Do you get a confidence boost when you get your hair done?
Or feel amazing when you’re playing with your hair – and it’s super silky and soft to the touch?
Split ends can really put an end to that feeling (pun intended).
That’s why we’re on a mission to give you the right products and tools to combat hair breakage.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to choose the products that have the necessary ingredients to protect your hair.
Also, we’ll show you how to moisturize your locs.
So you’ll know exactly how to make your own hair care routine – split-ends-proof.
(And you’ll get a recipe or two).
First, let’s answer the most important question.
Can you actually repair split ends?
Although split ends cannot be fully repaired, they can be reduced with the right products.
The first step in what looks to be a never-ending fight against split ends is – a haircut. Have your hair cut regularly, every 8 to 12 weeks, to prevent new breakage.
On top of that, hair products for split ends play a huge role in protecting your hair.
However, all hair types are different, and if a product’s working for someone else, that doesn’t mean it’s going to work for you.
Let’s see how you can come up with an ideal, split-end-free hair care routine – tailored for your hair.
What shampoo should I pick if I have split ends?
Your focus on changing your hair care products while battling dry and brittle hair shouldn’t necessarily be on shampoos.
Shampoos are used to cleanse your scalp and keep it healthy.
There’s little change they can make on split ends.
So look at some other products. Also, make sure that you don’t wash your hair with water that’s too hot.
The question of clarifying shampoos
If you shower with hard water, perhaps someone recommended you try clarifying shampoo.
Clarifying shampoos are used to deep-clean your scalp and eliminate grease.
That leaves the hair feeling super clean.
But some people experience an increase in split ends due to using shampoos that are simply too strong.
That’s why you shouldn’t overuse clarifying shampoo – twice a month is more than enough.
Pro tip: If you have dyed hair, check for a “colored hair-safe” label on the shampoo.
Prevent split ends with the best leave-in treatments
Hair masks
If you have extremely damaged hair, you can pick a molecular-bonding mask that will repair your hair strands on a molecular level.
But if you’d prefer something more natural, here’s one ingredient to keep an eye on–shea butter.
It deeply nourishes and keeps your hair soft thanks to its high concentration of vitamins A, E, and F.
That’s why we use it for our famous hair sealant – see it here.
Speaking of natural, here's one recipe for a hair mask.
Home-made hair mask for split ends
You’ll need:
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1 banana
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1 tbsp of honey
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3 tbsp of yogurt
Mash the banana and mix all the ingredients together. Apply the mask to your hair, from your ears down. Leave it for half an hour, and then wash your hair as usual.
Leave-in conditioner
Aloe vera is the ingredient to look for in a leave-in conditioner. Since aloe vera is 99% water, its moisturizing properties are more than obvious.
You can grow your own aloe and cut out the leaves to make a mask. But if you don’t want the hassle and prefer a store-bought one, think of getting a mask that contains avocado oil.
Let’s see what other oils are powerful against split ends.
Related read: Benefits of Aloe vera for hair
How to choose the right hair oil according to your hair type
Even though many oils are beneficial in hair care, some can do more harm than good, depending on your hair type.
For example, using heavy oils on curly hair will just weigh your curls down.
Here’s an overview of what oil to opt for, depending on hair type.
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Curly or frizzy hair: argan oil
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Thick hair: coconut and olive oil
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Fine hair: grapeseed oil
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Oily hair: tea tree oil
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Dry hair: avocado, olive, and almond oil
- To improve overall hair health, all hair types: coconut oil
For the best results, apply the oil the night before washday as a leave-in treatment.
When you’re shopping for store-bought oils, make sure to check the list of ingredients.
Choose only ones where oil is the main or, ideally, the only ingredient.
If you’re unsure about which product might be a fit for you – check out our sampler pack here.
Natural oils that help with split ends
Jojoba oil does wonders for protecting your hair against split ends by locking in hydration. Apply 2-3 drops on your ends before bed, as often as you’d like.
Argan oil is also beneficial and lightweight, which makes it perfect for curls and kinks.
Keep in mind that a combination of the most useful oils can prove to be the perfect solution – as long as the oils are organic and 100% natural.
Using jojoba and argan oils often (daily or three times a week) can reduce breakage and split ends and also strengthen your hair.
Listen to this podcast to hear the story of a natural haircare product line designer who spent nine years experimenting with natural oils on her kinks.
How to keep curly hair moisturized
With kinks and curls, there are some specific things to pay attention to.
Here's what you should keep in mind when moisturizing curly hair:
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Avoid products with silicone and sulfate.
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Deep condition your hair once a week.
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Wear a silk or satin bonnet overnight.
- Prevent heat damage by using a heat protectant.
Moisturizing curls can get tricky since you don’t want to use products that are going to weigh them down.
And not every product will penetrate into your locs deep enough to lock in the moisture.
If you have 4A/4B/FC hair, check out this tutorial and learn how to keep your locs moisturized using a moisture mist.
Use rice water
Rice water can do wonders for hair growth and for dealing with dry and brittle hair.
Here’s how you can implement rice water in your hair care routine:
- Pour half a cup of uncooked rice into a bowl.
- Rinse it out 5-6 times.
- Add three cups of water and let it soak for 35 minutes.
- Strain it and pour it into a spray bottle.
Next time you wash your hair, use the rice water after rinsing out the shampoo. Spray it onto your hair and rinse it out after 10 minutes.
Combine the right ingredients
For moisture retention, probably the best way to combine the right ingredients is to follow the LOC method.
The LOC method (Liquid, Oil, Cream) offers maximum protection against breakage and dry hair. You start with a water-based product, such as a leave-in conditioner (or even water itself can work).
Then, you move on to an oil of your choice and end the 3-step routine with a cream or butter.
The All Natural Kinks’ Sample Pack consists of four products that make up a powerful combo in reducing and preventing breakage:
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Aloe Leave-in Conditioner thoroughly hydrates your hair.
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Growth Oil grows the damaged edges back.
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Shea Butter Sealant locks the moisture in each strand.
- Moisture Mist refreshes the moisture between washes.
As you can see, we’ve really stepped up the usual LOC game here!
Key takeaways
The main tool in reducing split ends is patience.
They may be persistently coming back, but that simply means you’re not using the right products.
Try to change a product or two and test what’s working and what isn’t.
Even though you can’t repair dry ends, there’s a lot you can do to prevent them.
Jojoba and argan oil, aloe vera, and shea butter can all make you forget you ever had problems with dry hair and breakage.
You can skip thinking about the shampoo for now and focus on determining which oil, cream, mask, or leave-in conditioner can help you.
Implementing the LOC method (or the LCO if trial and error prove that order to be better for you) in your hair routine will hydrate your hair and seal in moisture.
But before anything, remember that getting a haircut regularly is crucial to get rid of split ends.
Wear a bonnet, shower with mild water, and don’t forget your heat protectant – and you’ll be good to go.
Now that you know exactly what you’re looking for, book that hairstylist appointment, shop for the right hair products, and say goodbye to split ends - forever!