Split ends are the silent saboteurs of length—a technical failure that starts at the tips and travels up the profile like a blank and spooky ghost.
As dumb luck would have it, waiting too long between trims can turn a few splits into a ruddy mess of damage. Split ends are a study in tonality; they make your ends look thin, rough, and constantly tangled. If you don’t catch them, they will continue to crack the strand, leading to more resistance and less definition. You need a technical shift—a “Flexible Greasepaint” approach to end-care that provides the insurance your curls need to capture the glow.
The prep is about prevention. Mind the resistance when you detangle your ends; if they feel like “gold dust” or sandpaper, the damage is already there. Use a “slick lip coat” of sealer to assuage the insecurities of weathered tips between workday habits. By spotting the splits before they travel, you can keep your profile studio-endorsed and Academy Award worthy. Something I think we’re all still kind of into.
—Lauren Maas