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Loveless
February 27th, 2012, 02:24 PM
I've come to the conclusion that I do not actually know how split hair looks like. After doing some research on that matter, what I've gathered is that split hair is "a single strand that has split in two/three/whatever". The emphasis is on the "single strand" part.

(This post is going to be a bit image heavy. I apologize.)

I was quite sure my hair was full of splits, because it generally looks like this:

http://s16.postimage.org/vw8fbbt1h/Picture_001this.jpg

(A close-up; notice the little "hook" near the center -- I took that as an obvious split) :

http://s16.postimage.org/4nkxwa8qt/Picture_001this2.jpg

http://s17.postimage.org/8b9fagerz/Picture_012this.jpg

http://s18.postimage.org/ggggbmsih/Picture_018this.jpg

But then I'd pick one of those and try to trace it to the point of the split -- and I'd get to my scalp without finding one. I did this quite a number of times; starting from the scalp, from the middle and so on. They were all just single strands without any splits, but with ends that turn upward or look like hooks. And they basically give my hair the overall appearance of being tragically laden with split ends.

I plucked one such strand out and this is how it looks like:

http://s18.postimage.org/4l3cybhsp/Picture_026this.jpg

I don't have wavy hair. It's not stick-straight, but it's quite close to it -- in my opinion, anyway. The end looked like a split, but it's not.

I would really appreciate some insight. Is this how dry hair looks like, or is it actually damaged? As you can see, I'm quite new to all this hair business... Just to give you more info -- I haven't had my hair cut for, well, a year now (I think). A year full of hair abuse, unfortunately. No trimming; I was thinking of having fairytail ends, but now I guess I should be chopping those faux-splits/real splits off.

Should I?

Amber_Maiden
February 27th, 2012, 02:27 PM
The one hair with the right angle I would cut. Fo the most part you hair looks healthy and not damaged at all.

Madora
February 27th, 2012, 02:32 PM
This might help:

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/vbjournal.php?do=article&articleid=189

If you're worried about split ends, then you might want to consider mineral oil for keeping your hair more moisturized.

Here is a link to Ktani's very informative article on mineral oil and its moisturizing capabilities:

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/vbjournal.php?do=article&articleid=225


The only cure for any spit end (which is usually due to dryness) is to be trimmed away.


Many here do Search and Destroy on a regular basis to keep the split ends and white dots to a minimum (be sure your shears are SHARP!)

heidi w.
February 27th, 2012, 02:40 PM
Sometimes if your hair is wet and you sit on the hair or lean on the hair, the hair can then dry funny. I've had that happen. Usually it happens to a chunk of hair. People put their hair in updos while wet, and that can lead to interesting bends and waves, as well.

heidi w.

Arctic
February 27th, 2012, 02:45 PM
Looks like you have some coarser, wiryer hairs, which is ok, most of us have them. I think they are what gives your hair volume and body - bodywave.

I would cut the hook off but I'm trim and S&D holic :)


PS. I think your hair looks like it's in good condition, love the colour!

PPS. Here are 2 links to split end charts: ONE (http://blacknaturalhaircare.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/split_ends.gif)and TWO (http://blacknaturalhaircare.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Split-Ends-Chart.gif)

Zefyra
February 27th, 2012, 02:49 PM
I dont see any splits really. Except that one right angle as mentioned. My hair is somewhat wavy and then ends tend to bend slightly outward, usually just the last inch or so. (Which I find infuriating....) But they are splits. Its just natural hair movement, IMO. If the ends of your hair feel dry, then do your best to moisturize them. If you feel they are beyond repair then get a slight trim, but to me your hair looks to be in fairly good condition, especially since you havent cut in a year...

Miss Maisie
February 27th, 2012, 02:59 PM
Your hair looks like it's pretty healthy to me!

I think we have similar hair types! I always thought mine was super straight, too, but since I've been taking better care of it (and since I threw out my flat iron!) I've found that it has some wave to it.

Loveless
February 27th, 2012, 03:06 PM
Thank you, everyone! :D

Yes, Madora, that's the image I've found a couple of times while researching. I've never seen any of those in my hair -- except for this right angle as Amber Maiden calls it, thanks for the info -- which I think is quite impossible considering the way I treated my hair in the past. That's why I thought in the first place that split ends are actually a couple of strands that kind of "fan" in different directions. As for the other link, I've started using baby oil after seeing Ktani's article a while ago :)

I think I'm going to start S&Ding, too. As soon as I sharpen my shears.

Zefyra -- Yes, my ends bend outward, too. Very infuriating. They are less so when I use baby oil, though.

P.S. Thank you, Arctic! I'm rather fond of my color, too :D