Damaged Hair

What Hair Masks You Can Leave Overnight?

Can You Leave a Hair Mask Overnight?

In short, you shouldn’t leave every hair mask overnight. Har products, including hair masks, come with directions on how to use them correctly. Most hair masks are generally meant to stay in your hair for 5-15 minutes, although there are some exceptions.

One reason for a specific amount of time is that prolonged use won’t enhance the effects of the product. After a while, hair becomes saturated and unable to absorb more treatment. There can also be adverse reactions to some ingredients in hair treatments if left on the hair for too long. To stay on the safe side, make sure to rinse the product from the hair according to the included directions.

a woman with long hair applying overnight hair mask

Why Do Some People Leave Hair Masks Overnight?

Bleaching, daily styling, and UV damage can leave your strands depleted of moisture and damaged. You might think an overnight treatment will give extra hydration and nourishment to your thirsty locks, but it’s important to give your hair what it needs without any adverse effects. This means you must use the right product, one that is formulated for long-time application. So, read the directions carefully and leave the product in your hair overnight only if the manufacturer states that the product is safe for overnight use.

While some busy people prefer overnight treatments, some others find that overnight hair masks can negatively affect sleep quality. If you are not comfortable with nighttime treatments, try to apply a hair mask when you have a day at home. Put a shower cap over your head after application, leave the treatment on for several hours (or as directed by the manufacturer), then shampoo your hair as usual.

What Hair Masks You Shouldn’t Leave Overnight?

a woman in bed with a shower cap and hair mask in her hair

Hair treatments that contain synthetic chemicals shouldn’t stay in contact with your skin overnight. These chemicals can be absorbed into your skin and do more harm than good, and no one wants that!

Hair masks that have a strong smell may irritate your nose and lower your sleep quality, and fragrances may contain unknown chemicals you don’t want to sleep with.

Protein-rich masks can overload the hair with proteins, making it too heavy and prone to breakage.

Some homemade hair masks use fresh products (such as eggs) that may go bad after a few hours and smell bad.

A hair mask with apple cider vinegar can disturb the pH balance of hair and harm color treatments if left on too long.

A blonde woman combing the hair with the mask in

Best Ready-Made Hair Masks You Can Leave Overnight

When purchasing an overnight mask, you want it to be as natural and gentle as possible. Review the ingredients before purchasing to ensure you aren’t getting something that has harsh chemicals.

We went ahead and created a small list of overnight hair treatments that are natural, color-safe, and made by companies that don’t test on animals. This is a great starting point for figuring out what will work best for your hair type and needs.

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1. Bumble and Bumble While You Sleep Damage Repair Masque

Bumble and Bumble While You Sleep Damage Repair Masque works best for color-treated, dry, and damaged hair. This overnight hair mask makes detangling easy, boosts elasticity, restores softness, and keeps fragile hair looking healthy. However, it may not be suitable for people who are sensitive to strong scents.

The thick cream can be a little hard to spread over dry hair, so make sure to focus on the ends and other most damaged areas. Even if you don’t want to sleep with a mask in your hair, you can obtain most of the benefits if you apply it for 20 minutes and then wash your hair as you normally do.

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2. The Mane Choice Prickly Pear Paradise Overnight Mask

This nighttime mask is formulated with vitamins and essential nutrients with minimal use of synthetic ingredients. The treatment works best for curly and coarse hair that is prone to tangles. It adds slip for easier detangling, improves hair strength, and restores softness and shine. The consistency is creamy and easy to spread, so you don’t need to use a lot.

You can use this overnight hair mask as often as needed. Apply the product to unwashed hair and leave it on for up to 12 hours.

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3. Paul Mitchell Neuro Restore HeatCTRL Overnight Repair Leave-In Treatment

This leave-in treatment is designed with damaged and fragile hair in mind. It makes dry hair softer and more manageable and protects it from future damage.

You are supposed to apply the mask to the midshaft and ends of your clean dump hair before bedtime. What makes this treatment special is that you don’t have to rinse it until you plan to shampoo your hair. The exception is fine hair that may feel heavy with the treatment in it.

