By: Amanda Padilla
Split ends and hang nails, the split ends of nails, are the banes of my existence. When I see someone with a perfect blowout but with ends that look like forks in the road, I frankly cannot pay attention to anything else. And it is amazing how when I have a cracked nail nothing else in the world seems to matter. Small details can be big—and this is certainly the case when it comes to split ends.
Keeping the ends of your hair looking healthy and well maintained can be easy with just a few simple activities.
Hair
- Get a trim every couple of months. Split ends are inevitable with daily hair grooming so a half-inch trim every two months is recommended. This will also keep your cut looking on point.
- Avoid brushing your hair when it is wet, opt for a wide-toothed comb instead.
- Skip your daily shampoo and wash your hair every other day. If you can’t stand not washing your hair, just do conditioner on the in between days.
- Use heat resistant hairstyling products that coat your follicles and protect them from high heat tools such as flat and curling irons.
Nails
- Nails are a part of are body that are highly prone to splitting due to wear and tear from frequent use. We wash are hands multiple times a day so be sure to use a moisturizing hand soap.
- Use a rich hand cream that uses natural moisturizers such as shea and cocoa butter.
- Trim cuticles and hangnails immediately to prevent it from getting red and infected.
- Frequent nail splitting can be a sign of an iron deficiency so incorporate foods rich in iron in your diet such as red meat, dark leafy vegetables and dried fruit. Include biotin in your daily vitamin cocktail, this is great for making hair and nails shiny and strong.
- Do not leave your nail polish on for too long. Do not use harsh nail polish removers such as acetone to remove polish.