First of all, the brutal beauty truth: Split ends can't be made whole again. No matter what the brands promise you, when your strands start splitting the only true remedy is to give them a snip-snip. The secret to maintaining healthy hair — especially those longer locks — is nourishment and a little TLC.
Split ends occur because of environmental, chemical, and heat damage that your strands experience. These factors strip away moisture, causing the ends to crack and break. And while it's true that you can't "de-split" those hairs, you can improve the look and feel of your overall mane. To help you win the battle for healthy tresses, we've rounded up a few products that can pamper your hair back to looking healthy — and feeling great, too.
If super-soft, touchable hair is your end game, this product is your ticket. This cruelty-free leave-in conditioner contains 90% organic ingredients and works to nourish and treat the hair, rather than just coat it with smoothing products. The secret? Aloe vera juice, castor oil, and vitamin B, which work together to boost hydration.
Earth's Nectar Nourish Conditioning Spray, $23.50, available at Earth's Nectar.
John Frieda’s Miraculous Recovery Serum can be used on wet or dry hair to eliminate frizz and repair damage caused by heat-styling, while hiding visible split ends.
John Frieda Frizz Ease Miraculous Recovery Serum, $7.99, available at Drugstore.com.
While we all (should) know that the only way to get rid of split ends is to trim them, Living Proof’s Restore Instant Repair is a worthwhile temporary fix. The formula contains silk proteins and the brand's patented Healthy Hair Molecule, which smooth and correct damage in the hair.
Living Proof Restore Instant Repair, $29, available at Ulta Beauty.
This natural blend of extra-virgin coconut and olive oils, shea butter, and eggs (yes, eggs!) nourishes your strands to hide any damage (i.e. visible split ends) — and can help to prevent split ends when used every day. Plus, the scent of orange flower, grapefruit, and neroli doesn’t hurt!
Lush Shine So Bright Split End Treatment, $9.95, available at Lush.
Before blowdrying, use this serum-and-cream hybrid from Bumble and Bumble to help prevent damage from heat-styling and seal in split ends for up to three days. While yes, of course, your split ends are still there, hiding them helps!
Bumble and Bumble Bb. Repair Blow Dry, $31, available at Sephora.
Nexxus' ProMend Leave-In Crème temporarily binds your damaged ends, making them look smoother instantly.
Nexxus ProMend Split End Binding Leave-In Crème, $21.99, available at Ulta Beauty.
Rita Hazan's Triple Threat helps to temporarily lock out frizz and seal up your ends, making them appear smoother.
Rita Hazan Triple Threat Split End Remedy, $30, available at Sephora.
Macadamia's mask improves hair elasticity, making it more resilient.
Macadamia Natural Oil, $32.99, available at Target.
If your strands are in desperate need of a fix, this rinse-out balm helps repair weeks of damage in just one use.
L'Oréal Total Repair 5 Damage-Erasing Balm, $6.99, available at Target.
Repeat after us: Instant shine.
Oribe Gold Lust Nourishing Hair Oil, $48, available at Barneys New York.
For more long-term split-end treatment, rotate this conditioner into your arsenal.
Nexxus Pro-Mend Split End Treatment Daily Conditioner, $14.99, available at Birchbox.
The formula in this little bottle is the antidote to dry, brittle hair.
Kérastase Initialiste Advanced Scalp and Hair Concentrate, $60, available at Kérastase.
Sure, this may look a bit like a hair condom, but we gave it a go and were pleasantly surprised!
Kocost Split End Therapy, $5, available at Kocost.
Like this post? There's more. Get tons of beauty tips, tutorials, and news on the Refinery29 Beauty Facebook page. Like us on Facebook — we'll see you there!
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?