me?


I don't care for my hair the way most of you do. I don't moisturize, seal...etc. All I do is dust regularly and I didn't do this I was in my 30's, when I started to dust more as preventative measure than a cure (the way it used to be when the stylist would say my ends needed trimming). I do it before they need trimming. Until I started doing this NL/SL is the longest my hair ever got. Clearly normal wear and tear on hair whose damaged ends went unaddressed was costing me retention. I didn't see it breaking...but if splits can be so "invisible" so can breakage that is happening at that scale. Now I'm at around BSB--and that was after a BC in 2007 that took me below 3 inches.

So compare 30+ years w/o regular dusting (just getting necessary trims after the fact) = NL/SL vs 5+ years with dusting every 8 weeks (nothing more) = BSB

 

[Nonie]

Ciacia, mid-strand splits can be due to your haircare (brushes, using heat on wet hair aka bubble hair, etc). You may find the article below in response to a question about a baby on Trichorrhexis nodosa helpful.

Q

Dr. Greene, I read your comments concerning school age children's hair loss. My situation is a little different. I have an 18-month-old girl and she has been losing her hair for about 6 weeks. The dermatologist says she has symptoms of trichorrhexis invaginata and trichorrhexis nodosa. He says her nails and teeth are fine and does not expect anything more than hair loss. This hair disorder has an autosomal-recessive mode of inheritance. My husband and I have checked back at least three generations and no one has ever had anything like this. Please let me know of any information on causes and treatments you may know of. I have checked local libraries and I have to be a medical student to get information from a college library. I bought a computer hoping to find information on the internet, but your article was the closest I came. Please, if you can give me any information I would greatly appreciate it. I am very concerned and would just like to be more educated about this condition and what I can expect in the months to come. Thank you for your time.
Nashville, Tennessee


A:We all know how much we hate to have a bad hair day. Our hair is anTrichorrhexis (pronounced trick-o reck sis) is not a word you are likely to hear tossed around in casual conversation. It comes from two old Greek words: trichos -- meaning hair, and rhexis -- meaning fracture. People with trichorrhexis have hair that breaks easily.

Trichorrhexis nodosa is the most common hair shaft disorder. The hair is especially fragile, owing to the presence of tiny grayish-white nodules along the shaft. People with trichorrhexis nodosa have dry, flat, short hair that breaks easily, leaving short, stubbly broken ends and patches of partial baldness. The trichorrhexis may affect only isolated patches of hair, or may affect the entire scalp. Even gentle bending of an affected hair can break it off.

Some people are born with trichorrhexis nodosa, and others acquire it along the way. The congenital form is sometimes associated with tooth or nail abnormalities, which thankfully your daughter does not have. Congenital trichorrhexis nodosa may run in families, or may occur spontaneously. When it does run in families, it is occasionally associated with mental retardation from an underlying metabolic problem (argininosuccinic aciduria -- don't worry about the name). This can be diagnosed with a urine test, but would already be evident from your daughter's development. The great majority of people with trichorrhexis nodosa have no underlying disease, and no problem other than fragile scalp hair.

The acquired form of trichorrhexis nodosa comes in two types: proximal (where the hair breaks close to the scalp) and distal (where the hair breaks farther out). Proximal trichorrhexis nodosa is common in people of African descent. Those with a genetic predisposition to this have hair that becomes more fragile in response to hair straightening, braiding, tight headwear, or harsh brushing. Distal trichorrhexis nodosa is seen mostly in people of European and Asian descent. The hair becomes more fragile with prolonged sun exposure, immersion in saltwater, or mechanical trauma. Both acquired forms of trichorrhexis nodosa will disappear within about 4 years, if the trauma to the hair shafts is stopped. In the meantime, cream rinses and protein conditioners are helpful.

Trichorrhexis invaginata, also called bamboo hair, is a rare abnormality of the hair in which the hair shaft telescopes in on itself (invaginates) at several points along the shaft. Under a microscope, the hair shaft looks like a stalk of bamboo, or a partially-lowered car antenna. The problem with the hair is that the outer wall of the shaft is too soft, allowing the distal part to slip back into the proximal part of the shaft. This rare disorder is more common in girls than in boys. It appears in infancy, and affects all the hairs of the body -- not just those of the scalp. The hair is usually dry, flat, short, sparse, and easily breakable. As yet, there is no specific treatment for trichorrhexis invaginata, but in many children it disappears by itself, beginning at about age 6. If it is still present when puberty is complete, it will likely be a lifelong problem.

Trichorrhexis invaginata sometimes occurs with other hair and skin abnormalities (including trichorrhexis nodosa) in a rare autosomal recessive inherited condition called Netherton's syndrome. Affected children have the hair problem along with allergies and a rash that looks like eczema -- but that doesn't respond well to cortisone creams. These rashes respond very well to the use of ammonium lactate lotion accompanied by treatment of the allergies (Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, January 1995).

