Amy Abramite

It's almost a shame to dedicate a whole post to these: split ends. We hate giving them all that attention, but after our creative director Amy Abramite was featured in a recent StyleList article on the topic, we figured it was time for a quick blog post on damage control.

As it turns out, they're definitely at the top of everyone's list! According to the article, they are the "number one complaint clients cite when they come in for a cut." 

So, how do they happen? "Split ends occur when the protective outer layer of the hair cuticle wears away because of external stressors such as heat styling and salon chemical services," says Amy. "Once the internal structure of the hair is exposed, it becomes weakened, dehydrated and damaged, causing split ends." 

Devastating, right? Well, fear not: Along with several other reputed split end experts, Amy gave her tips on avoiding the dreaded split end. Take a look:

"Limit damaging services: There's unfortunately no way around it -- treatments like hair color, highlights, straightening and perms all cause trauma that can result in a bevy of split ends, says Abramite. Try to limit service to just one major hair concern, and refrain from washing strands for at least 48 hours afterward, when they're most porous and likely to break and split. Not only will hair health improve after you go on a chemical-service diet, but your wallet will thank you."

So, if there was just one product Amy could recommend for split ends, what would that be? Shu Uemura Essence Absolue: this nourishing protective oil can be used daily to seal up those split ends. And when it's not sealing split ends, this liquid gold controls frizz, boosts shine, and gives your hair the most subtle, lovely scent of camellia petals.