Why Do Our Hair Strands Split at the End?

“Why do our hair strands split at the end?”

That’s a good question, Hope!

On day six of creation week about 6,000 years ago, God created the first people, Adam and Eve. And those first two people had hair.

The hair on our heads serves an important purpose of thermoregulating, helping to keep our bodies at the right temperature. Your hair keeps in the heat during cold months and protects your head from the sun’s hot rays in the summer.1

Each strand of your hair is covered in a protective outer layer called a cuticle. When the cuticle becomes damaged, the ends (which are the oldest and most fragile part of a strand of hair) can split.

Many things can damage your hair, leading to split ends. Some of these include using heat (straightening, curling, or blow-drying) to style your hair every day, washing your hair too frequently, or using harsh chemicals like dye on your hair. It’s important that we take good care of the hair God has given us by practicing healthy hair care habits.

The next time you brush your hair, remember: Jesus told us that God knows the exact number of hairs each one of us has on our heads (Luke 12:7). It’s pretty cool that the God who made the whole universe knows everything about you—even how many hairs you have to shampoo. That same God wants to have a relationship with you when you turn from your sins and trust in his Son, Jesus, to save you.

Do you have a question about God’s Word or his world? Ask your parents to help you submit your question here. We’d love to hear from you!

Footnotes

1. Morgan B. Murphrey, Sanjay Agarwal, Patrick M. Zito, “Anatomy, Hair,” Statpearls, August 2023, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK513312/.