Whatever combination of trichorrhexis nodosa and invaginata your daughter has, aim at reducing trauma to her hair. Avoid prolonged or intense sun exposure -- especially between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. (even on overcast days), since the sun's rays are strongest during these hours. If she is outside, consider a loose-fitting hat (if she's an 18 month old who will keep one on!); a tight hat can mechanically damage the hair. Minimize swimming in salt water (not a major problem in Tennessee, I know). Only shampoo her hair when necessary. When you do, use a cream rinse and protein conditioner. If it contains a sunscreen, that would be a nice bonus. Use the minimal amount of combing and brushing necessary for her to look her best, and be as gentle as you can. Consider using a satin pillowcase, so that when she sleeps her hair will be less likely to bend.

A recent study out of Japan (Journal of Dermatology, February 1995) has shown that out of the many factors that can injure the hair of someone with trichorrhexis, mechanical bending is the most damaging. In this study, even very gentle bending of the hair, using a pair of tweezers, resulted in multiple fractures of the hair shafts. Keeping this information in mind during everything that you do with your daughter's hair (washing, rinsing, combing, etc.) will help you to minimize the damage. Begin now teaching her about her hair. She won't understand yet, but as you lovingly explain why you do the things you do, she will gradually come to understand and care for her own hair.

Remember that the most important part of all this is how your daughter feels about herself. Help her to feel beautiful. She may need extra effort put in to find her adorable clothes, for instance. Cute shoes may make her hair feel like less of a problem.

Find someone great to consult with about hairstyle. For some children, keeping longish hair can help cover bald patches. For others, short hair (which is less likely to break) looks more stylish. Consider having her ears pierced, and giving her some fun earrings. Adorable, loose-fitting hats may work well for some kids. No matter what you do, as she gets older other children may make hurtful comments about your daughter's hair.

No matter what, your daughter’s most important mirror is your eyes.

(Source)

 

[Ciacia]

Ciacia, mid-strand splits can be due to your haircare (brushes, using heat on wet hair aka bubble hair, etc). You may find the article below in response to a question about a baby on Trichorrhexis nodosa helpful.

(Source)

Thank you, great info

 

[Anavrin]

every single person who has not just cut her hair NOW has split ends.

just coz you don't see splits with you own eyes doesn't mean they are not there.

You just need to be realistic and realize that you cannot avoid them. And rather than wonder whether you have them (BELIEVE ME, YOU DO!) just get into the habit of dusting regularly before the damaged ends have grown to a size where their loss costs you length.

I figured information like this was common sense. I realize that everyone, including me, inevitably have/has split ends. If you see your hair growing to your expectations while cutting every 8 weeks, then thats great more power to you! I'm just looking for ways to prolong the cutting process for as long as possible. I wanted to know the absolute longest I could go without cutting, which I cannot do if I can't tell if bushy ends= split ends. Im about 12 weeks post relaxer, so its not exactly pin straight anymore.

 

[Nonie]

I figured information like this was common sense. I realize that everyone, including me, inevitably have/has split ends. If you see your hair growing to your expectations while cutting every 8 weeks, then thats great more power to you! I'm just looking for ways to prolong the cutting process for as long as possible. I wanted to know the absolute longest I could go without cutting, which I cannot do if I can't tell if bushy ends= split ends. Im about 12 weeks post relaxer, so its not exactly pin straight anymore.

Anavrin, well, there's one sure way to find out if bushy ends = splits: Don't do anything. Leave your ends alone. If bushy ends = splits, your hair will break off right there where the bushiness starts. Or those bushy ends will start to look so thin and then break off. So you'll know for sure, you had split ends.

As for knowing the absolute longest you could go w/o cutting, that depends on how much hair you're willing to lose. If you find busy ends = splits, and you want to cut only when you have bushy ends that you can see, well, then that's how long you will have to wait, and then that's how much hair you will be losing. But I can tell you, waiting to see splits before you cut your hair is a recipe for the least possible retention you can have.

Your response gives me the impression you view my suggestion as not being one that could work for you. You're entitled to that belief, but I can assure you, many who've adopted it have seen their hair retain better. Because they are not waiting to see bushy ends or signs of damage. They are curbing it by cutting it at a small scale (before they see it) and thus giving their hair a chance to grow longer. Check out this thread.

BTW, the idea of cutting 1/4 inch of hair every 6-8 weeks I first heard from Wanakee whose regimen has worked for many and was the first gospel on growing black folks hair that I ever came across: http://swanghairmagazine.com/2012/10/26/wanakees-practical-guide-to-hair/ I didn't adopt it though until I heard it again from Brenda of www.blackwomenrejoice.com whose regimen became my regimen with a twist.

 

[Evolving78]

i would do 4-6 week dusting. just cutting off little by little. for me 12 weeks is a very long time to go with out some type of trim. i would hate to relax my new growth, just to see me have to cut an inch off. scheduled dusting hasn't hindered my progress. i will admit that i am scissor happy and i really like the look of blunt ends, but that is a different story. but 6-8 weeks should be the time for you to at least dust.