How to Get Rid of Split Ends and Repair Damaged Hair, According to Experts

Kérastase Nutritive Hydrating Split End Serum combats dehydration by flooding your ends with much needed moisture made of niacinamide and highly concentrated plant-based proteins. Word of advice: Don’t overdo it. Sanda Petrut, stylist at Maxine Salon in Chicago, says you just need a few drops to trigger the reparative process. “Apply it after every wash onto wet or dry hair then style as desired.” Consistent application won’t only seal split ends—it’ll also prevent future damage too. Glamour contributor Mary Honkus expected this to have an oily consistency, but instead the texture feels thick and silky.

Honkus also recommends Virtue Labs Split End Serum: “A few weeks after I first started using this, people began commenting on how long and healthy my hair looked.” The blend of pea proteins, baobab seed oil, and hydrolyzed quinoa work to reinvigorate strands from the inside out, sealing any breakage and preventing new frays.

Celebrity hairstylist Jae-Manuel Cardenas raves about Shu Uemera: “This treatment is incredible for hair in need of extreme repair, as the name suggests,” he says. “If you tend to use a lot of heat or have overprocessed hair (I’m looking at you, platinum blondes), this will be transformative.” The dual-acting velvety serum combines highly reparative natural oils with antioxidant-rich Japanese rice extract to fully revive hair. One use reveals silky soft strands, a glassy finish, and of course, fresh ends.

This Oribe Split End serum is a dual-acting treatment that minimizes breakage and fortifies strands while also preserving the color. This means you can go longer in between dye jobs.

Not Your Mother’s Tough Love Bonding line includes this miracle-working leave-in treatment. “This is one of the easiest hair products I’ve ever used,” says Honkus, who has color-treated hair. “I smooth it through my length 10 minutes before hopping in the shower. Once I rinse it out, my hair feels silky-smooth and soft, even more so than it does when I use thick hair masks.” For those who are struggling with damage from color-processing and bleaching, using this two to three times a week will revitalize and strengthen and overall minimize flyaways leading to more luscious locks.

Cardenas recommends this quick and easy mask. “This works great for people on the go who only have five minutes to spare in the shower,” he says. “I love using it as a weekly treatment to seal and moisturize hair.” The star of the mask is prickly pear oil, which plumps and softens hair strands (and if you apply it close to the scalp, it can also stimulate hair growth). Paired with ceramides and vitamin F, the thick mask revamps hair to its virgin glory, even if you’ve been coloring or heat styling for years.

“This extremely nourishing mask restores hair that is frail and dull and stops breakage in its tracks,” Ledort says. Additionally, if you struggle with tangles (which happens to be a sign of damage) or limpness, this can also combat those concerns. The nutrient-rich mask can be used once a week in place of conditioner.

“I’m obsessed with this product because it always brings hair back to life,” says Cardenas. “If I have a client who just got highlights or even simply has dry hair, I always apply this before blow-drying.” Made with the brand’s signature bonding technology, the lightweight creamy mask restores softness and shine for those with color-processed or brittle hair and only requires once-a-week usage. “A little goes a long way,” adds Cardenas. He recommends starting with less (about a half a pump) and working up to more if needed. “You can manage split ends with this mask—it helps reverse hair damage in just four minutes,” Cabott says.

“To repair split ends, I recommend using a leave-in conditioner or serum,” says Korab. This pick is also great for color-treated hair.

With more than 6,000 Amazon reviews and a rating over 4.5 stars, it’s no wonder why this is a top pick. This leave-in treatment is also great for heat damage.

“The Nick Stenson Beauty Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner is formulated with aloe vera and kukui oil that will help hydrate and leave your hair feeling like the damage has been undone,” says Stenson.

If you’re in need of a complete hair-care overhaul, pros suggest swapping out your current products with an expert-approved hair-care system. You can get everything in one go with the Nick Stenson Beauty Moisture Collection Bundle, and/or Pureology’s Korab-approved Damaged Hair Repair Hair Care Set.

If you’re looking for a single product, you can try a leave-in conditioner like this one from Redken. “I recommend this for anyone who wants to repair ends, strengthen their strands, and grow out their hair,” says Petrut. The extremely concentrated formula makes a difference after one use thanks to a unique bonding complex and citric acid, which work in tandem to reinforce and rebuild weakened strands. “Apply to clean, damp, towel-dried hair and don’t rinse it out,” adds Petrut. Whether you decide to heat style or air dry, you’ll experience softer, frizz-free results.

This specially designed split end serum revives and smooths coils with a unique CurlBond complex and guar bean paste. Together, these ingredients temporarily seal the cuticle, minimizing the look of frayed ends without leaving behind that dreaded crunchy feeling. Regular use can also improve overall hair health because the bonding technology works to stave off further damage. Pro Tip: If you’re really struggling with frizzy hair, use a wide-tooth comb to disperse this serum through your lengths to ends on wet hair.

Oftentimes, split ends won’t be your only hair concern. Other common ailments include frizz, dullness, and brittleness. And honestly, if you have split ends, these problems probably aren’t far behind. This multitasking treatment from Eva NYC addresses all of those issues for under $20. Beyond sealing split ends, the affordable, lightweight serum also minimizes breakage, reduces frizz, boosts hydration, softens, nourishes, adds shine, and smooths with just a few pumps. “When I blow-dry my hair after applying this, the results rival the body and shine I usually only get from visits to the salon,” says Honkus. “Beyond how healthy my hair feels, I also adore the scent of the potion: It smells like sugar cookies, which makes using it even more enjoyable!”