Hairdressers have warned against trying a viral hair care trend at home or risk losing large “chunks” of hair. Hair dusting is the latest hack to gain popularity on social media, promising shiny, split-end free hair.
Millions of people have viewed hair dusting tutorials on video-sharing platform TikTok.
The method supposedly allows you to remove dead ends from the hair in sections using hairdressing scissors, but without cutting anything from the length.
In one video, London-based stylist, Your Best Hair, explained: “Hair dusting is a hair-cutting technique that involves removing the smallest possible amount of hair to eliminate split ends without cutting the length of your hair.”
While Dubai-based salon The Hideaway shared some footage of glossy hair after hair dusting, claiming the treatment “prevents future split ends”, the MailOnline reports.
In a video it said: “Have you tried hair dusting before?
“We remove the split ends and keep the length of your hair long and healthy… get rid of Your split ends without sacrificing a single inch.”
And TikTok creator Monique M Rapier credited hair dusting, as well as scalp massage, hair oiling, and upping protein in her diet, for her hair transformation.
She said: “Once a week (max twice), set a timer for 10 minutes and trim any split ends you can find. Trim right above where the hair strand split.
“You do not need to cut any higher and you do not need to chop all your hair off at once. Just find the damaged pieces of hair and trim where the split starts.
“Do not trim all your split ends at once. Do this for 10 minutes once a week.”
Although there may be a lot of hype around this seemingly harmless hair hack, some have raised their concerns.
Speaking to Femail, Katie Allan – celebrity hair stylist and founder of MAYFIVE Hair, said: “’Hair dusting is a term used for getting rid of split ends, and happens when the scissors skim over the hair shaft taking away the split ends only that are sticking out, and not the length itself, which is a trim.”
But she warned: “Please do not try this at home – it could end badly at the slip of the scissor and result in a chunk being taken out.
“The point of hair dusting is to keep the hair healthy and remove damaged hair that is beyond the point of repair.”
Siobhan Jones, creative director at Blush & Blow London, agreed with Katie.
“I would not attempt this at home, as there is the danger of too much hair being taken off, and leaving the hair looking thin,” she said.
Instead she advised going to a professional for hair dusting.
Siobhan said: “Split ends lead to breakage and it’s impossible to mend a split end completely.
“Instead, it needs cutting off by a professional to ensure there’s no further breakage or damage to the health of your hair.
“If you apply a lot of heat or bleach on your hair and experience dry and brittle ends, it’s worth visiting a hairdresser for dusting as this won’t change the cut or length of your hairstyle.”
Other ways to help prevent split ends include:
- Limiting your use of heat styling tools such as straighteners
- Always using a heat protection spray
- Using moisturising shampoos
- Using leave-in conditioners and oils
- Being gentle with your hair when it’s wet
- Eating a healthy diet and drinking plenty of water.