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Split Ends Checker

Tick the types of split ends you see to find out what is causing them, how serious it is and how much to trim.

Which kinds do you see?

Hold a few ends against a plain background in good light. Tick every kind you find.

How many per section?
How far up the strand do they reach?

How to use the Split Ends Checker

  1. Look at your ends in good light

    Hold a small section against a plain background and look at the last inch or two of several strands.

  2. Tick every kind of split you see

    Match what you see to the drawings: classic split, baby split, tree, candle, single-strand knot, white dot or deep split.

  3. Say how many and how far up

    Choose a few or many per section, then how far up the strand the damage reaches.

  4. Press “Check my split ends”

    You get the severity, how much to cut, the likely causes of each kind you ticked and the steps that stop new splits.

How to use the Split Ends Checker (52 s)

How the checker reads the types of split ends you have

A hair strand is a bundle of fibers held inside overlapping scales called the cuticle. The ends are the oldest part of the strand, so their cuticle has taken the most washing, combing, heat and rubbing. Once it wears through, the fibers underneath fray apart. The shape of the fraying says a lot about what wore the strand down, which is why the checker asks what kind of split you see, not just whether you have any.

How the severity is scored

Each kind has a weight from 1 (early wear) to 3 (advanced damage). The checker takes the heaviest kind you ticked, adds 1 point if you find many per section, and adds points for how far up the strand the damage reaches. 

score    = heaviest kind (1–3) + many per section (1) + reach (0–2)
mild     = score up to 2
moderate = score 3–4
severe   = score 5 or more

These weights are a practical rule of thumb for sorting what you see in the mirror. They are not a clinical scale, and two people can score the same strand differently.

How much to cut

The amount to cut follows the reach of the damage, never less. Damage at the very tips is dusted off; damage up to an inch needs a trim of half an inch to an inch; anything higher is cut about a quarter inch above the highest split. With only a few splits per section you can snip the damaged strands one at a time, often called search and destroy. With many, an even trim is the only thing that keeps up. Use sharp hair shears either way. To plan the next trims, use the trim schedule calculator.

Why cutting is the only fix

A split end cannot be glued back together for good. Serums and bond products can smooth it down until the next wash, but the only fix is to cut it off. Hair is not living tissue, so it cannot heal. What products can do is slow the next split: conditioners and oils lower the friction between strands, and heat protectants reduce heat damage.

What the checker cannot tell you

It works from what you report, so good light and a close look matter. It cannot see damage higher up the strand. If hair snaps mid-length, feels gummy when wet or will not hold a curl, the problem is bigger than the ends: try the heat damage quiz or the shedding vs breakage checker, and see a stylist before a big cut.

Types of split ends chart: what each looks like, causes and fix

Type What it looks like Stage (weight) Likely causes What to do
Classic split (Y split) The tip divides into two even prongs, like the letter Y. Established damage (2) Everyday friction from combing, brushing, collars and scarves; Dry ends with a worn outer layer; Too long since the last trim Snip about a quarter inch above the fork so the whole split is gone.
Baby split A tiny fork that is only just starting at the very tip. Early wear (1) The first sign of wear on the oldest part of the strand; Ends drying out between wash days A light dusting removes it before it grows into a full split.
Tree or feather split Several branches peel off one or both sides of the strand. Advanced damage (3) The outer layer is worn away along a whole stretch of the strand; Repeated heat styling, bleach, color or overlapped relaxer; Single splits left so long that they branched Cut above the lowest branch. Trimming only the tip leaves the rest to keep splitting.
Candle (thinned tip) No fork yet, but the last part of the strand is thinner and paler, like a candle wick. Established damage (2) The outer layer has worn off the tip; Heat styling and rough towel drying; Ends rubbing on collars and cotton pillowcases Trim off the thin part. A tip without its outer layer will split next.
Single-strand knot A tiny knot tied in one strand, usually near the end. Also called a fairy knot. Early wear (1) Curly and coily strands curl around themselves as they shrink; Wearing hair loose and unstretched, or sleeping with it out; Skipping detangling on wash day Snip just above the knot. Pulling it through a comb snaps the strand higher up.
White dot (incomplete split) A white speck on the strand where it bends sharply. The hair has cracked there but not yet come apart. Established damage (2) A fracture point from high heat, often a flat iron; Rough combing or tight elastics at the same spot; Chemical over-processing Cut just above the dot. The strand will break there on its own if you leave it.
Deep split One split that runs a long way up the strand, half an inch or more. Advanced damage (3) An ordinary split that was left and travelled upward with every combing; Overdue trims; Picking or peeling splits apart by hand Cut above the point where the two halves meet, even if that is more than you planned.

How much to cut

Cut Amount When
Dust the ends about ¼ in (0.6 cm) Take off about a quarter inch. That is enough to remove damage that sits only at the tips.
Trim ½–1 in ½–1 in (1.3–2.5 cm) Take off half an inch to an inch, enough to get past the highest split you can find.
Cut above the damage about ¼ in (0.6 cm) above the highest split Find the highest split, white dot or branch and cut about a quarter inch above it. That may be more than an inch.

Reach points used in the score: only the very tips = 0, up to about an inch = 1, more than an inch up = 2.

Frequently asked questions

What are the different types of split ends?
The common ones are the classic Y split, the baby split that is just starting, the tree or feather split with several branches, the candle with a thinned tip, the single-strand knot, the white dot or incomplete split, and the deep split that runs far up the strand. The chart on this page shows what each looks like and what causes it.

Can split ends be repaired without cutting?
No. A split end cannot be glued back together for good. Serums, oils and bond-building products can smooth the split down and make it less visible until the next wash, but the strand is still divided. Cutting above the split is the only lasting fix.

How much should I cut to get rid of split ends?
Enough to get above the highest split. If the damage is only at the very tips, dusting about a quarter inch is enough. If splits reach up to an inch, trim half an inch to an inch. If they go higher, find the highest split on the strand and cut about a quarter inch above it.

What do white dots on the ends of my hair mean?
A white dot is a spot where the strand has cracked but not yet come apart. The hair usually bends sharply there and will break at that point. White dots often show up after high heat or rough handling. Cut just above the dot.

Are single-strand knots the same as split ends?
Not exactly. A single-strand knot, or fairy knot, is one strand that has tied itself in a knot. It is common on curly and coily hair because the strands coil around themselves. Like a split, it is a weak point where the hair snags and breaks, so it is snipped off the same way.

Do split ends travel up the hair shaft?
They can. Each time a split strand is combed or rubbed, the two halves can pull further apart, which is how an ordinary split becomes a deep split. That is why trimming a little early usually costs less length than waiting.

How often should I trim to prevent split ends?
It depends on how you wear and treat your hair. Hair that is heat-styled or chemically treated needs trims more often than hair kept in low-manipulation styles. The trim schedule calculator works out an interval for your routine.

Sources

Last data update:

  1. Khumalo NP, Doe PT, Dawber RP, Ferguson DJ. What is normal black African hair? A light and scanning electron-microscopic study. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2000;43(5 Pt 1):814-820. Tightly coiled hair forms knots and breaks more easily during grooming.
  2. Robbins CR. Chemical and Physical Behavior of Human Hair. 5th ed. Springer; 2012. Reference text on hair structure, surfactants, conditioning agents, protein, heat and chemical treatments.

How we research and update pages: editorial policy. Spotted an error? Tell us.

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