Expert explains how to 'fix' split ends and breakage while keeping your length

If your hair isn't in its best condition and you're suffering from split and broken ends, you might feel like the only option is to chop it all off and start afresh.
However, going for one big cut once or twice a year isn't actually the answer, according to an expert.
Susie Hammond, a trichologist from the Phillip Kingsley Clinic in London, has explained the only way to 'fix' hair breakage and it doesn't involve a chop, but instead regular, smaller trims.
Speaking to The Mirror, she explained why it's so important to go for regular trims and shared some of the mistakes people make that can cause their hair to break, including using the wrong brushes, not using heat protection and applying harsh products.

She said: "An issue that most of us will face at some point is a bit of hair breakage, like split ends and broken ends.

"Typically we call this weathering and it's going to happen over time if we don't look after our hair if we heat style too much and use harsh products.
"While we can't repair broken bonds in the hair, we can prevent split ends from travelling further up the hair shaft.
"There are restorative hair masks that can temporarily bridge those broken bonds, but they don't fix it, the only way to 'fix' the damage on the hair is to have regular trims to get rid of the split ends.
"But remember when you have a trim that all of the hairs on your scalp are at different stages in a hair cycle, so one trim won't catch all of them, which is why you need regular trims to get them all."
The expert went on to share a number of top tips to avoid hair breakage, including using a UV protectant (sunscreen) on your hair.
"Use heat protection when you blow dry to prevent further damage, treat your hair kindly with good hair brushes and avoid rubbing the hair," she said.
"I would also advocate for using a UV sunscreen on your hair in the summer, which contains environmental protection and UV protection because over time UV will denature the keratin in the hair and break it down, which will leave it much more prone to breakage. A light spray that has a bit of UV protection will be really helpful."
She added: "If you are wearing your hair up, use a gentle hair band such as a scrunchie, nothing too tight and nothing with too many joins in it that can cut through the hair shaft.
"And if you're still really worried about breakage, you can take a protein supplement to help put a bit of quality back into the growing hair."
Do you have a hair story to share? We want to ear all about it. Email courtney.pochin@mirror.co.uk
