via TheBeautyBrains
Michelle asks…Are there ANY hair products out there that can actually reconstruct/repair hair (as opposed to just protecting it from further damage)?
The Right Brain responds:
This is a great question because one of our favorite pet peeves are all the products that claim to repair hair but don’t. When you actually look at the science behind those products you find that they are almost always “regular” conditioners. That means they are very good at smoothing the cuticle and helping to prevent future damage but the do nothing to truly repair hair.
Does any hair repair product really work?
There is hope, however, because of new one technology that works differently. This technology is based on a polyelectrolyte complex, or PEC for short. This PEC complex consists of a negatively charged ion (PVM/MA copolymer) and a positively charged ion (Polyquaternium-28.) This combination of positive and negative charges creates a single complex with the unique ability to stick to damage hairs and to itself.
How does PEC technology repair hair?
What does all this mean? Well, instead of just coating the outside of hair like most conditioners do, the tiny PEC molecules are able to enter the split ends of hair. Because the complex can stick to the damaged hair protein and to other complex molecules, it creates little bridges across the open ends of the splits. As your hair dries, the water evaporates from the complex causing it to contract. The force of this contraction pulls the end of the split hairs back together again. Once the PECs are dry they bind the split end shut. Watch this video to see what happens when a drop of PEC complex is placed on a split end and dried with a blow dryer:
Which products contain PEC technology?
Nexxus, Joico, and Tresemme all make products containing the Polyelectrolyte Complex. If you’d like to try this new hair repair technology for yourself, please consider buying one of these through the links below. Your purchase helps support the Beauty Brains blog.
Joico K-Pak Reconstruct Split End Mender
Tresemme Split Remedy Conditioner
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CN Says:
Still sounds like a bandaid to me *shrugs* I say, snip snip!
What do y’all think?
My question is does it need heat to bond together, or is air drying fine?
I agree that snip snip is the way to go BUT I wouldn't not cut off large amounts of hair at once but rather do gradual trims, protein treatments and use great conditioners like this to nurse my hair back to it's healthy stage.
I wouldn't rule it out. Who would've ever thought that we would see "cell phones that talk back to you." There have been some great advances in technology, including hair.
Lol…lawd..why on greens' earth would someone want to keep the split end? Just cut it off. Gee willacurz batman…
Agreed! The best way to mend hair is to rebuild it with the building blocks of hair – protein. I use Nutress Protein Pack and it does the same thing that this describes. Small protein (oat) penetrates to rebuild from inside, large protein (wheat) adheres to outside to close the split. Together they gradually rebuilds hair with each treatment. Only costs me $1.50. I follow with a nice, silky moisturizing conditioner to get the same effect in a more natural way.
I agree. Who wants dead split ends connected onto their hair. Snip snip is the way to go cause it's gonna grown back anyway!!!
I've never used it beofre, but I think it's a great way to I guess "soothe" hair anxiety. I know that the thought of cutting my hair to chin length is an immensely frightening thought, so it'd probably take longer than most for me to cut off all of the damage. These products would be good for "in the meantime", that period of time where you're cutting off the damage gradually but still trying to have you hair looking right, because it would mend it and help the hair look less damaged, making it slightly stress free while you're trying to get back to healthy hair.
I definitely still agree that the only way to "cure" hair damage is to get rid of it, i.e. cutting it off.
I agree 100% that the Nexxus Pro Mend Line works great!! I used the shampoo/conditioner/leave in treatment and my hair looked amazing. I used this as a sample pack and was pleased with the results. If my ends were in need of repair that would definitely be my go-to product line.
Nevermind^^ I see it now.
The video that is supposed to show the effect of pec is the through the fire video by chaka khan.
Skip the temporary fix; I'm with Nikki…snip it and then try to reduce the practices that contributed to the split ends.
thats a good question anon 6:58, but i
m guessing since hair grows from the scalp that it isn't preventing hair from growing and may actually help retain length if it stops the split ends from continuously splitting up the hair. but thats just a guess! I may be wrong! lol but I have heard good things about the Nexxus line so I may be giving it a try
This sounds like a fantastic product and i've seen a lot of positive reviews. I think it may be a little unreal but you never know unless you try it yourself so i'll be trying it.
My only question is does the hair continue to grow past the point of breakage? I mean it repairs itself but what about growth?
I could see myself using this for the same reason as janubie! It wouldn't be a permanent solution, but if it makes the ends behave like they aren't spli and prevents them from splitting further, it might be a good way to prevent additional damage between trims … or, you know, while I resume the endless search to find someone whom I trust to trim my ends who is local and reasonably priced!!
Of course, my concern would be are the chemicals in the product safe and, Anon. @ 3:58 poses an interesting question … how does it manage to bond only that hair which is split together? I'm thinking it must "seek" an exposed cortex? Complete conjecture as I'm by no means a scientist! But interesting question indeed!
Shelli
I don't know about this stuff. It sounds a bit to 'chemically' for my taste, but whatever works. How does this technology work on damaged hair only? How does it identify the split hair and only bond THAT hair together?? I'm kind of skeptical about that. How long have these products been on the market. I hope we don't hear about something crazy in the end. Lol! I think I'll stick with trims.
I agree there is no way to re-bond them naturally (ie to get them to re-bond on their own), but this sounds solid. I mean if the artificial bonds last, technically they are connected. How long do they last?
I have a hard time wrapping my head around the idea of having artificially bonded ends on my hair, but if these bonds last and prevented further damage up the hair shaft (and let me put more space between my trims), I am all for it!
I agree, there is no way to permenently mend a split end but it's 2012 and the future is here! I can attest to awesome results…
I LOVE Nexxes Pro Mend Daily Conditioner and Overnight Treatment!! I am usually an all natural product faithful but blow drying did a number on my ends. I did cut it quite a bit but I had mid-shaft splits too! It was scary! I have changed my routine and my hair has done a 180. BUT adding the Pro Mend line to my routine was pretty awesome and it did MEND (I know, I know, not forever… but it's been like 6 months and they are still mended so… idk) my ends. Nobody can tell me it doesn't work, I have eyes lol. I don't even use it that often (2-3 times a month) and still see really wonderful results!
It is a fact that the only way to get rid of a split end is to cut it. This may be debatable in the busniness world, but it is certainly not in the world of science. It is possible to moisturize the hair and strengthen the hair with products, but not to reconnect split ends.