Real Stylist Tips to Finally Stop Split Ends

Almost every week, someone sits in my chair at Hyde - Vista and asks, “How do I get rid of my split ends without chopping off all my hair?” It usually happens while they’re brushing their fingers through their ends, looking frustrated. I get it. South Carolina’s heat and humidity can be rough on hair, and those little frayed ends sneak up fast.

The good news is you don’t need to do anything dramatic. You just need a simple routine and a few honest tips from someone who works with hair every single day.

1. Get Regular Dusting Trims

Once a hair strand splits, it cannot be repaired. No treatment will fuse it back together. The best way to keep your ends healthy is by trimming off the damage before it gets worse.

I usually recommend a dusting trim every 8 to 10 weeks. It’s not a big cut, just a light snip of the very tips to stop the split from moving higher up the strand. Most of my regulars actually notice their hair growing faster because we’re preventing breakage before it starts.

One of my longtime clients, who works over at The Dragon Room down the street, swears this habit finally let her grow her hair past her shoulders without it thinning out on the ends.

2. Handle Your Hair Gently

Split ends love rough treatment. Tugging a brush through tangles, rubbing it dry with a towel, or cranking up your blow dryer can all cause damage without you even realizing it.

• Use a wide-tooth comb on wet hair and work from the ends up.
• Blot with a soft towel or cotton t-shirt instead of rubbing.
• Keep your blow dryer on a lower heat setting and give your hair breaks from heat when you can.

Small changes like these make a huge difference over time. Once you stop breaking your ends every day, you give them a chance to stay intact and strong.

3. Keep Your Hair Moisturized

Dry hair splits faster, and our summer sun here in Columbia can dry hair out fast. If you color or lighten your hair, it can be even more prone to breakage. I see it all the time with blondes and balayage clients who spend a lot of time outside.

Here’s what helps:

• Deep condition once a week to keep the ends soft.
• Let your hair air-dry partway before blow drying to hold in more moisture.
• Try not to wash every single day so your natural oils can protect the ends.

When you keep your hair hydrated consistently, you’ll notice your ends looking less frayed and more flexible. It takes commitment, but it works.

4. Protect Your Hair While You Sleep

So many people do everything right during the day, then undo it all overnight without realizing it. Cotton pillowcases can snag and rough up your ends, especially if you toss and turn in your sleep.

Switching to a smoother pillowcase material can make a big difference. It cuts down on friction and helps your hair hold onto its moisture longer. Courtney Sox on our team always reminds her clients that this one simple change keeps their blowouts looking good days longer too.

5. Book Professional Treatments When Needed

Sometimes at-home care just isn’t enough to stop the cycle of breakage, and that’s when salon treatments can help. We often add them to color services so your hair stays strong during the process.

Ali Shealy and Lex Johnson are amazing at tailoring treatments to each hair type. Whether your ends are dry and wispy or feel stretchy and overworked, they can figure out what your hair actually needs to stay healthy.

Healthy Ends Come From Consistency

The truth is, strong hair doesn’t come from one miracle fix. It comes from small, consistent habits: gentle styling, regular trims, and protecting your ends every single day.

Once you shift from “repair mode” to “maintenance mode,” it gets easier. And your hair will thank you for it.

Come See Us at Hyde - Vista

If your ends are starting to fray or you just want to get ahead of them before they split, we’d love to see you. Book a trim or treatment with us at Hyde - Vista, 801 Gervais St, Suite C, Columbia, SC 29201. You can call 803.667.9606 or book online here. Let’s get your hair healthy again without losing the length you’ve worked so hard for.