Hair Products That Conceal Your Split Ends... They Exist

via Giphy

No haircut appointment in sight? Welcome to the split ends club. For those who aren’t quite sure what split ends are, they’re basically an unwanted feathering or fraying effect that occurs toward the bottom of the hair shaft. This damage develops over time and is made worse by things like heat styling tools. Ever noticed how pretty and healthy your hair looks after a cut? It’s because you just nixed a ton of pesky split ends.

“When left untreated, split ends will make your hair look dull, dry, and unruly,” explains Julius Michael, a New York-based celebrity hairstylist. “Also, if you’re growing your hair long and can’t seem to get it past a certain point, then it’s very likely that your ends are splitting and breaking off.”

Though a quick trim or full-blown cut is the fastest way to remove split ends, there are actually split end treatments out there that help conceal and fix the problem without having to involve your stylist. Michael says that such products are a great short-term solution for in-between cuts – whether you’re trying to grow out your hair or aren’t able to get an appointment – and that they can even nourish and repair over the long term.

“Using a split end repair will help smooth down the cuticle, seal in moisture, and give your hair its shine back. They also protect your hair from further damage,” he says. There really are some amazing products to help the fight to restore your hair to its true glory, so let’s go ahead and dish on some of those.

Oribe Split End Seal, $48

This is Michael’s top pick and it is a major splurge, but TBF it gets awesome reviews across the board. He says he recommends this clinically proven, hair-fortifying product to all his clients who want to grow out their hair. It’s also a good choice for those with dyed hair since it has color-preserving technology, too. Bonus: it smells divine.

Kiehl’s Damage Repairing & Rehydrating Leave-In Treatment, $25

For something slightly more wallet-friendly, Michael suggests this leave-in treatment from Kiehl’s. It’s meant to be applied to towel-dry hair before styling, and it helps repair, strengthen, and restore shine via nourishing morning tree oil, moisture-boosting hyaluronic acid, and strengthening ceramides.

Eden Bodyworks Split End Repair Masque, $9

Made specifically for black hair, this ultra-rich Split End Repair Masque is infused with nourishing sweet almond oil, marshmallow extract, coconut oil, aloe vera, and cocoa butter. It’s a true treatment that’s meant to be liberally applied after shampooing and then left on underneath a cap for 40 minutes. It’ll soften, detangle, restore, and seal breakage and split ends.

Wella Fusionplex Mask, $22

Formulated with a fusion of silk amino acids and micronized lipids, this powerful hair mask developed by Wella helps smooth out unruly damage while strengthening hair. The result is hair that looks and feels healthier and shinier and is better protected from future damage.

IGK Antisocial Overnight Bond Building Dry Hair Mask, $34

This ultra-fine, dry treatment hair mask is a true miracle worker. All you have to do is spray an even layer to your hair and then it’ll work its bond-building magic to visibly repair, soften, and boost shine. It’s a time-release treatment so it works brilliantly overnight, but you can also spray a small amount to your ends after styling and before heading out the door.

How long has it been since you’ve had a haircut? And would you consider giving any of these products a try? Let’s chat in the comments below!