Question

what happens when the cuticle wears away at the tip of the hair shaft?
hair stops growing
split ends occur
hair becomes softer
hair becomes thicker

Explanation:

The hair cuticle is the outer protective layer of the hair shaft. When it wears away at the tip, the inner layers of the hair are exposed. This leads to split ends as the exposed layers fray and separate. Hair growth is determined by the hair follicle, not the cuticle at the tip. A worn - away cuticle would not make hair softer (it might make it more prone to damage and tangling) or thicker (hair thickness is mainly determined by genetics and the hair follicle structure).

Answer:

Split ends occur