Buzz
At the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the situation was still taken seriously, haircuts were among the first (and most noticeable) aspects of 'normal' life to disappear. Social media was filled with images of hair that had once been regularly tended to by professionals but was now left to grow out and gradually revert to its natural color.
However, once businesses began reopening in the spring and summer of 2021, hair salon visits picked up again, and many people haven't looked back—regardless of emerging variants or new surges. Yet, others still choose to be cautious, either avoiding salons altogether or significantly reducing their visits.
If you belong to the second group, you may be noticing more split ends lately, especially without the benefit of frequent trims. Luckily, a method called 'dusting' can help you remove damaged hair at home. Here's what you need to know.
What Are Split Ends?
Split ends refer to hair strands that are broken, frayed, or taper off at the tips. In some cases, a strand may become so damaged that it snaps off halfway, causing unevenness with the rest of your hair. Once a hair splits, no amount of deep conditioning can restore it: the only solution is to trim off the damaged ends.
How to Eliminate Split Ends at Home
The term 'dusting' refers to the process of cutting off split ends without altering the overall length of your hair. It's not a trim (which shortens your hair), but rather a method to remove the damaged tips before they worsen and split even further.
The dusting technique you choose varies based on your hair type, but all methods require starting with dry hair, working with small sections at a time, twisting or wrapping the hair around your finger until you spot shorter hairs sticking out (which are more damaged), and trimming them off.
Here are some dusting tutorials to guide you through the process:
For straight hair:
For curly hair:
For Type 4 hair:
Additionally, it's important to invest in a pair of hair-cutting scissors if you're planning to do DIY dusting. These are not only much sharper than regular household scissors, but they're also slightly smaller and more manageable for precision.
