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?
