I have problems with split ends.  Two problems actually.  Nay, three.  One, they're there. Two, they're really bad.  Three, I can't see them.

When I was younger I used to think it was physically impossible to see split ends.  My hair is now a mixture of these fine hairs, and the still very fine but you can actually see them hairs.  I also have a few black, copper and white hairs that are thick, but they're few andfar between (like ten on my whole head)

When I do me search and destroy missions, I can't really see my split ends.  The only way I can be sure is to take an individual hair, hold it near the tip, put my finger on the very tip and bend it.  Then I might see it's been split about five times or whatever.  I let go, and it jsut looks like one hair again.  Sometimes I can see them, but usually I don't (especially when I'm looking for them)

I also have oily roots and they ends are dry.  I've been using fructus dry ends oily roots shampoo, which has helped a bit, but it seems to not be helping anymore.

So does anyone have any sugestions for finding/seeing split ends with really fine hair?

I have the same problem - can't see the splits in my fine hair.  I have attributed it to a combination of fine hair, short hair (just shoulder length),  and my "short arm syndrome" eyesight that comes with age.  I remember I used to be able to see them.  I did try to spot them with a magnifying mirror a week or two ago and gave up.  I have decided to concentrate on keeping my hair as healthy as possible and not stress over something I can't fix, at this point anyway.  Besides I hate dusting 

Yes, I do it against a dark backgound.  I can often see white dots, but not splits.  I actually just tried taking a photo of one of my split hairs that I cound, but it didn't work cos all you could see was the black background and no hair.  But it was one of my medium hairs, and it was spilt twice, once abour 5mm from the end, and the other about 15mm from the end.  I found it purley bu chance as I took a randomhair and presed my finger to the end to bend it, but normaly the splits just lie flat as one hair, or are just super fine.

appart from just getting regular trims (which I don't want to do as I can afford to pay someone and my mum (who has inch long hair) thinks cuting 'barey anything' off means at least three inches) what can I do?  Is dry ends making splits worse?  Considering I've had a trim quite recently (the day before I joined these boards or something) I think the splits must be a result of something I'm doing (or not doing now).

I know only sizors can FIX the ends, but what about preventing them?

ok. I wash my hair 2, sometimes three times a week, though sometimes only once, especially if I have a medieval event when I try to have as dirtyhair as pos to help keep head veils and hats on.

I use fructus fortifying (sorry about bad spelling!) shampoo for oily roots and dry ends, being extra sure to shampoo well into the roots.  Then I usually just condition the length, paying extra care to the ends, though sometimes I condition the roots as well. 

Once upon a time I would wring my hair in the towel, rub it hard and brus it with my natural bristle brush straight away (why dod I do that when I could hear the hairs snapping?) but since I have learned not to, I pat it with the towel and don't touch it.  Then about two hours later I carefully comb it with my fingers (no sharp or jagged nails, no rings) then carefully comb it with a comb, detangling the ends before moving up otherwise I just push my taffel to the end.  Then I'll leave it, and I'll braid it loosley just before bed.

They only hairties I use and the fabric metaless ones, the nice thick ones. 

I only wear my hair in a pony once a week, and then I try to keep it as low and as loose as I can.

I do wear my hair out, a lot.  I'm up at 5:30 quite often to get to uni, thats way to early to eat let alone do my hair.  Besides, I love wearing my hair out.  I wasn't alowed to at school, and on the occasional free dress day I would wear it out, and my friends would all tell me how nice it looked.  Besides, it looks blond out, and when I wear it in my usual plat it looks grey.  I think wearing it out at uni may help cause split ends, but I try to be careful. 

Currently the only products I use on my hair is shampoo and conditioner. I haven't used a hairdryer in about ten years, and have only used heat to curl my haid about three times in those ten years.  (though when I was eight I used to crimp my hair HEAPS, we had crimpers at home... lol, did anyone else live through that age?)

But yes, that is my routene.

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Thankyou!

I have actually been meaning to start vinegar rinces, my mum has a big bottle of white vinegar for washing the floor, is that alright to use? I've actually been waiting for the privacy of our own bathroom to start this (me and my sister have a bathroom upstairs) however somethings wrong with the shower and the plumber is comming about a month and a halfago (don't you love plumbers?)  so I've had to use the evil downstairs bathroom.    II hate it, there's no room in the shower, the water pressure hurts me, and there isn't anywhere to put bottles andstuff)

How mush do you dilute the vinegar? am I correct in thinking it goes after the shampoo and before the conditioner?

and with the fabric thing, its winter now so I've been wearing my coat. I noticed my hair sticks to it, so I just twist it loosley and tuch it under the coat  (it also keeps my hair warm, when its really long I'll wrap it around my neck like a scarf, lol)

I can get the vo5 hot oil treatment stuff from the shop where I work, is that a good oil to use?

I prefer olive or jojoba oil to the VO5, or any other hot oil sold that I tried.  Cheaper too.