Preventing split ends and broken hair

A: The first step to curing split ends is prevention. Don't brush your hair too often, and when you do, be sure to use brushes and combs with smooth, wide-set teeth. Avoid nylon bristles, as these are particularly hard on your hair. And no matter what, don't brush wet hair. If it is tangled, comb your hair gently with a wide-toothed comb or with your fingers from the ends up, one section at a time.

Elastic bands - even the covered ones - and hair clips, are other culprits of hair breakage and damage. If you put your hair in a ponytail, use a scrunchie. When wearing clips, take care not to catch hair in the fasteners.

Of course, the best way to banish split ends is to have your hair cut regularly. In the meantime, be careful not to overcondition it, or you'll end up with hair plastered flat against your head. To avoid this, use a treatment for split ends, a leave-in conditioner with a light hold, or a pomade just on the tips - all these can help to temporarily seal the splits.