Can any product really repair split ends?

Anon Asks:

Do split ends serums really repair split ends?

The Right Beauty Brain Replies:

We’re afraid that split end repair products are lots of bluff and not much stuff.

To see why, you have to understand a couple of things about basic hair biology. Hair is dead and once it’s damaged it can’t repair itself. A new strand of hair can grow out, but any part of the fiber that’s already damaged can’t heal itself. And when hair is damaged it looks like this:

Despite what hair care companies might tell you, there’s nothing that can actually repair a hair that looks like that.

At best, you can temporarily smooth the split by using a product that covers the damaged area with a film. But the next time you wash your hair that protective film washes away too. Products like Frieda’s Frizz-Ease work this way. Of course, the best thing you can do is PREVENT split ends by always conditioning your hair before brushing or blow drying.

For more tips, check out E-How. There’s some good information here on preventing split ends, with the exception it item #7. It says to use a shampoo that lists sunscreen as a major ingredient. First of all, NO shampoo has sunscreen as a “major” ingredient. Second, even if you DID put a huge dose of a sunscreen in, it wouldn’t do much to protect your hair. But that’s a discussion for another post…