Signs That You Need To Trim The Ends of Your Natural Hair

Your hair goes through a whole lot. You wash it, you detangle it, you style it. Your hair is also exposed to the elements, whether it's the freezing cold or the scorching heat. Even with hair protection methods such as protective styling, which keeps the ends of the hair tucked away and off your shoulders, your ends still have to go through washing and detangling. Your ends are the oldest part of your hair. They've been through the most combing, brushing, and manipulation. Eventually, they will wear down, and that's when it's time to trim them off. How do you know what your ends might look or feel like when it's time to trim? Here are some signs that your ends need to be trimmed off.

Different Lengths and Split Ends

Hair with ends that differ greatly in length can result from breakage at the ends that had happened somewhere in your hair journey. In this picture, my ends had broken off in the middle there. Split ends occur from manipulation of the hair over a long period of time. They can also result from using excessive heat.

Tangled and matted ends

In the first picture, there's a bit of tangling going on right at the ends of my hair. In the second one, a mat has formed. Your ends, like I said before, are the most damaged part of your hair, and as a result of the damage the hair can become more porous at the ends (check out my post on porosity here.) The cuticles of porous strands of hair are raised, and this makes it easier for hairs to catch on each other and tangle. If your ends continuously tangle, this is a huge sign you're due for a trim.



Twist-outs, braid-outs, and curls that are frizzy and/or severely thinner at the ends

This is a sign of damage at the ends of your hair. If your hair can't hold a curl pattern all the way to the ends, there's probably something wrong there!




Twists or braids that look undefined and/or severely thinner at the ends

 Damaged hair just won't look right twisted or braided. Your hair should be pretty plump all the way down the twist or braid (with of course, some natural tapering of the ends). It shouldn't look starved toward the ends, though!

Single-Strand Knots/Fairy Knots

Those dreaded tangles that magically form on just ONE strand of hair. As I said a little earlier, damaged hair can catch easily on one another due to the raised cuticles, and although it's perfectly normal for curly, kinky hair to get some single strand knots, lots of SSK's might mean your ends need to be trimmed. Also, things getting easily caught in the ends of your hair, like lint, is another sign your ends need to go.



Coarseness/Roughness

Damaged hair feels damaged. If it feels rough, crispy, etc. at the ends, they definitely should be trimmed!



Well, all that being said, I'm going to trim my hair! Guys, it's so important to trim your hair when you need to. Don't be a length hog. I always say that short, healthy hair looks better than long, damaged hair. It's the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth! Don't hold on to damaged ends! Just don't! I won't!

I'm surprised that my ends don't look worse than they do. As some of you may know, I never got the big chop. I was rough with my hair while I was transitioning (harsh detangling, excessive flatironing, etc.) and my relaxed hair was so damaged that it all broke off. And again I say, this is not the proper way to transition! Anyway, although I was natural, I never properly took care of those ends that were broken due to the relaxer breaking off. Better late than never though, right?

So how will I trim it? You'll find out when I post tomorrow! Stay tuned!