You can also use this mask as a leave-in conditioner and heat protectant prior to styling.

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4. Budget-Friendly Mask: TWIST Sunday Feels Deeply Hydrating Hair Mask

This hair mask by Ouidad is formulated with coconut oil, jojoba oil, Shea butter, and grapeseed oil to replenish essential moisture in curly hair. It revitalizes damaged strands and improves the natural curl pattern. You can leave it for 3-5 minutes to add moisture to your hair or use it as a deeper restorative overnight treatment. The product is color-safe, free of nasty chemicals, and free of cruelty.

Happy nourishing!

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charming attractive girl brush comb her hair

Olaplex System the Ultimate Guide

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Olaplex. Have you heard of it? Been curious to try it? Maybe you’re just confused about when to use each product. Wherever you’re at, this incredible brand has held up as one of the top picks for hair restoration. Salon owners and individuals alike continue to use this system with options 0-9 to restore broken bonds to increase shine, strength, and the health of hair. 

Olaplex works in a unique way. Rather than coating just the outer layer of the hair with the product, Olaplex creates organic chemical reactions in the hair, causing the disulfide bonds to link again, which makes hair healthy, shiny, and rejuvenated. It’s a one-of-a-kind system of linked products. 

Each of the 10 options for restoration contains ingredients that repair disulfide bonds, just in varying degrees. And if you’ve experienced any confusion about when to use each product, take a look at the descriptions below. You’ll have it down to a simple science in no time.

hairstylist performing Olaplex treatment in the salon

Olaplex Options 0-9 What Do They Do?

  1. Olaplex No. 1 Bond-repair agent for the colorist to use. It is the first step in this line-up of nutrient-rich products. This one is used by professional colorists. It’s provided in addition to your color service where a small amount of the formula is put directly into the color or bleach. Then it’s applied to your hair. It keeps the amount of damage from the color or bleach to a minimum,  almost like a buffer.
  2. Olaplex No. 2. Also a bond-repair agent for the colorist to use. Once your color or lightening service has been processed, it’s time to shampoo. With Olaplex, you take time after the shampoo to apply Olaplex No. 2, the “Bond Perfector.” What this means is, more bonds are linked back together, much like in the first step. It’s very important for steps 1 and 2 to be used together. Olaplex is a linked system where each item does its part integrated with the rest. You can still use certain numbers as standalone items, but it’s when you use the system that results reach their potential.
  3. Olaplex No. 3.  The at-home Treatment. This can be thought of as the star of the show. The two products before this one are not at your disposal, but Olaplex No. 3 is. You might be wondering, what does Olaplex No. 3 do? Or how does Olaplex No. 3 work? There’s one thing to keep in mind about this product, it’s not a conditioner, even though it looks like it. The brand wants to make it clear that Olaplex No. 3 is a treatment. What’s the difference between a treatment and a conditioner? A treatment penetrates deeper into the hair strands than a conditioner, so it has a different function. But if you want to have Olaplex No. 3 work optimally, you’ll need to partner it with Olaplex No. 0, which primes the hair to receive Olaplex No. 3. They are a team leaving you with beautiful results.
  4. Olaplex No. 4. The shampoo.  It is color-safe, good for every kind of hair, and has a minimal scent. Lathering it into your hair is a pleasant experience. It has a gel/cream consistency that makes the product spread evenly. The lather is even as well, meaning all parts of the hair can be easily covered and nourished.
  5. Olaplex No. 5. The conditioner. It is meant to be partnered with Olaplex No. 4. This little duo leaves your hair feelings gently cared for. The strands are supple and refreshed after use. In a partnership, Olaplex No. 4 and Olaplex No. 5 can address damaged hair together, packing more of a punch than when used separately. Olaplex No. 5 has a creamy consistency and evenly coats the hair from root to tip for easy application.
  6. Olaplex No. 6 The leave-in conditioner for home use. It’s proudly called “The Bond Smoother” by Olaplex. Think of it as a conditioner you get to leave in your hair. But think of it as more than just a conditioner due to its unique properties and abilities. It Is moisture-focused, which means curly hair will benefit and experience more definition. It also contains the molecule for bond repair, meaning your hair will experience protection from the things that create damage. Use it just after you shower while your hair is damp or reapply it to freshen your locks.
  7. Olaplex No. 7 The Oil. Silky, lightweight, and special due to its U.V. protection, the Olaplex No. 7 is essential in your everyday routine. Remember that the foundation of hair product care is your shampoo, conditioner, oil, and heat protectant. When these 4 are right, everything else falls into the place. You can then begin to look at styling products. A good oil though is essential for the everyday health of your hair.
  8. Olaplex No. 8 The at-home hair mask. Olaplex No. 8 is a hair mask to use 1-2 times per week. It provides additional support for hair that needs healing. Think bleach blondes, chemically treated, overly dry hair due to winter air. Or maybe your hair is in good shape and you’d like to keep it that way. Masks provide this additional support to give you that extra edge over the damage.
  9. Olaplex No. 9 Bond Protector Nourishing Hair Serum. The latest innovation in the Olaplex family was created with patented OLAPLEX Bond Building Technology to protect dry, damaged hair from heat, pollution, and future damage. It makes your hair visibly healthier, reduces static, and protects your style. Apply it to clean, towel-dried hair.
  10. Olaplex No. 0 The Primer. This product is used in unison with Olaplex No. 3. The duo function as a treatment to restore damaged parts of the hair, increase shine, and can guarantee that it’s “Scientifically proven: 68% more repair and 3x stronger hair when used as a two-part system in just one use.”

