Hair is a sensitive subject. Many of us are keen on solving our biggest hair woes to feel confident. However, the ends of our hair are also susceptible, especially when dealing with multiple external factors, whether it’s our products or the environment.
What are curled ends? Curled ends are usually weakened or damaged split ends or strands that take on their own shape. These “curled” or “bent” ends will still transform to their natural shape no matter how you style your hair.
The ends of your hair can become unruly and challenging to manage after a certain period. It’s almost like they take on a mind of their own. Bent ends can lead to frustration when you don’t understand the underlying cause of your ends flicking out.
Why is your hair curling at the ends? There are several reasons your hair may be curling at the ends, including split ends, the wrong haircut for your hairtype, the climate, hormonal changes, stress, heat styling, and more. It may take some trial and error to figure out which one is affecting your hair.
Unfortunately, the list can go on forever. There are multiple reasons why your ends may not be cooperating with you. Through the process of elimination, you’ll be able to solve bent or flicked ends in a flash and stop worrying.
You’ll also be one step closer to healthier and happier hair, which will boost your confidence. So if you’re interested in finding out what could be the problem for your strands, make sure to follow along to find a solution.
Why Does My Hair Flick Out At The Ends?
Sometimes you may feel overwhelmed and hopeless that the culprit of your curled ends will never be found. While there could be a handful of factors affecting your strands, thankfully, there are also many characteristics to evaluate for answers.
1. Your Hairtype Vs Your Haircut
Before you tend to any issue regarding your hair, you will need to identify your hair type. There are four hair types: straight, wavy, curly, and coily. It’s also recommended to identify your hair texture, porosity, and elasticity to understand your hair thoroughly.
Your hair type will be the biggest indicator of how you should cut and style your hair. Straight-haired individuals who want face-framing layers can have those ends become prone to curling outwards, while wavy, curly, and coily types can benefit from layers greatly.
One thing that each hair type can deal with is damaged ends. Thin, dry, damaged split ends are a huge culprit as to why the ends of your strands are not cooperating. It’s always recommended to go for a cut for your hair type to keep your hair full of life.
Straight Hair
Straight hair is known as a challenging hair type to get some wave or curl to hold. However, it’s still prone to bends and flicks. The most simple and obvious reason straight hair can flick at the ends is due to the length.
Shoulder-length hair or a length where your ends are resting on your shoulders will more likely cause the ends to curl or flick outwards. Opt for longer or shorter hair and avoid the shoulders. If that’s not the reason, it may be an indicator to get a haircut.
Wavy Hair
For those with wavy hair types, the ends of your hair flicking out can go either way. Split ends will cause any hair type to flick out at the bottom. A fresh haircut can always be a lifesaver. Wavy hair can be stuck in the middle of straight and curly hair.
If you find your ends curly, bent, or flicked out even after a fresh cut, it’s time to switch up your hair routine. It’s possible you are caring for your hair like it’s straight instead of curly. Avoid using heavy products and work to define your waves.
Curly & Coily Hair
Curly and Coily people out there know the struggle and work it takes to maintain healthy, bouncy locks. However, if your ends are lackluster, it’s time for a haircut to remove damage or add a lightweight curl-defining product to bring the ends back.
If you’re looking for a product to try, this lightweight cream won’t make your hair feel sticky or weighed down.
When you go in for your next haircut, layers will be your best friend. The weight distribution of your hair can make a huge impact. Layers will uplift the ends and remove the damage that has been weighing you down or jutting out.
2. Climate
Climate is another cause to take into consideration and evaluate if it’s the reason why your ends are flicking out. Many of us have dealt with the pain of a rainy day coming along and all of a sudden, your hair turns into a poof ball with uncontrollable frizz.
The ends of your hair can also be affected depending on the climate you live in. Think about how often the weather changes in your area. Do you have all four seasons, or is it a still climate all year round? Not everyone considers the impact things like the humidity, altitude, pollution, weather, and season can have on your hair.
For example, living in a dry, hot climate like Arizona versus a more humid environment like Hawaii can affect your hair drastically. Even though both of these states are relatively warm year-round, these places don’t go through many seasonal changes.
Living in more seasonal areas like Massachusetts, your hair will constantly be subjected to varying climate and seasonal changes. Cities that consistently have rain like Seattle or cities filled with pollutants can also cause your hair to act up abnormally.
Dry Climates
Your ends could be flicking out due to lack of moisture and split ends for those who live in dry climates. Split ends usually show how thin and coarse the bottom of your strands are, which can easily be solved with the right products and a fresh cut.
You will want a nourishing product to hydrate the ends without weighing the hair down. Heavy products can cause undesired results and the hair can look wet, greasy, or oily. Instead, use a weekly hair mask to ensure your ends are cared for.
Don’t forget a heat protectant. You may be confused why you need a heat protectant even if you don’t use any hot tools. Heat protectants are also formulated to shield your hair from the sun’s UV rays that can also hurt the hair, especially untamed ends.
Humid Climates
Thankfully, there is a science behind why your hair curls in humid climates. According to the Smithsonian Magazine, “humid air causes hydrogen bonds to form between water molecules and the proteins in your hair, triggering curls and frizz.”
If you have wavy, curly, or coily hair types, there are various anti-humidity creams and sprays to ensure the waves or curls you have stay defined and bouncy. Straight hair can get frizzy, so a light oil is all you need, and it’s not as extreme as curly hair types.
