I Only Had One Haircut in 2020, But This Product Is Keeping My Hair Healthy

From trimming my own fringe to learning to embrace my ever-increasing grey hairs, 2020 was a real journey of self-discovery when it came to my hair—with plenty of lessons learnt along the way (namely that it isn't possible to cut your own hair into a sharp, sleek bob using just a pair of kitchen scissors and without a mirror). Thankfully, I quickly realised that dramatic restyles weren't my area of expertise and instead turned my attention to finding the best at-home hair products to keep my strands feeling healthy when they're well overdue for a haircut. The result of my search? It turns out I've been neglecting an entire category of haircare until now, and these underrated products have been making a big difference to my hair, especially since I've only managed to visit the hairdresser once in the last 12 months.

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(Image credit: @NNENNAECHEM)

Disclaimer: Pre-2020, whenever a product claiming to seal split ends or prevent hair breakage would land on my desk, I would totally disregard it. After all, everyone knows that the only way to get rid of split ends is to cut them off, and so in a world where we could visit a salon whenever we wanted, letting a professional deal with mine was my chosen method of maintenance. However, that all changed last year, and I found myself digging through my beauty stash to find anything that might give my frazzled, split end–strewn strands the tiniest new lease of life. Spoiler: Hair products for split ends actually work, or at least, some of them do.

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(Image credit: @STEPHANIEBROEK)

I'll be honest. There are still many products out there marketing themselves as split-end treatments that are nothing more than a glorified serum. Sure, they'll add a little gloss to your strands, but they don't actually do anything. However, there's a whole new wave of split-end treatments on the market that work by bonding themselves to the cuticle of your hair to create a seal that not only leaves your strands feeling smoother but also prevents further breakage. Genius.

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(Image credit: @MONIKH)

Of course, none of these products for split ends replace the importance of a great haircut at the hands of a professional. After all, they don't actually remove split ends. They just seal the split cuticle in the short-term. While they can't reverse the damage that has already been done, they can prevent it from getting worse and offer a temporary dose of softness, smoothness, and shine. Think of them as your haircare stopgap when you can't make it to a salon. Trust me—I haven't reached for the kitchen scissors once since adding one into my weekly hair routine.

Ahead, keep scrolling for eight of the best products for split ends.

Mica Ricketts