What Makes Olaplex No. 3 So Special?

Treatments are products meant to take things to the next level. While conditioners, leave-in creams, styling products, and heat protectants all serve their functions, treatments are designed to penetrate the cuticle more deeply or target a specific area (think scalp treatments). With Olaplex No. 3 Treatment, your hair will receive a lot of benefits.

What Does Olaplex No. 3 Do?

It works in partnership with the bond-repair primer Olaplex No. 1. This primer sets the stage for Olaplex No. 3 to optimally perform. They will target those broken bonds and heal them, leaving your hair feeling different, healthier, and stronger.

When Should I Use Olaplex No. 3?

It’s a pre-shampoo treatment meant to be left for a minimum of 10 minutes, then you shampoo and condition it as normal. Or when you have the time, you can leave it for 90 minutes or so.

For those who haven’t experienced pre-shampoo treatments, now is the time. They produce incredible results. It’s easy to forget that shampoo itself as well as the water dries out your hair. By applying a pre-treatment, you’ve immediately minimized the habit that causes damage to your hair without you realizing it. Years ago, the company Kerastase came out with one that contained elements of the iris flower. The product was inventive and there was a noticeable difference even after just one use. But the concept was hard to sell at the time. Adding one more item to the shampoo routine seemed tedious.

Now, however, more appreciation is being promoted concerning how you nurture your hair and scalp. This is one way to do that. To slow down, take that time to apply your Olaplex No. 3 treatment, then move on to the shampoo and conditioner. It’s so unique, you have to try it for yourself to experience the wonder and enjoy this act of self-love.

Who is Olaplex No. 3 Good For?

While anyone can use this product to maintain the health of their hair, there are certain targets this product is specifically designed for.

For people with bleached or chemically treated hair, or using permanent color, this product is best. With its unique ability to repair broken bonds, targeting the chemical services that break bonds the most is important. 

The strongest bonds in your hair are broken each time heat, bleach, or hair color is applied. But restoring strength and integrity is possible with Olaplex. It’s their life’s work! 

How Do You Apply Olaplex No. 3?

For best practices with this product, apply it to damp hair. You can spritz it or wet it, but make sure to towel dry so the product doesn’t run off with excess water.

You also can apply it on dirty hair but with a reason. If your hair hasn’t been washed in a week and is caked with root touch-up spray, hairspray, volumizing powder, tons of texture spray, or dry shampoo, do a quick wash first. This way Olaplex No. 3 can get directly onto the hair strands and do what it does best. 

beautiful hair dyed hair in a beauty salon

10 Hair Bond Builders for Home Use

What Happens Inside the Hair During Chemical Processing?

