I've always had long hair, and its never really given me any hassles.

This time last year, though, it was suddenly in a terrible state- thinning, breaking, split ends and ratty. I'd changed nothing in my routine [more on that below]

I trimmed a few inches off, and decided I'd spend 2012 maintaining it there to grow out the worst.

Well, its a year now... and while it is a little better and probably not breaking *as much*, the ends haven't thickend up much at all despite the microtrims and there still seems to be split ends everywhere despite a monthly s&d I've stuck to religiously.

So now I give up...anyone got a smart idea?

FYI, I don't blowdry [air dry only], wash once a week after a night of oil soaking, with a very mild shampoo and tried and trusted conditioner [haven't changed them in a decade] in cold water, SMT once a month, vinegar rinse as seems suitable and clarify likewise. I don't brush- wide toothed comb only, my comb is sandalwood and I've had it for years, and my hair is up almost all the time- I check my toys for damage possabilities.

Hence why I am stuck in puzzlement.