A recurring question in natural hair cirlces is can a broken strand (like a split end or a hole in the shaft) be put back together? While there are temporary fixes (like filling in broken cuticles with hydrolysed proteins), so far there hasn’t been a treatment that can actually bind the strand back to itself.
Well, enter PEC technology. Check out The Beauty Brains explanation;
This technology is based on a polyelectrolyte complex, or PEC for short. This PEC complex consists of a negatively charged ion (PVM/MA copolymer) and a positively charged ion (Polyquaternium-28.) This combination of positive and negative charges creates a single complex with the unique ability to stick to damage hairs and to itself.
How does PEC technology repair hair?
What does all this mean? Well, instead of just coating the outside of hair like most conditioners do, the tiny PEC molecules are able to enter the split ends of hair. Because the complex can stick to the damaged hair protein and to other complex molecules, it creates little bridges across the open ends of the splits. As your hair dries, the water evaporates from the complex causing it to contract. The force of this contraction pulls the end of the split hairs back together again. Once the PECs are dry they bind the split end shut. Watch this video to see what happens when a drop of PEC complex is placed on a split end and dried with a blow dryer:
Which products contain PEC technology?
Nexxus, Joico, and Tresemme all make products containing the Polyelectrolyte Complex.
If you’d like to try the new PEC hair repair technology for yourself, try one of these products; Nexxus Pro-Mend Conditioner Split End Binding, Joico K‑Pak Reconstruct Split End Mender and Tresemme Split Remedy Conditioner.
Ladies, have you tried PEC technology? How has it worked for you?
I just want to know if this fix is temporary or permanent with continual usage.
You and me both Antoinette! Cool all the same but I could see a product dependency developing if it isn’t permanent
I second the above two questions. I am so ready to jump aboard this bandwagon but if it’s not permanent it’s probably best to just trim the ends, huh?
Also, I would like to Know if anyone knows of anything potentially damaging about this process… Will it make my hair weaker in general? Does it damage the cuticle? Are there any harsh chemicals?
I would like to know if it bonds other (healthy) strands of hair to each other i.e. how does it know to just bond/fuse the split end?
+1
My concern would be that it bonds to the outside of healthy hair thus coating it like cones and preventing moisture from getting in. And if you use sulfates will that get rid of the bond?
I think it would just be better to cut the damage off. This just sounds like another way to cover up damage rather than preventing it or an actual fix.
According to the article quoted below, PEC’s are semi-permanent fix:
“Although there are no conventional systems that will permanently mend split ends, a semi-permanent mending composition has been achieved through a polyelectrolyte complex.”
Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17728946
I guess I’ll just trim then.
semi-permanent? lol.
means same as temporary. some marketing person came up with semi-permanent to confuse people.
i’ll stick to my regimen of tucking away my ends, moisturizing and occasional trims.
I think it can be useful for retaining length while trimming slowly if a person has a lot of split ends. It should help keep the hair strong and prevent it from further splits along the hair shaft.
that what i am using it for. I just want to get certain length before I trim off the bad bits. I found the rate of trimming and the rate grow were not working together so to stretch the time between trimming I am starting to use this. I find though it it tangles the ends more so section is necessary for this product. It also cause a slight straw like feeling so the additional sealing the ends with a thick oil helps combat that.
I need to get it this instant, I haven’t trimmed in a year and this looks like it works.
To the nearest Boots pharmacy to get the Tresemme leave in( my new staple).
I’d give the products a try, but I’d still trim my ends periodically like 2 or 3 times a year.
I wonder if using this PEC substance on good ends will prevent split ends.…hmmm
It probably wouldn’t hurt to use a product with PEC between trims
[…] New Hair Technology Can Put Broken Strands Back Together via BGLH Online […]
cool
Ladies be careful if you use Nexxus ProMend. I used it and it glued my healthy hair, split ends and all. I lost an inch of hair messing with that stuff. It was so bad I had to contact Nexxus and they gave me a refund.
Wow, that’s serious. Thanks for the heads up. I wonder why that happened and if anyone else has experienced that misfortune. I also wonder if it is a coily-hair thing that the stuff just does not do well on hair like that (assuming your hair is some type of curly).
[…] I actually read about this product from BGLH: The site talks about the conditioner having PEC Technology which is said to be a process in which […]
Hello ladies,
I read your comments and as a professional cosmetologist/ hairstylist Daria Wright of http://www.HairdoDaily.com I have actually worked on the research and development testing of this amazing new PEC technology. It does not harm already healthy hair. It does not chemically or permanently alter the hair. At best it is a conditioning treatment. At worst if used improperly you get what the other reader posted about glued hair. Although that is very suspect. People can write anything on the internet these days. Check credentials before you believe everything you read. See the link here for more info http://www.hairdodaily.com/index.php/products/new-products/repair-your-split-ends1/article/
[…] I panicked and headed to the nearest store to try out any product that utilized the new PEC technology to mend split ends. First I tried, TRESemme’ Split Remedy leave-in conditioning treatment which […]
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