Sometimes you are impatient and want a drastic change in your appearance immediately. Changing the color of your hair could be a great way to create a new look. Although you get the desired results, you can accidentally over-process your hair and make it feel like dry, brittle straw. After some harsh processing such as going from black to platinum, your hair will reach a point where it looks dull and frizzy and tends to break easily.

Too much blow-drying, straightening, and multiple bleaching sessions break down the disulfide bonds that support the inner hair structure, holding the hair together. Your hair loses strength and elasticity which results in split ends and a ton of breakage.

This is where bond-reinforcing products come to the rescue!

young pretty woman with healthy hair

About Bond Building Technology

Bond-building technology is one of the biggest innovations in the hair industry in the last decade. This revolutionary technology has been developed to reconstruct the structure of hair that has undergone harsh chemical and thermal treatments. Active ingredients in bond multipliers find the broken bonds responsible for hair strength and cross-link them back together to immediately reduce breakage.

Bond builders are miracle workers that can undo years of bleaching and heat damage. Those products repair each strand from the inside to dramatically improve the strength and elasticity of your strands. Bond-building treatments also repair and smooth the hair’s cuticle layer to give your hair shine, softness, and manageability.

These innovative products have become lifesavers for people who suffer from damaged and brittle hair, after years of coloring and other chemical treatments.

a blonde woman with short healthy hair

This post contains links to Amazon. The publisher may get paid if You purchase something through the links without additional costs to You.

Bond Fortifying Hair Products

If you have bleached your hair from a brunette to a light blonde, there are good chances that your hair has been compromised throw the bleaching process.

Olaplex system uses patented bond-building technology to rebuild bonds broken by chemicals and heat.

Olaplex Hair Perfector is a take-home product that uses the same technology to fix the damage and literally stop your hair from breaking. It makes your hair easy to detangle and leaves it thicker, healthier, and smoother than before.  

You can get 3-5 treatments out of a 3.3-ounce bottle for medium-length hair.

This stuff is expensive, but it will pay off if you color your hair on regular basis.

The directions say to put it on damp, towel-dried hair and leave it on for 10 minutes. Many users leave it in their hair for longer. After rinsing, your hair must be shampooed and conditioned.

2. More from Olaplex: Olaplex No 6 Bond Smoother

This leave-in styling cream is infused with bond-building technology to straighten hair, reduce breakage from styling, and tame frizz.

Unlike Olaplex No.3 which is meant to be washed out from your hair, Olaplex 6 is a leave-in conditioner that will stay in your hair until the next shampooing. Both products are meant to repair damage and you can use both of them according to the instructions.

Apply to wet or dry hair from the middle to the ends. If you apply it to the roots, it could make hair look heavy. Concentrate on the areas with the most damage, which are usually the ends. Apply only a pea-sized amount and experiment until you find an optimal amount for your needs. Comb your hair for even distribution. The frizz smoothing effects last for 72 hours, so it is enough to apply it every 3 days or when you most need protection from frizz. It would be convenient to use after hair washing since this leave-in cream helps speed up drying time.

3. Vegan and cruelty-free: IGK Antisocial Overnight Bond-Building Dry Hair Mask

(Available at Sephora and Ulta)

This overnight leave-in conditioner uses innovative bond-building technology to repair and strengthen your hair from the inside. It contains a blend of amino acids that smooth the cuticle, enhance shine, and prevent future damage from brushing and heat styling.

Silk proteins derived from plants (instead of silkworms) help with the detangling and make your processed hair look and feel healthier.

It works best on thick, coarse, and over-processed hair. The nice soothing scent comes from eucalyptus and tropical fruits.

The product comes in a spray bottle and should be applied to dry hair and left overnight. You don’t need to rinse it after application, which is a nice convenience for busy people.

