All You Need To Know About Split Ends

Split ends, we all hate them but unfortunately, they are completely normal for us to experience. Do you want to know why you may be seeing these in your client's hair extensions? And maybe you want to know how you can advise your clients to prevent them? If so, read on…

What Are Split Ends?

To be a bit scientific, “Trichoptilosis” is the technical term for split ends which is “a splitting of the shaft of the hair giving it a feathery appearance”.

Split ends occur as the hair ages and becomes weak and thin which is accelerated by wear and tear. There can be several causes of split ends which includes your client's hair care routine, sun exposure, and friction which gradually strips away the outer protective layer of the hair cuticle.

The ends of the hair are where this occurs as this is the part of the hair that it's the oldest and prone to the most damage. Moreover, it is also the part of the hair that is furthest away from the natural oils in the scalp which acts as a barrier of protection, resulting in the ends becoming more susceptible to breakage.

Overall, there are a number of different types of “splits” that may be familiar to you:

• Basic split - The most common hair split shows the cortical cells are still largely being held together but the larger sections are starting to separate which indicates the strands need more nourishment.
• Mini-split - Another common type which is an example of early split development shows that the ends are thirsty but not beyond repair.
• Fork split - Less common than the previous two splits, this type shows more widespread damage. This may be a sign for your client to use more deep conditioning treatments.
• Tree split - “Branches” of cortical cells are created due to the splitting where more damage is shown to have occurred from one side of the fibre to the other.
• Candle split - Technically this shows no split but shows a significant loss of the outer cuticle which then a split is likely to begin.
• Knot split - More commonly seen in curly hair types, this is where the curl has tangled causing its own knot. Following this, the hair is likely to break at this spot from brushing.

Why Do Hair Extensions Have Split Ends?

At Remi Cachet, split ends appearing in the extensions is a common occurrence following wear and tear because of the 100% human hair we use. As this is human hair, it is just like your client's natural hair and goes through the same processes, including the risks of split ends. Therefore, the focus for you and your clients when it comes to split hair in extensions is prevention.

How Can My Clients Prevent Split Ends?

Aftercare - An important area for you and your clients to take into consideration is the products they are using. Your clients have fabulous hair extensions so it's important for them to keep them in top condition.

Make sure you check out our full aftercare guide on our website here where you have all the information at your fingertips on all of our products to keep the extensions looking great.

One of these products is our Hair Oil which provides your client's hair with essential oils to keep it moisturised and nourished which is important to prevent split ends.

 Grab yours here to have on hand for your clients.

Brushing - As a stylist, you will appreciate just how important the right brush, or comb, is for the right job, especially when it comes to hair extensions. Our hair extension brushes are specifically designed to flow through the bonds.

Overall, using the incorrect brush can result in many negative things including causing unnecessary damage to their hair extensions, so make sure you check out our collection of hair brushes here.

Always advise your clients when brushing their hair extensions that they should always start to brush their hair from the bottom and then slowly move up towards the top of the head to the root area.

If their hair extensions are tangled, they should be careful when brushing and use our Miracle Mist to help detangle the hair and prevent damage.

They should also gently brush their hair thoroughly at least once or twice a day to prevent natural knotting and matting. But also they should be careful not to over-brush the hair as this may result in damage and cause unnecessary wear and tear.

Moreover, they should avoid brushing the hair extensions when wet as they are more fragile, which makes them more likely to snap or break, and the risk of split ends increases. Our Wave Comb is recommended for use when wet.

Bedtime hair - When it comes to your clients getting their beauty sleep, our advice is to always recommend they brush their hair and extensions before bed and secure them away from their face in either a loose ponytail or plait. This will overall prevent their hair from tangling which down the line can result in damage to the hair and risk of split ends appearing.

Heated Tools - A cause of split ends is damage through heat exposure therefore if your clients are wanting to prevent this risk, advise them to scale back on the heated tools. Heated tools are going to accelerate your client's hair drying out, so, why not advise them on some looks they can achieve without heat? Talk to them about our collection from Silkology with the “Heatless Hair Curler” which can get them gorgeous beach waves, perfect for this time of year especially.

When it comes to blow drying which we always recommend doing to look after your hair extensions, we strongly recommend that a low heat setting is used.

If heat is a must for styling, always use a heat protectant like our Miracle Mist.

Do you have any other questions about split ends? We are here to help so feel free to contact us here. Also, make sure you are tagging us in your gorgeous looks on Instagram using #ShareYourHair for a chance to be featured on one of our platforms.