lots of white dots (with pics)

**Sarah4983** · August 2nd, 2009, 10:51 AM

I S&Ded today and I didn't have many classic split ends, but I did have tons of these white dots...

Here is a picture of a single dot close up:
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/h.../hairdots2.jpg

And HERE you will see MANY dots that I pointed out with arrows:
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/h...3/hairdots.jpg

I have seen this picture online which is a magnification of a white dot.

And I'm wondering... what in the heck causes this?!!? I'm super gentle when brushing/combing, I don't heat style anymore... I did QUICKLY run a straightening iron through last week, but it was on a super low setting and I didn't go over each section more than once or twice. Could this have been enough to cause all these tiny explosions?

**Periwinkle** · August 2nd, 2009, 10:56 AM

White dots are kind of embryonic splits. When they grow up, they become full-on split ends.

You can't avoid split ends, even if you're careful. Brushing, combing, washing, drying and handling all cause wear on the hair. Depending on how long it is since you stopped heat styling and how much you've trimmed since then, you could have ends/damage left from that. Also, if you've trimmed or S&D'd with none-too-sharp scissors, that can cause splits.

**Addy** · August 2nd, 2009, 11:00 AM

*runs away covering eyes*

That picture is scary! I have been very fortunate to not have white dots or split ends.

**Poetic** · August 2nd, 2009, 11:01 AM

From what I can see it looks as if the damage is on the last few inches of hair. Could it be that you held the iron longer in these spots. My hair is super sensitive and cannot take direct heat of any kind.

**spidermom** · August 2nd, 2009, 11:02 AM

Sometimes I look at my ends and think that I see a bazillion white dots, but a lot of times it's just dust. Now I run my fingers down the hair shafts before cutting anything. I also like to gently pull on either side of a white dot. If the hair pops apart, I then trim off the end.

**Heidi_234** · August 2nd, 2009, 11:10 AM

Argh I've been annoyed over those lately too. I slacked with my S&D and I have so many splits, white dots and knot all over the place. And trust me I've been nothing but nice to my hair for the last half a year (actually longer!). What really bothers me is the white dot on the tips of the hairs - they mean that the hair has already broken off, and usually it's 1/3"-1/2" above the tips.

**Sarah4983** · August 2nd, 2009, 11:15 AM

Thank you for the replies.

The dots are usually a few mm's from the very tip of the strand, so I doubt it's from the scissors... I wish they were because in that case I'd just get new ones and it'd solve the problem.

I also wish that the dots were only dust... I have to run my fingers down the hair sometimes because I've seen the dust you're talking about, spidermom. I wish I wish

My hair is ridiculous. haha... I had highlights done a couple years ago and she left the bleach in WAY too long. I am sure that a lot of the dryness and damage is a result of the bleach. I am just going to keep S&Ding and oiling... right now I'm sitting here with coconut oil on my hair in a braid. Who knows... maybe with enough S&Ding and coconut oil the last few inches of my hair will start to look decent. If not, they are gone!

**Aer** · August 2nd, 2009, 11:22 AM

I wouldn't worry about the straight ironing you did last week, if it was on low setting, you probably didn't harm it. I would be worried if you did it alot, but you said you didn't. I don't know what the weather is like where you are, but if its summer and the weather is dry or really humid like it is here in the southern Applachians, then that could be the major suspect. If my hair is exposed to weather like that in the summer, it causes split ends, damage. Some people have more problems in the winter, but you might be one of the summer sufferers. Then again , split happens.

**ktani** · August 2nd, 2009, 11:22 AM

Originally Posted by Sarah4983

I S&Ded today and I didn't have many classic split ends, but I did have tons of these white dots...

Here is a picture of a single dot close up:
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/h.../hairdots2.jpg

And HERE you will see MANY dots that I pointed out with arrows:
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/h...3/hairdots.jpg

I have seen this picture online which is a magnification of a white dot.

And I'm wondering... what in the heck causes this?!!? I'm super gentle when brushing/combing, I don't heat style anymore... I did QUICKLY run a straightening iron through last week, but it was on a super low setting and I didn't go over each section more than once or twice. Could this have been enough to cause all these tiny explosions?

The many names of hair of hair breakage, from The Trichological Society, in Britain.

Split ends has its own name, Trichoptilosis but it/they can also be the result of Trichorrhexis Nodosa (white dots). And the difference is dryness.

White dots do not always lead to split ends. They do not for me.