I've been reading up a bit on dusting split ends and I tried to do it today, but I'm not sure I'm doing it right.  I know I'm supposed to cut just the split ends, but how far up do I cut?  Is there any system to make sure I get most of them?  If it were just my longest ends, it would be easier, but I have shorter pieces all over (probably due to past damage) and I can't figure out how to find and seperate them all so I can cut them.

On a related note, these shorter hairs (not layers, just broken hairs), do you guys have them?  Does everyone have them?  When your hair gets to your maintainance length, do you eventually cut off the shorter pieces and have hair that is truly one length?

Thanks bikerbraid, I had been a bit confuzed with all the shorter hairs, but your explanation of new growth hairs makes sense.  When I tried to dust my ends, I found some split ends, but the majority of those shorter hairs were ok. I wondered if I should cut them anyways, beacuse I thought they had all broken off, but now I know to just cut the splits.  Maybe the new growth is why my hair has felt thicker this past year!  I've noticed that the part close to my scalp (where I put a ponytail holder) is thicker than it used to be.

Do you dust your ends yourself or do you get someone to help?  I found it hard to get more than the last 6" or so.  I guess that's ok, since probably most of the split ends would be near the bottom anyways, right?