Trichoptolosis refers to which hair condition?

• A. Coarse hair growth
• B. Hair breakage at the root
• C. Splitting of the shaft of the hair strand
• D. Curl pattern change

Answer: (C)

Trichoptolosis describes split ends—the splitting of the hair shaft at the ends. This happens when the protective cuticle is damaged, often from dryness, chemical processing, heat styling, or physical wear, causing the tip of the strand to fray and divide.

It’s different from breakage at the root (which occurs closer to the scalp) and from changes in curl pattern (which involve the hair’s shape, not damage to the shaft). To manage split ends, the practical approach is trimming off the damaged ends and focusing on conditioning, moisture, and gentler styling to prevent further cracking. Use heat protection, avoid harsh brushing when wet, and reduce overprocessing to keep the ends healthy.