My stylist offered to trim my hair with "hot scissors". She said it would prevent split ends and breakage.
Does anybody know anything about this?
Is it worth the extra money?

I've not heard of this method. (I have heard of people applying a flame to the ends to prevent splits).

I've always thought that if a sharp scizzors were used, the ends would not split if the end was cut straight across.  

It would be interesting to see what the hair end looked like under a microscope after being cut with the hot blade and see if it looked any different from a regular blade.  

Ok that's interesting, and I'd never heard of it so I googled it.  (Google is your friend. 8) )

Make sure you put in Thermal Cut for hair, otherwise you wind up with a bunch of bodybuilding sites.

(which wasn't so bad for me ;) )

http://www.velocityweekly.com/2004/0128/life/fashion.html

Quoted from the site:


Say so long to split ends.

Sick of slathering on ultra-thick potions that promise to seal the frayed ends of your hair? Tired of treatments that tout healing claims if only you'll wrap your goo-laden tresses in a warm towel, wait 20 minutes, rinse and repeat as necessary?

Say hello to the Jaguar TC-500, a new tool for cutting hair that will end the battle of the brittle ends.

While this may sound like a late-night infomercial — we thought so too — Mary Jo Large, group director of Dillard's Your Salon in Mall St. Matthews, swears by the Jaguar TC-500, which is a pair of heated shears.

"The blade of the shear actually heats, and it heats to the desired temperature that we program it to. What happens is that when the hot blade cuts the hair, it seals the end of the hair so that it prevents any type of split end from happening," Large explained.

The high-tech procedure, also called the Thermo Cut, was brought to the United States from Germany and is available at 40 Dillard's locations throughout the country.



Interesting and now very curious to see more results from this.

You do need to have your hair cut three times for this to work, I'm curious as to why.

8)

I'm guessing the 3 cuts "rule" is to make sure all of the strands of the head have been cut by the thermal blade.  That would not necessarily be true of anyone with hair longer than their shoulders.  


(Good Googling Maroula!  Thanks!)

wrote on Aug 19^th, 2005 at 1:11pm:

I'm guessing the 3 cuts "rule" is to make sure all of the strands of the head have been cut by the thermal blade.  That would not necessarily be true of anyone with hair longer than their shoulders.   (Good Googling Maroula!  Thanks!)

No problem! :)

Yeah, I was wondering about why the three cuts?  Was it a magic number?  Was it to get more money from poor easily led on folks?

Your guess sounds about right, and yeah, I can't really see how that would work for us.  I know I wouldn't have mine cut three times by a stylist with hot shears.  *shivers*  I think I would have a page boy by the time they were done.   :o

8)

They would work well at trimming/dusting, but at over $1000 for the shears, I think I will "deal" with my split ends for now.

wrote on Aug 19^th, 2005 at 1:49pm:

They would work well at trimming/dusting, but at over $1000 for the shears, I think I will "deal" with my split ends for now.

Ha ha ha!!  Well said, Bikerbraid.  :D

Thanks for the info!  I think this page shows the hair magnified using Thermo cut.  I'm not sure because I don't know what language this is so I couldn't run it through a translator:
http://www.mamut.com/homepages/Croatia/3/12/dessardo/subdet17.htm

Very interesting concept!

Cynde

Here's the product page in English.

I don't even want to think about how long Maroula got side tracked on those bodybuilding sites *EVILLE ;D*

This actually makes a kind of sense if hair acts like twine that you singe to solidify the cut but I can't help wondering if the same heat it takes to seal the end would also travel up the hair shaft somewhat.

If heat is all that is required we could always take a blow torch into the bathroom with us *snork* ...g

When I first starting reading this thread, I thought, "Mmmm, this sounds like one of those, 'Buy us and we'll fix all of your lifes problems"' type thing. After reading more and giving it some thought...

Could the heat during cutting acutally cauterize the end of the hair shaft? Hair is mostly, as far as I know (please correct me if I'm wrong), dead protein cells. Firing the ends of these undead hairs could indeed fuse the cells together to prevent a split, at the end.

