Split ends?

It isn't necessarily a bad idea. You already said that you can't tell. And as long as you aren't cutting a THICK layer, it isn't going to show at all.

I hardly ever wear my hair down now so it isn't a big problem anymore, but it definitely had me considering long hair suicide about a year or so ago.

 I never thought of that, oh well to late for me though.  I did not cut it that short and I am going to try and take better care of my hair this time. 

YMMV=your mileage may vary

I wouldn't recommend cutting off the bottom layer.  I did that once when my hair tangled the same way.  It looked really bad because that's where the thickness of your hair is, so your hair looks a lot thinner afterwards and you can see the short part easily, (especially if you wear it in a cloth headband, as it will poke out). 

I think it happened because not only did I dry my hair out then dying it, I also only ever wore it down.  Now I don't dye that part of my hair and I wear it up more than down.  I will get tangles in the bottom 1/4 inch, but not the bottom 3 inches like I used to.  I put a silicone conditioner in my bottom 1/4 now, which helps too.

Edited to say:  When I cut mine off, I cut off the bottom 3 inches at the nape of my neck, and I cut it to about 4 inches long while the rest of my hair was bsl (bra strap length), so maybe that's why mine showed so bad.


Edited by Susan W - March 06 2007 at 8:45am

I was thinking of cutting a little section of the bottom layer too . It drives me crazy .

i was going to ask what YMMV meant too . my hair is like yours .It hurts  when i try to run a comb through my hair .

Juliap wrote: I usually brush out the tangles and if they are bad I stop brushing and gently take apart with my fingers.  I never comb my hair...

Interesting that you never use a comb.  Why not?

If the tangles are so bad that the brush stops on a knot, the strands might already be getting damaged (when the knots are formed).  I used to do the same, and I did get more breakage and splits than I do now.

Whenever my braid gets really fuzzed up (on infrequent occasion), I unbraid it and then finger pick out the tangles, then detangle with a wide-tooth comb.  Optionally, use a regular comb, and then a brush.  Each successive tool results in a smoother result.  For me, I would never start with a brush, but YMMV.

I have the same problem :( I hate it . i always have to do a S&D on the bottom section of my hair. I don't know what to do either.

Hi Juliap,

My guess is the same as yours -- friction from clothing, since it's only on the underside.  Do you get lots of tangles underneath, and if so, how do you remove the tangles (brush, comb, pick apart with fingers)?  How well conditioned and moisturized is your hair (has the dry winter weather been a factor)?

The quality of strands produced at the roots is a factor of your health and lifestyle, I assume you're living healthily, massaging your scalp, getting regular cardiovascular exercise, eating a balanced diet including enough protein?

Hi,