A Beauty Editor Tests A Repairing Hair Serum

I need a haircut. In fact, I've needed a haircut since November. Unfortunately, life happens and circumstances outside my control have made getting said haircut difficult to fit into my schedule. Who among us hasn't pushed off a much-needed trim? Yes, it even happens to beauty editors who should know better. 

Needless to say: My hair has seen better days. My ends are crispy and frayed. While the strands themselves aren't too damaged, my naturally dry hair is always in need of quenching. And overall, my day-to-day style is looking fairly drab, tangly, frizzy, and lackluster. All telltale signs I'm due for a cut. 

Then I got an email about a new repairing treatment from one of my favorite hair care brands, Virtue—and my interests were piqued.

Today, the brand is launching Virtue Damage Reverse Serum, a light, silky formula that's infused with proteins and peptides to restore hair health. And I got my hands on it a week ago so I could test it out—and maybe even save my poor split ends.

Let's rewind a bit: Before I ever applied this serum to my ends I did what I always do. I did a deep dive into the ingredients. 

The brand is known for their patented ingredient, Alpha Keratin 60ku. It's a bioidentical protein to keratin, the protein that makes up 80% of the hair1. When hair is damaged and weak, it's because it's lost some of that keratin. By applying this particular keratin topically, it replenishes what's lost, strengthening hair in the process. 

This special ingredient is formulated into all of Virtue's products, but it's at its highest concentration in this serum. 

Additionally, the formula uses other innovative ingredients to bolster the efficacy. 

I've been a fan of the brand since their inception. I went to a launch event of theirs six years ago and got a fabulous blowout from the very talented (and kind) hairstylist Adir Abergel, who works with the likes of Jennifer Garner, Kristen Stewart, and Charlize Theron.

I was blown away by the product's efficacy then, and I continue to be with each new launch. Including this one. 

The biotech-backed formula has been shown to do what was once thought impossible: actually repair damage. Because the proprietary keratin is a perfect match for what your body makes naturally, it's able to shimmy inside the cuticle, into the cortex, and replace lost proteins. It transforms hair health from the inside out. 

I really didn't mean to neglect my hair as badly as I did. But—like I noted—life got busy, and my normal beauty routine became something of an afterthought. But a silver lining is that given the state of my hair, it was really in the ideal condition to test this new product.

I got a small test tube just over a week ago and have used it once daily (OK, sometimes twice). I only cleanse my hair every three to four days, so I've mostly been applying it on dry hair. But on my wash days, I apply it on slightly damp hair.

The serum's consistency is light and silky—I'd compare it to a very thin face lotion. It has an easy, relaxed, spa-like scent that has notes of coconut, bright citrus, and grounding wood. And it sinks into hair quickly, without adding any weight, grittiness, or stickiness. 

My biggest gripe with other split end products (well, other than the fact that they don't really work) is that they weigh my hair down and draw more attention to my straggly ends. But this serum effortlessly coats the hair. Moments after applying it, the product was fully absorbed and dissipated. 

I noticed a huge difference in my hair's appearance with just one use. (See my before and after photos for proof.) The ends looked less crackly and brittle, the color looked more luminous, and my days-old blowout was brought back to life. 

I'm already a devotee of Virtue, but that's because their stuff works: I like brands that are innovative and effective! This serum just might be their most appealing yet, especially for those who are looking to reverse damage, protect against future breakage, restore fullness, and protect length. It's also appropriate for all hair types, including color-treated hair.