Split ends, in their current state, show absence of growth (6)
I believe the answer is:
stasis
'absence of growth' is the definition.
'stasis' can be an answer for 'absence' (I have seen 'absence of change' mean 'stasis' so perhaps 'absence' could also mean 'stasis'). I am not certain of the 'of growth' bit.
'split ends in their current state' is the wordplay.
'ends' indicates one should take the final letters.
'in' is an insertion indicator.
'their' becomes 's' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'current state' becomes 'as is' (I've seen this before).
The last letter of 'split' is 't'.
's'+'asis'='sasis'
't' inserted within 'sasis' is 'STASIS'.
'show' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for stasis that I've seen before include "Stoppage of blood circulation" , "No progressive state" , "Abnormal state in which the flow of blood is stopped" , "Cessation" , "lack of activity" .)