4. Younger-looking hair: Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Restructuring Bond Repair Leave-In Treatment Mousse

This bond repair leave-in treatment has a high concentration of bond repair ingredients. The formula uses caviar bond reinforcing technology to restore dry, brittle hair damaged through chemical processes and heat styling. This restorative, pre-styling treatment fills cracks in the cuticle layer and protects hair from heat damage and breakage. Vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids in caviar restore strength, elasticity, and vibrancy for younger-looking hair.

Suggested use: Apply to clean, damp hair. Put a light amount into the palm of your hand and distribute it through the lengths and ends of your hair.

Available at Walmart

5. Prevents color fade: B3 Brazilian Bondbuilder Instant Restore & Protect Reconstructor

This deep reparative treatment is formulated to reinforce the bonds that keep your hair healthy and resistant to breakage. It works best for damaged, bleached, frizzy, and porous hair.

B3 leave-in treatment smooths the rough cuticle layer and restores the protective lipid barrier, leaving your hair with a smooth, frizz-free texture. It extends the life of your color, helps to mend split ends, and adds a glossy shine to your hair.

Suggested use: Take a generous amount of the product and evenly distribute it throughout your hair. Leave it in the hair for 5 – 10 minutes, then rinse thoroughly. Use at least twice a week to extend the life of your color and ensure continuous protection against heat, chemicals, and environmental stresses.

Blonde hair after bond fortifying treatment

6. Easy to use: Hairgenics Pronexa Hair Bonder Bond Repairing Complex and Conditioner

Pronexa Bond Repair Complex uses a patented blend of ingredients to relink the broken bonds in the damaged hair. The formula contains a nourishing complex including castor oil, silk proteins, retinol, vitamin B5, and vitamin E to condition your hair and help set the new bonds.

Pronexa works quickly and you may see the difference in your hair after the first use. It provides a good slip for detangling and makes your hair soft to the touch and manageable.

Possible downside: The seller offers a free bottle in exchange for a 5-star review on Amazon.

Suggested use: Apply one-half ounce to clean, damp hair and comb through. Leave in the hair for at least 15 minutes. You can leave it overnight as a musk. Shampoo and rinse out. Use once a week for moderate damage or twice a week for severe damage.

7. Not simple to use: MATRIX Total Results The Re-Bond System

This 3-step treatment is meant for hair that is severely damaged by chemical processing or heat styling. The system includes Shampoo, Pre-Conditioner, and Conditioner.

This treatment helps strengthen over-processed hair leaving it revitalized, smooth, and easy to comb and style. The manufacturer recommends using a whole system to get maximum results.

Suggested Use:

STEP ONE: Cleanse the hair with Total Results Re-Bond Shampoo. Rinse.

STEP TWO: Apply Total Results Re-Bond Pre-Conditioner onto wet hair. Wait 5 minutes. Don’t rinse.

STEP THREE: Apply Total Results Re-Bond Conditioner throughout the hair with the Re-Bond Pre-Conditioner still on. Rinse thoroughly with water.

Use them once or twice a week or whenever your hair starts to feel tangled and brittle.

8. Keeps the brass away: Bond Angel – Bond Fortifier Home Care Treatment

If you are looking for an at-home treatment that costs less than Olaplex, consider Bond Angel Step 3 At-home Treatment.

The formula uses a special micro-molecule of hydrolyzed collagen and keratin proteins to recover broken disulfide bridges. The treatment helps to maintain hair strength, lessens breakage, and keeps the blonde color bright.

The Bond Fortifier has a very thick consistency. You can get about six applications from the 3.38 Fl Oz bottle if your hair is of medium length and density.

Suggested use: Apply the Bond Fortifier to freshly cleansed hair and distribute it evenly all over your hair. Let the treatment work for 15 minutes. Rinse and style as desired. Use twice a week.

beautiful young woman with healthy hair posing outdoor

9. Repairs and provides hold: GBumble and Bumble Glow Bond-Building Styler

This smoothing styling cream deeply repairs damaged hair and relinks broken bonds to prevent breakage and future damage.

It protects against heat damage, provides light hold, and gives a shine and softness to your hair.

Suggested Use: Apply a tiny amount to damp freshly washed and conditioned hair before blow-drying or air drying.

