I have at least 2 1/2 inches of damage from highlighting my hair a few years ago. I am so sick of the split ends!!!! I oil, use leave in conditioner, contain my hair, s&d and get trims every 3-4 months, but I still have tons of splits. The damage has to be the culprit right?

So my question is, should I just go and get it cut off now? To me 2 1/2 inches is a lot of hair  :'(.

Well, my answer is yes.  You cannot repair damaged hair, it must be cut off.  I know its an agonizing decision.  Personally I think its worth it in the long run-you don't want that damage to travel up the shaft and make it so that more inches will need cutting off.

Be brave, what ever you decide.

I agree with Sakina, be brave and get it done.  I had to do that last year and it was about 3 inches of old hair color.  Your hair will thank you! :)

Eventually you will need to get the damaged hair trimmed.  If doing it all at once is too painful, try trimming an inch and see if you hair does better.  If not, you can trim the rest off and know it was the right decision.

Absolutely cut it. Like Sakina said, those splits will travel farther up the length of your hair and ruin it permanently if you don't get rid of them now. If you want to grow long, healthy hair, you have to start with healthy hair.

Besides, fresh ends are so fabulous anyway. They make the rest of your hair feel lighter and healthier. And when your hair is as long as it is, 2½" isn't that much. Just my two cents.  ;)

Back in the old days people would carefully burn their split ends or twirl the hair bit by bit, just cutting off the split ends.I can recommend these two methods if you really feel bad about cutting your hair.If the result then doesn´t satisfie you..then you cut the damaged bit....

Tuff choice!We all feel for ya!!! :-/

I think I will do it gradually, maybe 1 inch this month and another in 2 months and then the rest after that. It wont be so painful that way. I know my hair will be much better off.

I will try to ameliorate for you through sharring some thoughs of my own. Apparantly or so i have heard No matter how much you cut your hair the last inch will always have the ineptitude to look as stunning as the rest of your hair.

Most report to cut their hair and get rid of that last inch of dryness only fr it to return a month later. Its seen as almost a protective barrier to stop the rest of the hair becoming damaged to.

Exposed ends will become out of shape the quickest, this is not to say dont cut your hair quite the contary a new trim will make the health your your overall har seem muh better, however if you carry on the same practices which get the ends into such a state then this problem will continue. The key is to find what has caused this and then after your trim to then prevent it. If you are sure it is just chemical damage then i would say cut it at a 1/2 an inch per month.