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Few things give away an overdue haircut faster than split ends, a.k.a. the frayed, scraggly strands that instantly make hair look rough. Luckily, the best split-end serums can smooth over damaged hair and make those pesky ends temporarily disappear. “Once the strand has split and separated at the end, there's absolutely nothing that will bring it back together permanently,” says New Jersey-based stylist Michelle Cleveland. But she notes that serums can still work wonders to temporarily seal and smooth, giving hair a healthier, shinier finish.
Until you can make it to the salon for a trim (the only true fix for split ends), these stylist-approved treatments and styling products will minimize the look of breakage so your hair appears sleek, glossy, and damage-free.
Our Top Split-End Serums
- Best Overall: Mise En Scene Perfect Serum, $19
- Best Softening: Crown Affair Overnight Repair Serum, $58
- Best for Frizz: Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser's Invisible Oil Long Last Styling Cream, $39
- Best Hair Oil: Kérastase Nutri Supplement Split-Ends Serum, $49
- Best Drugstore: L’Oréal Paris EverPure Bond Repair Oil-in-Serum, $13
- Best for Damage: K18 Molecular Repair Hair Oil, $65
- Best Pre-Styler: Coco & Eve Like a Virgin Miracle Hair Elixir, $29
- Best for Curls: Bread Beauty Supply Hair Oil Everyday Gloss, $24
- Best for Fine Hair: Virtue Split End Serum, $42
Frequently Asked QuestionsLargeChevron
Best Overall: Mise En Scene Perfect Serum
Mise en Scene
Perfect Serum
Amazon
Allure commerce editor Sarah Han applying the Mise En Scene Perfect Serum
Sarah Han
Why we love it: Talk about a product that lives up to its name—Mise en Scène’s Perfect Serum is powered by Moroccan argan oil to hydrate and nourish dry, damaged strands and leave them silky, smooth, and dare we say almost perfect. What’s more: A blend of six more oils (including olive, coconut, and apricot) helps detangle, soften roughness, and minimize split ends. It doubles as a heat protectant up to 446 degrees, so apply it after your shower to prep hair before styling. The light, fresh floral scent is a bonus, although it is also available in a rose-scented formula for those who want a more palpable aroma.
P.S. Other variations include the Watery Serum for thinner, easily weighed-down hair, and a Super Rich Serum for thicker, drier hair. There's something for everyone, which is why Mise en Scene's our top pick!
Han before applying the Mise En Scene Perfect Serum
Sarah Han
Han after applying the Mise En Scene Perfect Serum
Sarah Han
Tester feedback from commerce editor Sarah Han
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“My hair’s no.1 enemy is frizz and split ends (your girl does not get regular trims—I know, I know), and this is the one product that’s helped the most with both woes. While it doesn’t calm every individual strand, it makes such a noticeable difference in the finish of my hair—it’s the closest I’ve ever felt to having ‘commercial-worthy’ hair. The original version, surprisingly, isn’t too heavy for my fine (but dense) hair and really boosts the shine of my brittle, damaged hair. I focus on my mids-to-ends, but with whatever leftover product I have, I’ll quickly smooth it over the top portion of my hair—avoiding the roots, of course.” —Sarah Han, commerce editor
More to know
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- Key ingredients: Moroccan argan oil, olive oil, coconut oil, apricot oil
- Who it’s for: all hair types
Best Softening: Crown Affair Overnight Repair Serum
Crown Affair
Overnight Repair Serum
Sephora
Allure shopping director Shanna Shipin applying the Crown Affair Overnight Repair Serum
Shanna Shipin
Why we love it: Crown Affair’s Overnight Repair Serum is basically a reset button for hair that looks and feels like dull weeds. The lightweight, quickly-absorbing formula packs a punch with a blend of flaxseed and chia for repair, plus the brand’s Tsubaki Meadow blend—it features meadowfoam seed oil and camellia-derived tsubaki—to seal in hydration. A touch of rosemary stimulates hair growth and reduces scalp irritation, and the lightweight texture means you’ll never wake up with greasy hair. Together, these ingredients give your strands the nutrients they need, leaving them stronger, softer, and shinier by morning (no rinse necessary!).
