I’m an Ex-Hairdresser & Here’s the Truth About Whether Split End Treatments Work
Ex Hairdresser/Makeup Artist & all around Beauty nut
Ever been awake at 3am, tempted to trim your split ends with a pair of scissors?
Yep, thought so. The struggle is real.
Not to say there's anything wrong with having dry ends - everyone will experience dry ends at some point - but fresh, hydrated ends do look silky and feel lovely.
Aside from getting your hair stylist to trim your split ends, you might've wondered if a split ends treatment can *actually* work...
Is using a split end treatment product the answer to fixing crunchy ends? Or, is your hair treatment for split ends just a bottle of empty promises?
Do you need a split ends treatment? How do split end repair products work? And what is the best split end treatment?
That's why I'm here! As an ex-hairdresser, here's the truth about split end treatment products.
Plus, I share the best split end treatment products you can trust - in my humble opinion.
What Are Split Ends?
A split end is a break that occurs when the protective layer - your hair's cuticle - becomes worn down.
This happens when your hair is exposed to repeated or intense stress. Things like heat styling, bleaching and environmental damage can lead to split ends.
You can watch me chat about a few of my favourite split end treatments and how they work in the YouTube video below...
So, How Do You Fix Split Ends?
As for how to treat split ends... there’s only one way to get rid of split ends completely, and that’s to cut them off.
Once a hair starts to split, it'll just keep splitting all the way along. Regular trims and reducing heat styling are the best split end hair treatment options.
Hair Treatment For Split Ends: Do They Work?
The answer is yes, to an extent.
Again, once the hair has split, there's only so much a treatment for split ends can do.
You can't physically 'repair' or reverse split ends, but split end treatment products can keep hair in the best possible condition it can be.
Split ends treatments work like a lasso around the bonds of the hair, helping to hold the split ends together to buy you some time before going to the hairdressers.
Basically, they make your split ends look and feel their best. But they're still split ends, y'know?
Best Split End Treatment.
Now, let's get into what I think are the best products for split ends.
From split end treatments and leave-in split end repair balms, to split end serums and split end bonding treatments, here are my top picks:
Best Split End Treatments & Products:
Kerastase Resistance Therapiste Dual Treatment Serum 30ml$54.00 - Currently not available
ELEVEN Australia Miracle Hair Treatment 125ml$31.95
VIRTUE Split End Serum 50ml$63.00 - Currently not available
Olaplex No. 7 Bonding Frizz Reduction & Heat Protection Hair Oil$54.00
Philip Kingsley Bond Builder Split End Remedy 50ml $46.00 $63.00 - Currently not available
add to bag
*Watch my video above for exactly why I rate each and every one of these split end treatments.
How to Prevent Split Ends.
Prevention is always best when it comes to split ends.
That said, a combo of easy hair styling tweaks and hair repair products for split ends can help.
When heat styling, using tools like the Dyson Airwrap or Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer can help to minimise heat styling damage through temperature control.
Always use a heat protectant tool before blow drying, straightening or curling your hair.
Another pro tip is to leave about an inch or two of hair out at the end when waving your hair with a curling wand. This gives hair a chic, effortless look, while also not sizzling already dry ends.
Other than that, the key to not feeling duped by a split ends treatment is knowing and accepting what they can (and can't) do.
Unfortunately, we're yet to find a Hogwarts style split end repair spell. But these products - and regular trims - are pretty darn close!
Looking for more hair and split end repair product recommendations? Try these:
A weekly moisturising treatment to strengthen hair.
A hair mask for split ends and dry hair is a great way to deeply repair your hair. Paul Mitchell Awapuhi Keratin Intensive Treatment is a Keratin-rich hair mask that hydrates, adds shine, and helps strengthen hair that needs it. The best product for split ends and breakage, this treatment should be used weekly after washing your hair. Work it through your strands and wait 3 to 5 minutes. If your hair needs a really deep treatment, wrap your hair in a warm towel and leave the mask in for longer.
A shout-out to all the girls with thick hair and split ends: Aveda botanical repair intensive strengthening masque - rich is for you. This intensive mask for split hair targets damage from heat-styling, brushing, colouring, sun, and chlorine. Is the bottom layer of your hair damaged? If so, incredibly nourishing ingredients like Coconut Oil, Avocado Oil, and Shea Butter can help repair damage to all layers of the hair fibre to restore split ends. Plus, Aveda products are vegan, cruelty-free, and packaged in 100% post-consumer recycled plastic.
A strengthening salve with coconut oil for split ends.
One of the best hair care products for split ends is Pureology Strength Cure Split End Salve. This thick ointment has a high concentration of Coconut Oil, which helps lock in moisture, smooth down frizz, and mend split ends. Split End Salve also contains Cationic Silicones, which temporarily bond broken ends to prevent them from splitting further while protecting healthy strands from splitting.
A protective leave-in conditioner.
Formulated with hydrating Avocado Oil and Vitamin E to smooth rough cuticles and create radiance. Wella SP Perfect Hair is designed to repair the hair while also protecting from heat damage. If you’re wondering how to repair dry hair ends, work this leave-in conditioner into dry or damp hair, focusing on those split ends. No need to rinse out; just style as usual or leave to air dry.
If your ends are in major need of some TLC, ghd Advanced Split End Therapy offers it in spades. This wonder product improves the appearance of split ends by helping to strengthen your hair. Ghd’s split end repair treatment incorporates a Thermo-Marine Bonding System, which is a unique complex that helps bond the cortex and cuticle of the hair. Too sciencey? Basically, it creates a protective coating over your dry ends to reduce frizz and help strands resist damage from things like hot styling tools. Wondering how to repair dry hair ends? Pop on some serum after you’ve towel-dried your hair. Then blow-dry or air-dry to finish. Simple!
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