As I was writing this, I happened to think of skin, which has many properties in common with hair. Having recently acquired a severe burn (bad, bad oven and stupid rogue), the skin will heal very, very smooth. In fact, smoother than the surrounding unburned skin. Is this the same principle at work?

But then why the 3 cuts? The only explanation I can suggest, assuming this isn't just another way for them to take away hard-earned cash, is to help insure they've gotten most of the splits.

wrote on Aug 19^th, 2005 at 7:42pm:

I don't even want to think about how long Maroula got side tracked on those bodybuilding sites *EVILLE ;D*

*looks up from several windows open on her computer*

*wipes drool from chin*

Huh?  What?  You talking about me Gabi?   ???

;)

wrote on Aug 19^th, 2005 at 9:15pm:

When I first starting reading this thread, I thought, "Mmmm, this sounds like one of those, 'Buy us and we'll fix all of your lifes problems"' type thing. After reading more and giving it some thought... Could the heat during cutting acutally cauterize the end of the hair shaft? Hair is mostly, as far as I know (please correct me if I'm wrong), dead protein cells. Firing the ends of these undead hairs could indeed fuse the cells together to prevent a split, at the end. As I was writing this, I happened to think of skin, which has many properties in common with hair. Having recently acquired a severe burn (bad, bad oven and stupid rogue), the skin will heal very, very smooth. In fact, smoother than the surrounding unburned skin. Is this the same principle at work? But then why the 3 cuts? The only explanation I can suggest, assuming this isn't just another way for them to take away hard-earned cash, is to help insure they've gotten most of the splits.

Ooo Rogue!  *hands Rogue bandaids and antibiotic ointment*  Them ovens are ornery....  :P

I think you're right about carterizing the ends... you can do the same sort of thing with certain kinds of fiber rope.. burn the ends and they won't fray.

But... okay, burning the ends.... good for your hair?  I mean, granted no (or fewer) split ends, but at the same time, you're still burning the ends... is that healthy for your hair?

As for the three cuts.. I think that's just so they get ALL of the ends.. hair doesn't grow all at the same rate, and I think the magic three is to make sure every last hair has been heat-snipped.

What I wanna know... does that stink?  I mean.. burning hair  :-X  So does it stink to high heaven while the hairdresser is snipping away?

I'm having issues with this "three cuts" thing.  How are they spaced apart?  Are they spaced a few months apart to catch the growth cycle of all the hairs?  Or are they only spaced a week or so apart?

And say it all works, great!

What do you do if you have an actual hairstyle?  How does that work into the equation?  I mean you will need to keep cutting your ends. right?  Do you go for a thermal 'hair cut', or go back to the regular haircut? But then you'll have splits again, because you are cutting the sealed ends off.

And if you are not going for a hairstyle...are they advocating long, natural hair?

???

I think I'll just keep my splits thank you very much, this sounds way too costly and time consuming for me.  :P

8)

Wouldn't it be the same as blow drying your scissors before you cut your hair? Or sticking it in boiling water, It makes some sense to me, then again I'm so tired A cookie dipped in orange juice sounds logical  ;)

The blade temps are supposed to be different for the different thicknesses of hair.  The promo information has these temps listed:
110°C / 230°F fine hair
130°C / 270°F normal hair
150°C / 310°F thick hair

I imagine if you can find a way to keep the blades at those temps, you wouldn't need the expensive shears.  

I suppose with practice and a propane torch, I might be able to do that.   ;D

wrote on Aug 22^nd, 2005 at 10:41am:

The blade temps are supposed to be different for the different thicknesses of hair.  The promo information has these temps listed: 110°C / 230°F fine hair 130°C / 270°F normal hair 150°C / 310°F thick hair I imagine if you can find a way to keep the blades at those temps, you wouldn't need the expensive shears.   I suppose with practice and a propane torch, I might be able to do that.   ;D

Don't you even think of doing that bikerbraid!  :o

And don't mention this out loud around gabi either.   :-X

;)

THERE'S an idea!  Gabi and I can open the Torch and Cut salon!  Our signature would be wearing welders shields when cutting hair.  One of us could man the torch, the other the scissors and do the cutting..... and to add to the ambiance, a muscle bound fireman hanging around to put out the fires we inadvertently start.

