5 Secrets to Healthy Silky Hair

If your hair is looking frayed and fuzzy, especially in summer weather, split ends may be to blame - and they can lead to breakage and loss of length. GH Beauty Lab and hair experts explain what causes splits, plus how to prevent and get rid of tHairhem for good.

- By Katie Berohn and April Franzino

When you've been clinging to your last haircut for a bit too long, your hair shows it. Your ends, which are the oldest, start to tangle W easily, look drier than the rest of your hair and begin to have a crunchy feel. This damage can give your hair a frizzy appearance, especially in humid weather. "Various physical and chemical factors used in excess, especially those involving heat, can cause progressive damage to the outer layer that normally protects our hair, which causes the underlying fibers to separate," says Joyce Davis, M.D., a dermatologist in New York City.

The reality is, there's no way to fully repair hair once it's been split or broken; the only way to truly get rid of split ends is to cut them off. But knowing the difference between physical and chemical damage can help you figure out the best strategy to prevent further splitting. Physical damage includes harm to the hair from too much brushing or combing; using hot tools like hairdryers, curling irons or straighteners frequently; non-fabric hair elastics; and tight hairstyles like braids. Chemical damage is caused by coloring hair, especially lightening, or using heat in relaxing, perming, and smoothing treatments like keratin. Try these fixes that can help disguise frayed hair and stop split ends before they start:

1 Don't brush wet strands.