How to Avoid Split Ends

Allure Daily Beauty Reporter

by Alexandra Tunell



You see this freakishly split split end? It came from the head of an Allure editor. An editor with gorgeous, glossy, healthy-looking hair--and a bathroom full of damage-repair masks and heat-protecting serums. The lesson? Split ends happen to everyone. I asked hairstylist Ruben Colon of Sally Hershberger Salon how we can best minimize the damage. "Split ends happen primarily for three reasons," he says:

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1. Using the wrong comb or brush. "Never use a brush with wire or plastic bristles. I like the Mason Pearson brush because it has natural bristles that are gentle on hair and reduce breakage," Colon says. The only way to safely detangle hair is in the shower, with conditioner and a wide-tooth comb.

2. Wearing tight rubber elastics. "Go for nylon instead," he says. We love Emi Jay hair ties, which look just as good on your wrist as in your hair.

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3. Overdoing the heat styling and forgetting to use a protectant spray. If you must blow-dry every day, "always let your hair air-dry first to take out as much moisture as possible. Hair should not be soaking wet when styling," says Colon. For products, he recommends Sally Hershberger Keratin Rx Spray and Shu Uemura Essence Absolue Oil-in-Cream, which smooths hair to make damage less noticeable.

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