Q. How do you prevent split ends? Ashley Boswell; Columbia, TN

A. Split ends are caused by the weakening and breaking of the hair shaft. Everything we do to our hair (blowdrying, coloring, perming, etc.) breaks down its outer, protective layer, which, over time, leads the ends to split. The longer split ends are ignored, the more split they become and the more you’ll have to cut off to eliminate them. Time between haircuts has a huge impact on split ends (the longer your wait, the more they they have time to split), so remedy the situation before it happens by scheduling your trims at least every four to six weeks.

Each week we dedicate space to answering YOUR burning hair questions. Need some advice? Confused about a service or style? From cuts and color to tools and techniques, our experts are available to weigh in on all things hair-related. To submit a Q, send it here: questions@thehairbookonline.com