Shipin before applying the Crown Affair Overnight Repair Serum
Shanna Shipin
Shipin after applying the Crown Affair Overnight Repair Serum
Shanna Shipin
Tester feedback from shopping director Shanna Shipin
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“I put my hair through the wringer—curly one day, blown out the next—so this serum is a lifesaver. It's weightless, leaves no residue on your fingers, and dries down quickly. No staining your pillowcase or getting hair mask on your cheeks. It's meant to be an overnight serum, but I love using it in the daytime, too, essentially whenever I'm brushing my hair smooth—it seals up my split ends so well! On top of all the benefits I see from using this serum, it also has the signature Crown Affair scent; a revelation for damaged ends.” —Shanna Shipin, shopping director
More to know
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- Key ingredients: flaxseed, chia seed, Tsubaki Meadow blend, rosemary
- Who it’s for: all hair types
Best for Frizz: Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser's Invisible Oil Long Last Styling Cream
Bumble and Bumble
Hairdresser's Invisible Oil Long Last Styling Cream
Amazon
Nordstrom
Ulta Beauty
Allure commerce writer Lily Wohlner applying the Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Long Last Styling Cream
Lily Wohlner
Why we love it: Bumble and Bumble’s Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Hair Styling Cream can turn a bad hair day into a spectacular one with just one pump. Packed with six nourishing oils—think coconut, argan, grapeseed, and nangai—that soften and smooth, it gets to work on any and all flyaways. The lightweight formula won’t weigh down fine strands, but it’s still rich enough to hydrate thicker, curlier, or drier hair types. Apply to damp hair, style to your liking (it protects against heat up to 450 degrees!), and cue the silky, split-end-free finish. And, if you’re into fruity-floral scents, you’ll love this cream even more.
Wohlner before applying the Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Long Last Styling Cream
Lily Wohlner
Wohlner after applying the Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Long Last Styling Cream and heat styling
Lily Wohlner
Tester feedback from commerce writer Lily Wohlner
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“My hair is on the finer side, so I can tell immediately when a product is too heavy. This cream, though, is always featherlight. It never weighs my strands down (hello, volume!), but still delivers on moisture and hydration. It’s also a powerhouse when it comes to fighting frizz and humidity in the summer, which my hair is always in dire need of. Think of it as a frizz-fighting styling cream and smoothing hair oil rolled into one.” —Lily Wohlner, commerce writer
More to know
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- Key ingredients: Coconut oil, argan oil, grapeseed oil, nangai oil
- Who it’s for: those with thick, frizzy hair
Best for Damage: K18 Molecular Repair Hair Oil
K18
Molecular Repair Hair Oil
Amazon
Sephora
Shipin applying K18 Molecular Repair Hair Oil
Shanna Shipin
Why we love it: New York City-based hairstylist and colorist Lazaro Lambertucci says the K18 Molecular Repair Hair Oil is “weightless and amazing for all hair types,” and our editors have to agree. Just one pump (add more as you see fit if you have thicker hair) of the deep-conditioning blend of squalane, avocado oil, and sunflower oil smooths the look of splitting ends, frizzy hair, and flyaways while preventing heat-related hair damage at up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. It also contains a blend of peptides that support and condition the hair shaft for a stronger feel and glossier finish. No wonder it's a 2023 Allure Best of Beauty Award winner.
Tester feedback from Shipin
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“My poor curly hair—after many years of continued heat-styling, it needs hair oil like it needs hydration. Which is to say: desperately! But because my hair is low porosity, I find that so many oils just sit on the top of the shaft—rather than penetrate the hair. K18, however, continues to prove itself as a mainstay in my routine, because this oil is simply built different. Not only does it leave your hair with a natural-looking shine, but it restores life, lustre, and bounce. It's a K18 product, so of course it's going to repair the hair while tamping down on damage-induced frizz! A word of caution: A little goes a long, long way! It'll take trial and error, but I would not recommend overusing the product, otherwise, you will be left with greasy-looking strands. If you have finer hair, one drop could truly be all you need for your whole head; for my thick hair, I use two, sometimes three—but that's it! When I use it along with the K18 Leave-In? Compliments galore!” —Shanna Shipin, shopping director
More to know
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- Key ingredients: squalane, avocado oil, sunflower oil, peptides
- Who it's for: all hair types
More split-end serums we like
Best for Shine: Kérastase Nutri Supplement Split-Ends Serum
Kérastase
Nutritive Hydrating Split Ends Serum
Amazon
Sephora
Why we love it: An antioxidant-infused hair oil made for all hair types, the Kérastase Nutritive Split Ends Serum injects life into dull strands. This conditioning treatment's star ingredient is niacinamide, also known as vitamin B3, which is known for its moisturizing and shine-boosting properties that'll have your hair feeling smoother and softer than ever. “It can also help support hair health by slowing shedding and providing antioxidant protection,” Chicago-based dermatologist Omer Ibrahim, MD, previously told Allure. To top things off, this formula features plant-based proteins, which retain moisture and seal split ends for that just-left-the-salon finish.
More to know
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- Key ingredients: niacinamide, plant proteins
- Who it's for: any hair type looking to repair damage and restore shine
Best Drugstore: L’Oréal Paris EverPure Bond Repair Oil-in-Serum
L'Oréal Paris
EverPure Bond Repair Oil-in-Serum
Amazon
Ulta Beauty
Why we love it: Frizz happens, but it doesn’t have to take over. A few drops of L’Oréal Paris’ EverPure Bond Repair Oil-in-Serum smooth flyaways and leave hair looking polished instead of poofy. Powered by the brand’s exclusive bond complex with citric acid, it strengthens and nourishes hair to help prevent split ends, damage, and future frizz, all while protecting against heat up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Apply it before styling for protection, or after to seal the cuticle and leave hair looking sleek and smooth.
