7 Awesome Ways to Prevent Split Ends on Natural Hair

Can You Repair Split Ends on Natural Hair covered the myths surrounding split ends, why they can’t be repaired, and a DIY treatment for rescuing split ends while you trim away the split ends.

Split ends can’t be kept at bay 100% but there are a number of things you can do to prevent split ends from happening regularly.

An adjustment to a few hair care practices and your hair will reward you with health and length.

This article will cover 7 awesome ways to prevent split ends in natural hair.

How to Prevent Split Ends on Natural Hair

1. Love Your Hair to Prevent Split Ends

Show your hair the same level of TLC you show your face and other parts of your body. Be gentle when you handle your hair and detangle with patience.

Don’t yank at your hair and don’t use products that work against your hair’s health.

2 Use the Right Products to Prevent Split Ends

Use the right products for natural hair. Natural hair has a different texture and needs to be treated accordingly.

Use a microfiber towel
Deep condition regularly with heat
Protect your hair when swimming
Don’t forget the protein
Rejuvenate your scalp
Pre-poo your hair
Use the right detangling tools

Finally, remember natural hair loves moisture and thrives when left alone.

3. Eat the Right Food to Prevent Split Ends

Eating the right food with nutrients that promote lush and healthy hair growth will go a long way in preventing split ends.

Vitamin or other kinds of deficiencies can lead to dry hair, split ends, and hair loss. You may find 95 Foods for Healthy Hair Care & Growth useful.

4. Avoid Heat Appliances to Keep Split Ends At Bay

Yes, we all want a different look from time to time and want to straighten or blow out to achieve a particular style.

Once in a while is fine. Frequently will cause dry hair, and may thin out the ends of your hair over time.

Be sure to use a heat protectant when you’re using heat appliances and undergo a very good deep conditioning session prior to styling with heat.

Some great heat protectants for natural hair include:-

You should apply these oils lightly over your regular leave-in conditioners.

5. Trim or Dust As Needed to Avoid Split Ends

The usual standard is 6 – 8 weeks but this doesn’t always follow.

If you trim your hair every 6 – 8 weeks you’ll spend the whole year trimming off all your progress.

I trim/dust my ends 2 – 3 times a year because that’s what my hair needs. Some people’s hair may even require less trimming every year.

There are times I trim less because I don’t have any split ends.

This is likely because I wear protective hairstyles that keep my ends tucked in a lot of the time.

If your ends are fine, there’s no need to trim 6 – 8 weeks just for the sake of it.

When you do need to trim, ensure you use sharp, high-quality shears. This should be designated only for hair trimming by the way.

6. Cut Out Chemicals

Chemical treatments like BKT and hair dyeing aren’t doing your hair any favors.

While there are a few things you can do to limit the damage of these treatments, continuous chemical treatments can only lead to breakage and split ends.

These chemicals need to break down the bonds of the hair to penetrate and do what they’re supposed to do.

This weakens and degrades the hair cuticles. Instead of BKT, stretch hair without chemicals with Curlformers and roller setting.

Instead of chemical hair dyes, try henna, indigo, amla, and cassia treatments.

7. Wear Updos

One of the things that create breakage and split ends are the ends of your hair brushing against your clothes.

Your ends are the oldest part of your hair and need to be protected. Wear your hair in styles that involve keeping it tucked in.

I know this can get repetitive and boring so feel free to wear your hair down occasionally for an outing. I’d say ends tucked away 85% of the time should be fine.

Love your hair and it will love you back by rewarding you with the goals you’ve set for your hair.

Do you have any other tips for protecting hair from split ends? Share in the comments section.