Heat to seal ends and prevent splits?

[Hay_jules]

I stumbled across this local salon that does this Thermocut, where they heat the scissors and it "seals" the ends and supposedly prevents split ends. They also do a split end treatment by twisting the hair and burning the ends sticking out (presumably mostly splits) with a candle flame.

Im not considering going there but found it interesting and was curious to see what people's thoughts are on this. Has anyone heard of or seen anything like it? Any scientific merrit to it?

http://www.strandsvancouver.com/gast...ren/cut-works/

[pili]

Someone posted a thread a while ago of a barber burning hair as a form of hair straightening (I think?). Personally, I would think it would cause more damage than just a good sharp pair of scissor.

[draysmir]

I've heard of the candle flame method, and while I don't have any scientific proof of this, I feel like it would not work the way they say it does at all. Putting a flame on your hair does NOT sound very healthy to me. Heat tools damage your hair because of the temperature, how would a candle flame be any different? Even if that method does work, I would never try it because it just sounds terrifying haha. If anyone wants to argue my opinion, feel free

[Hay_jules]

I can't see how that wouldn't be damaging. The heated scissors I can see the logic behind, theoretically it could cauterize the end. But the open candle flame idea makes me cringe.

[pili]

I can't see how that wouldn't be damaging. The heated scissors I can see the logic behind, theoretically it could cauterize the end. But the open candle flame idea makes me cringe.

Wouldn't that create a hard end, like the end of a burnt paracord. I'd think that would be more prone to damage

[Hay_jules]

Wouldn't that create a hard end, like the end of a burnt paracord. I'd think that would be more prone to damage

Yeah perhaps, I can see that too lol. It would be great of someone who had a microscope could test it out on shed hairs.

[Hay_jules]

I've heard of the candle flame method, and while I don't have any scientific proof of this, I feel like it would not work the way they say it does at all. Putting a flame on your hair does NOT sound very healthy to me. Heat tools damage your hair because of the temperature, how would a candle flame be any different? Even if that method does work, I would never try it because it just sounds terrifying haha. If anyone wants to argue my opinion, feel free

Yes exactly. And anyone who's used a lighter to stop the end of a rope or string from fraying knows how it gets that melted, bulbous end...i picture that happening to the hair.

[pili]

Yes exactly. And anyone who's used a lighter to stop the end of a rope or string from fraying knows how it gets that melted, bulbous end...i picture that happening to the hair.

Maybe that's why the link says it makes thin hair feel thicker?

Also, I love how the stylist recommends redoing it every 6 to 8 weeks. Look, an extra two weeks of hair growth before you have to treat it for splits again again....

[mira-chan]

Yeah perhaps, I can see that too lol. It would be great of someone who had a microscope could test it out on shed hairs.

I'll see what I can do on that. I have access to a microscope and shed hairs. I just don't have the time to do this for the next couple weeks. I will try it when I can.

[youngtundra]

Yes exactly. And anyone who's used a lighter to stop the end of a rope or string from fraying knows how it gets that melted, bulbous end...i picture that happening to the hair.

That's exactly what I pictured!