More to know
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- Key ingredients: bond complex with citric acid
- Who it’s for: all hair types, especially those with poofy, frizzy hair
Best Pre-Styler: Coco & Eve Like a Virgin Miracle Hair Elixir
Coco & Eve
Like a Virgin Miracle Hair Elixir
Amazon
Ulta Beauty
Why we love it: “Oils protect your hair from further damage by coating it and giving an additional layer of protection, guarding the natural keratin found in your hair,” says Los Angeles-based hairstylist Matilde Campos. She notes that many of her go-to products feature coconut oil—like Coco & Eve’s Like a Virgin Miracle Hair Elixir, where it takes center stage. This treatment also helps smooth split ends with a healthy dose of hyaluronic acid, papaya seed oil, and fig extract. Use it before styling to guard against heat up to 428 degrees, after styling for a silky finish, or on freshly washed hair for an extra dose of softness.
More to know
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- Key ingredients: coconut oil, hyaluronic acid, papaya seed oil, fig extract, prickly pear extract
- Who it's for: dry hair, thick hair
Best for Curls: Bread Beauty Supply Hair Oil Everyday Gloss
Bread Beauty Supply
Hair Oil Everyday Gloss
Ulta Beauty
Sephora
Why we love it: Bread’s Hair-Oil earned its first Allure Best of Beauty Award back in 2020, and for good reason. The silicone-free, non-greasy formula delivers shine from natural oils and extracts while also smoothing split ends. "I love that it's silicone-free and non-greasy," says Campos, who promises that those with curly hair are at risk of becoming obsessed with this oil because it won’t weigh the texture down. "It combats frizz and smells divine," she adds. This hair oil also doubles as an intensive pre-wash treatment. Work a generous amount from roots to ends, leave it on for at least 20 minutes (or overnight if you’re feeling extra indulgent), then wash as usual for your silkiest post-shower strands yet.
More to know
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- Key ingredients: kakadu plum seed oil, safflower oil, triglycerides
- Who it's for: those with curly hair, thick hair, dry hair
Best for Fine Hair: Virtue Split End Serum
Virtue
Split End Serum
Amazon
Nordstrom
Dermstore
Why we love it: Virtue's Split End Serum is a lightweight cream that's packed with hair-nourishing ingredients that are sure to seal up split ends. The list includes pea protein to protect against heat damage, quinoa to enhance color, and baobab seed oil to hydrate dry hair. As with all of Virtue's products, this serum is spiked with the brand's proprietary Alpha Keratin 60ku, a derivative of keratin that acts like spackle for frazzled strands, filling in tiny cracks left behind from heat styling or bleach.
More to know
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- Key ingredients: pea protein, quinoa extract, baobab seed oil, alpha keratin 60ku
- Who it's for: any hair type, especially color-treated hair
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you actually repair split ends?
For hair that's already in Splitsville, it may be too late to actually fix the hair strand, but that doesn't mean you can't help improve how your hair looks. "Any product on the market for split-end repair is targeted more to the appearance of split ends," says Cleveland. Translation: It makes them less noticeable by giving the hair a sleeker, healthier look. The only true fix for split ends is snipping them off right at the start of the split.
How can I make my split ends look better?
Luckily, there are steps you can take to prevent split ends, according to Campos. "Little trims keep your hair shaft healthy and from continuing to split," she tells Allure, urging those reluctant to let scissors near their hair to take a chance on taking off the last inch or two every now and then.
If you absolutely refuse to get a trim (and even if you don't), you can help prevent fraying by brushing correctly when you're detangling strands. "Remember to start from the bottom and work your way up slowly," she says.
Another rule of thumb: Reduce how often you use heated styling tools in your hair-care routine, as they can dry hair out and diminish its natural proteins.
Meet the experts
- Angelo David, a hairstylist and founder of Angelo David Salon in NYC
- Lazaro Lambertucci, a New York City-based hairstylist and colorist
- Matilde Campos, a Los Angeles-based hairstylist
- Michelle Cleveland, a New Jersey-based hair stylist
How we test and review products
We always enlist a range of testers for our makeup vertical, but hair-care products and tools are another story. While certain products can be used across different hair textures, lengths, curl patterns, thicknesses, colors (natural and unnatural), and needs, hair products are often created with specific consumers in mind. Many are created to address a concern (dandruff, breakage, brittleness) or to work most effectively for a specific hair type (4C curls, wavy hair, gray hair). You wouldn’t want to pick up a purple shampoo that’s only been reviewed by someone with, say, auburn hair, or a diffuser that’s never been tested by anyone with curls — right?
For our review of the best split end treatments, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, contributors, and hair stylists with varying hair types, concerns, and desired outcomes (i.e., want shinier hair). Testers considered performance across four primary categories: efficacy, texture and experience, fragrance, and packaging. For more on what's involved in our reporting, check out our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors — in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon — is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the “best” for people over 50 if the only testers we’ve solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