NR- your "smooth skin" after a severe burn is just the new skin underneath, having removed the dead upper layer, but if it is burned too much you end up with scar which is not so nice.  :(
BB- just make sure the scissors' handles are asbestos covered (I know, nasty stuff, but it will keep you from getting burned hands) -- but I'm not sure I'd trust either you or Gabi handling a propane torch :o

Interesting concept. I think I'll wait to see if it is just a passing fad, or if it really has some merit.  I'm guessing it's a passing fad as most stylists' patrons have shorter hair so the split ends are really a moot point.

wrote on Aug 22^nd, 2005 at 11:48pm:

but I'm not sure I'd trust either you or Gabi handling a propane torch :o

But It'd be fine if we're wearing our glasses and haven't had too many margaritas ;D

The Longlock Salon - welders division - weee ha

Ooo - I like BB's - idea of accompanying hunky types ...g

wrote on Aug 22^nd, 2005 at 11:48pm:

but I'm not sure I'd trust either you or Gabi handling a propane torch :o

I'll have you know that I received an A in my welding class in college and was offered a job as a welder.

[insert images of Jennifer Beals in the movie Flashdance]

i think it sounds great but i doubt it would totally prevent split ends as they can form even a cm or two above the very ends. for instance, virgin ends are way stronger as well than cut ends, yet i've found some in my hair that started to weaken right above the ends.

;D  Hello Torch and Cut folks  ;D

I went back to the salon to get some more info. The stylist charges Euro 7,-- more than for the normal scissor cut. The machine looks like the ones from Physical Therapy with scissors attached on a long cable. (Ever had little electro shocks to activate or stimulate a muscle group? Any physical therapists around here who can explain that a little bit better?)
The stylist plugs it in and she's ready to trim the hair.
While I was there, a lady had her hair cut with the thermo scissors and she swears that it  had helped her with the growth and not having to hazzle with so many split ends.
I think I'll give it a try.  8)

Be sure to let us know what you think of it. :)

Ok *cough cough* seriously.

Seems to me ... that most of the problem with splits is not when they are on the very ends anyway  - it's when they appear anywhere higher up the hair and you don't get those by getting a hair cut.  Soooooo, what this would do is prevent the damage caused by cutting the ends which has been mentioned by various experts i.e, when you cut the end is open and more fragile to future damage.

so I'm guessing that it would have value in that regard...g

Certainly this tool would not resolve the splits, dots, and breaks that occur higher up on the strand, but it would take care of splits that are on the ends.  So, no it would not be the perfect solution to all problems.  

wrote on Aug 24^th, 2005 at 8:50pm:

Ok *cough cough* seriously. Seems to me ... that most of the problem with splits is not when they are on the very ends anyway  - it's when they appear anywhere higher up the hair and you don't get those by getting a hair cut.  Soooooo, what this would do is prevent the damage caused by cutting the ends which has been mentioned by various experts i.e, when you cut the end is open and more fragile to future damage.

yeah, i cut my ends too often so i don't have any splits ever down there. it's all the mass above those ends that gets affected usually. s&d, the only rescue.

wrote on Aug 24^th, 2005 at 5:42pm:

;D  (Ever had little electro shocks to activate or stimulate a muscle group? Any physical therapists around here who can explain that a little bit better?)

That would be me!  If you're really interested in "e stim" that is.  The thermo scissors though are converting the electrical energy to heat energy -- probably along the same lines as an electric stove.  I don't recommend bending over the stove to cut your hair though ;).  It is more closely related to the use of cauterizing scalpels in the operating rooms, or even  >:(curling irons >:( (does the automatic filter substitute ******thingy****** for that word?  It should on this message board!)

PT "e stim" is sending electrical current into the muscles/tissues.  Our nerves, muscles, and actually all our cells use electrical currents to operate, so using an external source of electricity can help heal or imitate the body's normal electrical current.   (That's also how pacemakers work, just in the heart muscle itself).  Cool stuff, huh?  I'd better stop before I go overboard here - water and electricity don't mix, well, actually I've done that too in the name of PT treatment  :-X.