Hello everyone,
I saw a post from a couple months ago asking about the split ender. I bought one a couple months ago and have never used it because I was scaredy-cat. I dusted my hair instead.
Has anyone had good results with the split ender?

Hello Rua,
You can find one at www.split-ender.com. However, I bought mine for 2.00 on ebay (11.00 including shipping.) But it is still a wasted if I don't get the guts to use it.

If that works it would sure be a time saver. I was horrified a couple of days ago to see that I have some split ends I usually get rid of them by taking scissors and trimming each one off one at a time, that way I only cut off the split one and not the healthy ones.

I suppose the split ender takes of the good healthy ends as well as the split ones, the same way as if you were to blunt cut the ends.

Ok...I think this may have made up my mind as regards this machine. I found this on the internet this afternoon on lamasbeauty.com.

Although the product did get some pretty good reviews, it got just as many negatives. I suppose in the end, you are better off going to a professional stylist to have your hair trimmed properly.

Anyhoo - heres what the testimonial says and it's freaked me out:

""It destroyed my hair...

"Let me try to write this as passionate less as I can... I'm very upset and need to present this as matter-of-fact as I am able.

"I purchased the Split Ender with the hope that it will maintain my splits in-between my salon visits (every six weeks). The machine came in approximately 4 weeks after my last professional trim. My hair is below my waist - I've been growing it for 15 years. I followed the manufacturers instructions, which were not as descriptive as my "free" gift's instructions. Anyhow, I placed section by section as stated and watched my hair as it was being put through the machine - passing my eyes. I could still see split ends coming out on the other side. I don't have many, but it didn't seem to find much of what I had. I was disappointed with the results. I went to bed and the night-mare occurred the next day. I took my shower and styled my hair as I always do, as I was brushing my hair I noticed a lot of 3-4 inch hair strands. I stood in horror as I separated section by section in front of my mirror only to see 5-10% of my 29+ inch hair chopped down to 3-4 inch strands. I know, without a doubt, this horrible machine chopped portions of my hair. Now I have to fight these people to get my refund. 30 day trail, ha! The invoice states February 5th, I received it February 21st. That took off over two weeks of my time. Now their machines are down.

"Anyhow, please be careful if you decide to try this product. I do have healthy hair, it's not fine, not thick. Well, now, it's uneven and embarrassing.

People need to know the possible outcome of this wretched thing.""

well, I actually did buy one, too - about 5 months ago, and was just too nervous to use it....

Then an IDEA occurred to me  ... my 15 year old son is currently growing out his hair - which has become long enough to have split ends.  So... I used my poor child as a guinnea pig - ha ha.  after using it on his hair for about 15 minutes, I finally got the 'hang' of how to use it, and the size of sections to use.

It still took me another 2 weeks before I was brave enough to use it on my own hair.

First, I washed my hair and deeply conditioned, then applied a leave in conditioner with -cones to keep my hair slick and slippery.

I did not start at the crown as suggested, as I know I have no splits higher than my waist.  (my hair is tailbone length).  I started below bra strap level, and took TINY sections.  maybe 50 hairs at a time and ran each through - with nervous hair prayers at each stroke.  I started with the under side of my hair - the bottom 1/4 of the total, having bunned the rest on top.  after making 2 passes on each section, I opened the "trap" and examined the results.  There was no hair more than 3 mm in length, and most were much smaller.  every piece I saw had a tiny split on it, I did not notice any piece without a split. (yes, I even used a magnifying glass to check them out - wasn't taking any chances.
I waited 2 days before doing any more - to see how the hair "survived" the procedure.  I saw no change, no breakage, no damage.
I then waited another 3 days and did the entire remaining hair.  I never noted any undue breakage, damage, or unnecessary cutting.

All that being said......

By taking the tiny sections, and going VERY slowly - the tension on the hair is non-existent.  If larger sections are used, or the machine is pulled through quickly, you can FEEL it pulling at the hair shafts (or so my son reported).

Total time devoted (on my day off from work, while watching a DVD) took nearly 2.5 hours to do the remaining 3/4 hair.  And this for only below bra strap to ends.  The total hair cut off would have easily fit into a level teaspoon, loosely.

Honestly - with the anxiety involved, and the total time devoted to the task.......

I find regular and periodic "dusting" much more satisfactory and relaxing.   I did use the machine one more time after the initial use, and had the same results - but have since relegated it to the "will-probably-never-use-again" hair product/toy cupboard.  If it's still there, and unused in 6 months, off to the thrift store it will go.

Personal thoughts....
I think this machine is designed only for fine, straight hair.  I think thicker, deeply wavy or curly hair would suffer damage just due to the nature of the device -
My son's ends are very curly, and he felt frequent pulling when it got to the ends.  Also - I found the largest (3mm)pieces trimmed off were off the hairs in my head that started growing after my son was born - unlike my baby-fine medium brown hair, this "new" hair type is black or auburn, very coarse and curly.

So.......
IF you have an unlimited supply of time, and
IF you have a valium prescription or a glass of wine, and
IF you have only super fine, straight hair ... and,
Are VERY, VERY, VERY brave ......
Try it!   

Hope this helps the uncertain...
nightowl

I'm fortunate that right now I have a stylist who only
takes just teensy trims of my hair when I want it cut.
Maybe when my hair is long enough to pull around my
neck and examine myself, I'll do S&D trims by hand.
That's a ways off yet.

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Sell it on ebay!!   

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As long as you're relaxing with a glass of wine, just grab the scissors and snip those splits out.