Split end protection

[deedrr]

I'm looking for something that can be put on dry hair to coat and protect it (I have breakage on the under layer of my hair) any suggestions?

[QMacrocarpa]

I find that a little oil on my ends delays splittiness. I liked jojoba (from Trader Joe's), but found it a bit pricy; almond was okay but not available at my usual grocery store (I got the culinary-type almond oil at Whole Foods, not the pricier version sold in the cosmetic area); now I'm using olive oil (non-virgin, the cheap stuff) with a little essential oil for scent. I keep most of the bottle in the fridge, I just keep a small amount in the bathroom (I've had rancidity issues in the past when keeping the whole bottle at room temperature for a long while). Some like coconut oil. You might have an oil in the kitchen that you could try. Start small, just a drop or two rubbed on your hands and then run your hands gently through your ends.

[Sarahlabyrinth]

The oils smoothed into the ends are working well for me, I like coconut, olive and almond. At the moment I am using olive oil (non-virgin). My hair is mid back length and has no split ends. I have just trimmed a little less than an inch but that was to tidy up uneven growth - I had no split ends before I trimmed either, and I think that my current length is long enough for split ends to occur at.

ETA: Before this trim I had not trimmed since early 2011.

[alyaziaaah]

same, i use coconut oil. unless you want to go for a coney serum.....
but i prefer oil, although lately i use a serum and put coconut as well....

[cheetahfast]

I say oil (I've used coconut, joboja, camille) or pure shea butter.

My favorite is nightbloomings pancea from etsy, it absorbs in so it won't feel greasy, plus a little goes a long way and the winter blend smell divine!

[Lovelyharper]

A little almond or avocado oil does the trick for me.

[melusine963]

If it's your underlayer that's splitting, have you considered just wearing your hair up to protect it? The splits may be caused by your hair rubbing against your clothes. Switching from a braid to updos has helped my split ends a lot. Oiling is also good, as others have suggested.

[AnnaB]

I use Argan oil and have my hair up at all times. If you already have lots of split ends then maybe a tiny trim is needed to stop the damage travelling up the hair. Good luck

[bunzfan]

I will be watching this thread closely i'm getting lots of splits right up to the mid lengths but, i ain't cutting as such i have found a mix of S&D and over night oiling twice a week is making a big difference as is going back to cones.

[dwell_in_safety]

If it's your underlayer that's splitting, have you considered just wearing your hair up to protect it? The splits may be caused by your hair rubbing against your clothes. Switching from a braid to updos has helped my split ends a lot. Oiling is also good, as others have suggested.

Seconding this easy suggestion. I used to always have a ton of splits in my under layer that were still present after taking better care of my hair. After a few months of wearing it up every day and a trim or two, though, they were totally gone, and a year or so later I still find it difficult to locate just one split end in my hair. I don't think wearing it up EVERY day is necessary, but maybe try just wearing it up on weekdays or days you work if you have a job? It will take a few months and a trim to see a difference, but I never thought I would be split-free and here I am!