10. Just like your conditioner: Uberliss Bond Sustainer

Uberliss Bond Sustainer is meant as an at-home treatment after the salon Uberliss Bond Treatment.

This formula regenerates broken bonds along the hair shaft to preserve fiber elasticity after bleaching and coloring.

It provides lots of slip for easy detangling and mends split ends, leaving your processed hair feeling soft, smooth, and healthy.

Suggested use: Apply the product like you would a rinse-out conditioner. Leave on for 10 minutes or longer (15-20 min) for added benefits. Rinse with water. Use once a week and

Limitations of Bond Building Products

Don’t expect a miracle if your hair has gone too far to the point when it cannot be repaired. If your hair is destroyed by bleach or heat, there is no bond builder that can bring dead hair back to life. Bond-reinforcing products will only revitalize the hair that hasn’t yet reached the point of breaking.

I personally use Olaplex Hair Perfector and it does help my blonde dyed hair look healthier and smoother. Unfortunately, it didn’t help with my hair fall, but I am aware that the product is not designed for that purpose.

a model with nourished blonde colored hair

Ban the Bad Breakups: Best Anti-Breakage Shampoos

Are you ready to ban the bad breakups? This article won’t address romantic, work, family, or relationship problems, but it’ll target some quick fixes to prevent bad breakups from happening to your beloved mane. Check out our list of best anti-breakage shampoos to let your light and hair shine. Whether you’re into Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance” or more of a classic Sedaka fan, we all can agree that “breaking up is hard to do!”

What Causes Your Hair to Break?

First, let’s chat about what causes your hair to break. Hair breakage is a very frustrating but common problem that many of us face. In sum, hair breakage is usually a symptom of damage and lack of moisture. The optimal moisture level allows your strands to swell and contract without snapping. Dry hair cannot be stretched out and breaks off easily. Don’t let your hair become a Gumby twin!

young brunette woman holding hairbrush with broken hair

From Fry to Fly: The most common causes of dry and brittle hair:

1. Lab Rat: Chemical processing: Have you been treating your hair like a mad scientist experiment? Bleaching, repeated coloring, perming, or chemical straightening can break chemical bonds that hold your hair together; in turn, all of this processing can fry your hair and leave weak points in it, making it prone to breakage. Chemical treatments can also loosen the cuticle, thus allowing moisture to evaporate easily. Let’s transform your hair today from “fry to fly!”

2. Hot to Trot: Exposure to high heat: The high heat from blow-dryers, straighteners, and curling irons temporarily break the bonds in your hair to change its shape. Too much heat without appropriate protection will strip moisture from your hair, making it fragile over time. While you want your hair to be “hot to trot” as far as sassy and luxurious, strive not to make it hot as in temperature!

3. Life Strife: Other causes that can make hair brittle include drying shampoos, rough towel drying, over-brushing, tight hairstyles, genetic predisposition, hard water, dry weather, UV exposure, and poor diet. Try to avoid these “life strife” triggers!

In most cases, it’s possible to restore hair strength by using appropriate hair care products. Carefully selected hair shampoo and conditioner can help to improve your hair’s elasticity and give you healthy, luscious locks.

lovely woman with hair washed with anti-breakage shampoo

Best Breakage Banners: Shampoo Brands Formulated to Stop Hair Breakage

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1. Bond Guy or Gal: Olaplex no 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo

Olaplex No.4 Shampoo is a part of the Olaplex hair care system that targets broken bonds due to exposure to chemicals and high heat. This nourishing and reparative shampoo relinks damaged bonds to strengthen hair that has been damaged by coloring, heat styling, and everyday stresses. Using this shampoo will also protect the hair from future damage. Grab some Hollywood glam and be “a Bond guy or gal!”

A Dab for Fab: Very concentrated formula: This Olaplex No.4 is thicker than normal shampoo and it lathers up well. It has a light scent of grapefruit. The bottle is small, but the product is super concentrated. In turn, you’ll need to use less of the product than you normally do.

Should you use Olaplex No.4 Shampoo?