Regardless of climate or hair type, the right styling product and a UV protector will allow you to manage your ends no matter how often they flick outwards. So you can rest knowing no matter how many times the weather changes, you’ll be prepared.
3. Hormonal Changes
Hormones are the most challenging thing to deal with, and sometimes we don’t even realize our hormones can be imbalanced. If you have tried everything under the sun, like fresh and frequent haircuts and tried-and-true products, it’s time to look further.
Frequently checking for a hormonal imbalance will not only ensure your health is in check, but it can also help you discover underlying causes to why your hair could be lackluster or uncooperative. This also includes curled, bent, and flicked-out ends.
A hormonal imbalance can affect hair in various ways. For example, the texture of your hair can completely transform due to a change in hormones. Unfortunately, it can also lead to more severe side effects like hair loss, which nobody wants to go through.
4. Stress
We all know stress does more harm than good. Many of us agree that stressing about how much pressure you have can further induce those feelings. That will affect your hair, skin, body, sleep, and so much more.
According to the ZRT Laboratory, “your body doesn’t regard hair as being essential to your survival…stress molecules like cortisol can target and damage the hair follicle.” So if you have been stressed, give yourself a relaxing scalp massage every other day.
This will allow the blood flow to reach your scalp and keep those hair follicles moving. A scalp massage feels rejuvenating, and it will give you a few moments of peace with yourself. However, stress can still cause thinning, especially on the ends, so cut yourself a break.
5. Pregnancy/Menopause
A woman’s reproductive system is genuinely mind-boggling. We go through so many changes monthly, and pregnancy or menopause can also be a reason why the ends of your hair are uncooperative. Patience will be your best friend here.
During pregnancy, you may or may not notice changes within your hair and the ends. However, a majority of women have experienced postpartum hair loss, affecting every strand of hair root to tip. Thankfully, you will adjust back after birth.
Dealing with Menopause is a whole other ball game. According to Patient, “a majority of women report that their hair grows more slowly and becomes much thinner.” Losing the density of strands and dealing with thin hair can transform your ends too.
Other hormonal imbalances that can affect the ends of your hair and your strands, in general, include iron deficiencies, thyroid problems, and a lack of Vitamin D and B12. It’s always recommended to seek help from your doctor to solve your hair concerns.
6. Heat Styling & Coloring
Something we have all tried at one point or another is heat styling. Heat styling allows us to get creative with our hair, but it can have adverse side effects if it’s not done correctly. So first, you need a heat protectant! It will prolong the life of your cut.
Improper heat styling can lead to lifeless hair and dryness, flatness, and difficulty holding or changing shapes. No matter your hair type, a way to nourish brittle and bent ends is with a weekly hair mask to give you a boost of moisture.
You don’t have to stop with the hot tools completely, but there are healthier ways to deal with heat styling. It’s recommended to wait until your hair is fully dry before going in with a flat or curling iron and use them at a low temperature to minimize impact.
Coloring or bleaching your hair excessively at home with box dye or with an inexperienced stylist can have your ends flicking out in all kinds of ways. The ends are the oldest strands of hair on our head, and bleach or color can weaken them.
According to Philip Kingsley, “Bleaching raises your hair’s outer cuticle to allow the bleaching agent to fully penetrate.” However, there is a limit to everything, even your cuticle. Once the cuticle can’t hold on any longer, it exposes the cortex.
Once the cuticle exposes the cortex, the hair will start to break. That means split ends are prone to developing. Coloring your hair can be less damaging than bleach, but it’s recommended not to go overboard and seek a trusted and professional stylist.
Both coloring and bleaching can cause the hair to become bent, brittle, and inelastic. It will also be difficult to infuse the strands with moisture. The best option to repair damaged ends from bleach or coloring is to get a trim immediately and frequently.
Follow with deep conditioning treatments weekly, add a nightly oil into your hair routine, and always style the hair with a heat protectant. All of these tips will ensure that your bleached and colored hair doesn’t lead to unruly and curled ends.
The Takeaway
Your hair type, the climate, your hormones, heat styling, and coloring can all impact the way the ends react. Your hair type can determine what haircut will suit your needs the most and how you can take care of your strands.
However, there are various other reasons why your hair can become curled or bent. Air drying is one of the healthiest ways to allow your hair to return to its natural state. Of course, it won’t dry perfectly, and there is a potential for bumps to appear.
Frequent haircuts can ease the process of air drying to become more efficient and leave you with healthy ends. Don’t forget your heat protectant if you opt to heat style or plan to sit outside on a warm day. You’ll deal with less frizz and damaged ends.
If you decide to color or bleach your hair, make sure you are working with a professional and licensed hairstylist who can keep the integrity of your hair through color treatments. They can also help guide you to the right styling products.
Another way to combat curled and flicked-out ends is to keep your hormones in check. That may mean learning to reduce stress, upping your Vitamin D intake, or going for a routine check-up at the doctor.
Another helpful tip is to keep track of how the weather will affect your hair and adjust your styling routine accordingly. Other things to look out for are whether a new shampoo or conditioner may be causing issues. Check the ingredients list for sensitizing components like sulfates and parabens.
Food and diet is another crucial factor to keep up with. It’s easier to work on your health from within and your hair will thank you for it.
By taking baby steps and through the process of elimination, you can find what is causing your ends to curl and flick outwards. It’s an issue that can be solved; however, it will be a journey to discover your ultimate healthy hair routine.
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