Do Split Ends Stop Hair Growth?

Split ends are a common problem for many, but they don't have to be. The good news is that there are ways to prevent split ends, as well as ways to repair them once they've occurred.

What Are Split Ends?

Split ends occur when a tear in the cuticle allows moisture to enter the hair shaft and break down the protein bonds inside each strand of hair. This can cause your hair to look dull and damaged. If you have just a few split ends, they will generally not affect the overall health of your hair — nor will they cause any noticeable thinning in your locks. However, if you have many split ends throughout your head of hair, it can cause serious damage over time.

There are two types of split ends: internal and external. 

Internal splits occur when the inner structure of your hair has been damaged to the point where it cannot hold itself together properly. The result is broken fibers with sharp edges poking out from your hair strand. 
External splits occur when your hair is exposed to extreme heat or chemicals, like bleach or peroxide, which damage the outer layer of your hair fiber. External splits are easier to fix because you only need to repair the outer layer rather than rebuilding the entire inner structure of your hair shaft.  

 
What Causes Split Ends?

Several things can cause split ends: heat styling tools (such as blow dryers), chemical treatments, and exposure to harsh conditions such as sun or salt water. Oils from water or sweat may also contribute to this issue if they're not removed. 

Excessive heat from curling irons or blow dryers can weaken your hair's protein structure, causing it to become brittle and more prone to breakage. This may be due to over-drying or using too hot an iron or blow dryer on wet hair. Brittle hair is more likely to break than strong healthy hair.

Chemical treatments like bleaching or dyeing your hair can damage the cuticle layer that protects and helps maintain your hair's natural strength and moisture balance. This will cause damage that leads to split ends and breakage over time if they're not addressed properly in between salon visits. 

Other causes of split ends may include stress, poor diet, sun damage, and environmental pollution. 

A common misconception is that split ends stop hair growth. This is not true.

Split ends are a part of the natural hair growth process, which involves the ends of the hair being pulled out and snapped off. This does not cause permanent damage to the strands of your hair and does not affect the growth rate of your hair follicles, however, if your hair is in poor condition and you have split ends, it could be more difficult for your hair to grow quickly.

Hair grows about half an inch per month on average, but this varies depending on your age, genetics and other factors like diet and lifestyle choices. Some months it may grow more than others and some months less.

The rate at which your hair grows also depends on how quickly or slowly the cells divide in the root of your follicle (which is called the dermal papilla). Cells in the dermal papilla divide every 23 days, but when there are too many cells dividing at once or they're growing too quickly due to stress or excessive heat styling tools— this can lead to breakage and split ends.

Split ends are a common problem, but they don't have to be permanent. The best way to prevent split ends is to make sure that you take good care of your hair so that it remains healthy and moisturized. This can be done by regularly conditioning your hair, avoiding heat damage and using a good hair oil. The Mane Agent | Advanced Molecular Bond Repair has got you covered.

Here are some more tips that will help keep your hair healthy and strong using The Made Agent | Molecular Bond Repair:  

+ Use a wide-toothed comb when detangling wet hair to avoid ripping apart strands of hair. The Mane Agent doubles as a leave in conditioner, it significantly increases hydration while leaving the hair looking and feeling silky smooth. 

+ Use The Mane Agent after washing your hair because it coats the cuticle layer with moisture which helps prevent breakage and split ends from forming. The agent forms long molecular chains inside the hair shaft, which works to restore damaged keratin fibers. 

+ Use a protectant hair serum to minimize the negative effects of heat and environmental factors. The Mane Agent has got you covered here too. The patent pending formula features ingredients that block UV rays and other harmful elements, as well as restore and repair the hair from past damage. 

Split ends are a common problem, but they don't have to be permanent. The best ways to deal with split ends to keep your hair healthy and strong: Preventing them from happening in the first place and treating them if they already exist on your tresses.

 

Back to News