YES: This shampoo is excellent for anyone with lightened or chemically treated hair. If you’ve been dying your hair for years, then you’re probably struggling with dry, damaged and overly porous hair that looks frizzy and would easily split. This shampoo will make your locks feel and look much better.

NO: If your hair isn’t processed, this shampoo might not be for you. Low porosity hair, especially fine and thinning hair can look flattened, heavy, and limp if regularly washed by Olaplex No.4. You can still gain some benefits such as more elastic, or less staticky hair if using the product once a week or biweekly; or if you rotate it with your regular shampoo.

Benefits:

  • Less breakage: If your hair has been seriously damaged from frequent coloring, then this product will relink broken bonds to strengthen the strands from within and save them from breaking. Using this shampoo will boost elasticity, reduce splitting, and help you grow your hair longer. It’s also a godsend product for maintaining blonde dyed hair. Be unbreakable; be bold!
  • Tress Tamer: Softer, more manageable hair: After shampooing with Olaplex No.4 (paired with No.5 conditioner), any coarse, unmanageable hair feels smooth and manageable, so it takes less time and effort to straighten it with a flat iron. This duo will leave thick coarse hair feeling silky soft, bouncy, and flowing. Does your hair need its own trainer or lamer? Well, let this perk tame your tresses!
  • Written in the Stars: Shinier, healthier-looking hair: This shampoo leaves dry, brittle hair looking much healthier and more resistant to humidity. It rejuvenates your ends, tames flyaway hair, and leaves your locks with a gorgeous shine. It’s like it’s written in the stars, right?
  • Stealth Elf: A little goes a long way: You only need to use a small pea-size amount to get a lot of foam and to cover all your hair. The formula is thick, so the bottle can last you for several months. What a “stealth elf” for your hair and wallet, too!
beauty portrait of brunette woman with wavy long hair

2. Glam on the Go: SexyHair Strong Strengthening Shampoo

This shampoo contains a blend of hydrolyzed vegetable proteins and amino acids that improves hair strength, adds a silky feel, and enhances color retention. It lathers quite well for a sulfate-free shampoo. It’s also mild and can be used as your daily shampoo. The yummy mango scent lingers in your hair. Grab some “glam on the go!”

Should you use this shampoo? This shampoo is for you if your hair is color/chemically treated and suffers from split ends, damage, and breakage.

Benefits: SexyHair Strong Strengthening Shampoo leaves hair stronger, softer, and healthier. It minimizes breaking and splitting, so you can grow hair longer. Channel your inner Rapunzel perhaps? It adds body to fine hair, tames frizz, and adds silkiness and shine.

3. Cure and More: amika The Kure Repair Shampoo

This keratin-rich shampoo is formulated to repair and revitalize dry, damaged hair while cleansing it. Hydrolyzed keratin and hydrolyzed wheat protein restore moisture and boost elasticity and luster. This shampoo is free of harsh sulfates and keratin-stripping salt, so it’s safe for color-treated and keratin-treated hair. It has a pleasant scent and cute packaging.

Should you use it? This shampoo can be a great choice if you regularly color your hair or you like to experiment with colors. It helps to preserve the integrity of hair that’s over-stressed by frequent chemical services.

Benefits: amika The Kure Repair Shampoo restores moisture, revitalizes dry and damaged strands, boosts elasticity, and reduces splitting and breakage. It leaves overly dry color-treated hair feeling soft, shiny, and less prone to frizz and static. Talk about a possible “cure and more?”

amika The Kure Bond Repair Shampoo for Damaged Hair is formulated with bond-restoring ingredients to repair damaged strands and reduce breakage.

happy cute woman portrait outdoor

4. Casablanca Chic: Moroccanoil Moisture Repair Shampoo

This reparative moisturizing shampoo is infused with moisturizing oils, keratin, and amino acids to help restore moisture, elasticity, and shine in damaged hair. The formula is concentrated, so you only need a teeny tiny amount to get a good lather and effective cleansing. It has a clean and fresh scent that can be strong for some people. It’s sulfate- and salt-free and is safe for keratin-straightened hair. Are you ready to be “Casablanca chic this week?”

