Splits

[Saranne772]

What are your opinions on leaving them (especially when they are midway up the taper- on the shorter hairs). From old damage due to cruel brushing.

Also, anyone with bad eyesight- how do you manage to S&D?

Im about to give up S&Ding out of frustration. It just seems the more I get rid of the more I find. And I cant see them too well (V.short sighted)

[Nat242]

Are you using sharp scissors dedicated to hair snipping alone? Blunt scissors can cause more splits.
My philosophy on S&D is this - I'm never going to get them all. It's a stop gap measure before a proper trim in the future, when I reach a goal. I'm growing out old damage, and that old, damaged hair may split at any time. There are a few inches I'm holding onto for the time being, so I spend a few minutes every day or two snipping a few splits that I see, no matter where they are on the hair. If I come across a tangle in my ends when I'm finger-combing, often there is a dodgy end to blame, so I locate the split/broken hair and snip it.

I don't know what to suggest about your eyesight. I wear glasses for reading due to eyestrain rather than bad eyesight, and I wear those glasses when I S&D. Having good light is also really important, and a good "background".

HTH! :flowers:

[Saranne772]

My scissors are the boots hair cutting scissors. And I only use them for S&D.

The worst damage is on the bits that have been bleached by the sun. (Main reason I keep hair away from sun as much as poss)

[Pierre]

I'm about two diopters nearsighted, which isn't too bad for S&D. I find them by feel as well as sight. I S&D outside, since my pupils are smaller and I see better. When I detangle before making a bun or in the shower, if I find a tangle within 1 cm of the end, I snip the whole tangle off, figuring it's several damaged ends stuck together.

[Saranne772]

Ahh right :) Well, I tend to do S&D in the car (so long as its a smooth road!! ;)). The light through the window is great :)

[Sofoulee]

Ahh right :) Well, I tend to do S&D in the car (so long as its a smooth road!! ;)). The light through the window is great :)

Wow, that sounds a bit risky!

[Saranne772]

Wow, that sounds a bit risky!

It is a bit, I have a steady hand though.

[tinah]

Please tell me you aren't the one driving! My mother has told me stories about reading(!) and driving on oil field roads. . .

[Saranne772]

Oh no! I'm not driving. I dont drive but if I did I would never be able to bring that, Im too worried about accidents as a passenger!

[jojo]

you had me worried there! I have given up, have you seen my avatar? this is how my eyes go doing S & D's. Now I just micro trim every few months!

[Saranne772]

you had me worried there! I have given up, have you seen my avatar? this is how my eyes go doing S & D's. Now I just micro trim every few months!


I cant relate- for my shorter hairs, I cant reach them at all!

[thankyousir74]

I have given up, have you seen my avatar? this is how my eyes go doing S & D's. Now I just micro trim every few months!

:rollin: HAHAHA I can so totally relate! That is so me! My eyesight is so bad, and my eyes get so tired! AHAHHA ^________^

[spidermom]

I think it's all right to leave the splits alone. Every single hair on your head is going to shed out eventually anyway, so one way or another, all splits will eventually disappear.

I mostly limit split snipping to when I comb out my hair. When I find a tangle I stop to carefully untangle it, and if I see any splits or wonky-scrunched ends, I snip them off. When I do an S&D session under the lamp, it seems that I can snip endlessly because there are always more. I'd go blind before I got them all. Even so, I would estimate that maybe 1 hair in 40-50 are split. The majority of my hairs appear to be in good shape.

[Saranne772]

I seem to have major splits. I wasnt careful with my hair when I was younger. I didnt fry it really- only occasionally- but I wouldnt be surprised if the few times I DID fry it have damaged it, as I think my hair is likely to be upset by such a thing!

I dont suppose many other people would notice them really- I guess being paranoid as well as looking draws them to my attention.

[FrannyG]

In my whole life I only recall noticing split ends on one person, and that is because she pointed them out to me.

You're correct Saranne, no one is likely to notice them except you. It it's driving you crazy trying to keep up with the splits, just do your best to forget about them. :)

[Saranne772]

Thank you so much for that Franny- that is a great encouragement! I have found recently that I often see splits on random strangers and feel the urge to get out my scissors and do some S&D! I would never do that. If Im the only one who notices them like this then there is hope! Hmm I think I'll make a poll about this actually!

[heidi w.]

When I dust (S&D term is what's used on LHC), or microtrim is another term -- or split end trim --

I do not aim to get rid of all splits. I aim to manage the situation, that's all. Damage happens and it's part of having long hair for the vast majority of folks.

It's unreasonable, in general, to aim for no damage whatsoever in one's hair.

To perceive the damage I work in sunlight (a ray of sun) or in very strong lighting such as a halogen light AGAINST a backdrop that is opposite my hair's color. I am ash blonde, so I work against a black backdrop.

I have a problem seeing so I remove my glasses and work by holding hair very close to my eyes or somewhat bent over. This means I can't go hours on end!

I can often, though, get away with using my glasses if I work against a backdrop that allows my hair to stand out and see the ends or length of strands to look for damage.

heidi w.

[heidi w.]

If you look for splits in public places, then yes, others MIGHT notice. Mostly, when people do this, I just notice they're often tearing the split off instead of cutting it off which does ZIP for removing damage! This method creates a shredded end or the white dot, where the hair broke off....means that the white dot/damage spot is now at the end of the strand that remains on the head. (It breaks in the middle or something like that....it doesn't come off entirely.)

I see splits and mostly, actually, white dots on other people's head just walking about because of the plethora of people that flat iron.

heidi w.

[AmselJoey]

Saranne772 I love to S&D in the car, too! It is actually my favorite time to do it; especially when I am driving around with my boyfriend. The light IS wonderful and it makes the ride go faster. :D

AmselJoey :happydance:

[Saranne772]

Saranne772 I love to S&D in the car, too! It is actually my favorite time to do it; especially when I am driving around with my boyfriend. The light IS wonderful and it makes the ride go faster. :D

AmselJoey :happydance:

LOL Im not the only crazy car bound S&Der then!;)

[physicschick]

I quit trying to do S&D because I have a zillion splits, and I could never snip enough of them to make a difference (either in appearance or in how much my hair tangled). I wear reading glasses, and I found that S&D caused eyestrain.

[FrannyG]

I quit trying to do S&D because I have a zillion splits, and I could never snip enough of them to make a difference (either in appearance or in how much my hair tangled). I wear reading glasses, and I found that S&D caused eyestrain.
This is why I gave up S&D as well. I don't yet wear reading glasses, but I can tell you that S&D causes me a great amount of eyestrain. I'm certain that if I kept it up, I'd need reading glasses earlier than I will naturally.