Benefits: Moroccanoil Moisture Repair Shampoo repairs damaged and weakened hair to recover its natural strength and elasticity. It helps maintain healthy moisture levels to tame frizz and leave hair feeling silky, manageable, and glossy.

Budget Boosters: Budget-Friendly Brands

These shampoos are meant to combat hair breakage and are all free of sulfates and other drying chemicals. The list of more affordable brands includes Mango Anti-Breakage Shampoo by Okay, Strength & Anti-Breakage + Agave Nectar Shampoo by Maui Moisture, Strengthening Grow Long Super-Fast Strength Shampoo by Marc Anthony, and Anti-Breakage + Keratin Oil Shampoo by OGX.

Beautiful girl with healthy blonde hair

5 Bond-Building Shampoos for Stronger Hair

Constant coloring and heat styling can break the bonds that make your hair strong and shiny, leaving your strands weakened and prone to breakage. When traditional damage-repair products don’t work to improve the look and feel of your hair, bond-reinforcing hair care products can be of tremendous help.

In recent years, the market is flooded with products infused with bond-building technology that works on a molecular level to restore and strengthen both disulfide and hydrogen bonds in the hair. These bonds are vital for the strength, elasticity, and appearance of your hair. At-home bond-repairing products commonly come in the form of shampoos, conditioners, masks, and styling products.

Beautiful young woman washing hair

Bond-building shampoos are usually a part of home treatment kits formulated to repair and maintain hair bonds after a salon bond-repairing service or to revitalize hair after chemical services, like bleaching and coloring. A bond-building shampoo can strengthen your chemically processed hair from the inside out, leaving your locks healthier with every wash.

With continued use, bond repair shampoos increase the hair’s resilience to environmental stressors and provide lasting protection against future damage. To enhance the results, you can follow up with a bonding conditioner made with the same bond-building technology.

Beautiful young woman wiping her hair after washing

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1. Bumble and Bumble Bond Building Repair Shampoo

Bumble and Bumble Bond Building Repair Shampoo is powered by Honey Bond-Building Complex to build new bonds and repair hair from the cortex to the cuticle. maintain hair bonds after coloring or other chemical services. In combination with the accompanying conditioner, this shampoo keeps hair healthy and prepares your locks for the next color/chemical service.

Formulated for:

  • Colored/highlighted hair
  • Heat-damaged hair

Ingredients:

Honey Bond-Building Complex rebuilds and strengthens damaged areas in the hair shaft, boosts elasticity, and prevents breakage.

Benefits:

  • Rebuilds hair bonds and strengthens damaged hair
  • Improves elasticity
  • Smoothes the hair cuticle and adds shine
  • Leaves hair soft, smooth, and manageable

Downsides:

  • This shampoo contains sodium chloride which makes it unsuitable for keratin-treated hair.
Beautiful young woman wiping hair after washing

2. OGX Restoring Bonding Plex Shampoo

This shampoo is a part of an innovative bond-boosting haircare system that includes the restoring-bonding-plex-shampoo, conditioner, and bonding cream. Using shampoo is the first step in the process of recovering hair that has been compromised by frequent coloring and overuse of heat-styling tools.

Formulated for:

  • Color-treated hair
  • Heat-damaged and dry hair
  • Course and frizzy hair

Ingredients: This innovative formula uses cystine, a cross-linked polymer, and hydrolyzed vegetable proteins to significantly strengthen hair bonds, revitalize your hair, and prevent future damage.

Benefits:

  • Reduces the appearance of damage and repairs overly processed hair
  • Increases moisture retention, improving hair texture and shine
  • Makes the hair feel softer, healthier, and easier to style
  • Leaves hair smooth and flowing
  • Helps control frizz
  • Reduces the appearance of split ends
Beautiful young woman after washing hair with bond-building shampoo

3. B3 Brazilian Bond Builder Color Care Shampoo

This shampoo uses the same bond-building technology as the B3 Brazilian Bond Builder to repair the bonds responsible for hair strength and elasticity. This shampoo is recommended to strengthen and maintain hair bonds after color services. B3 Brazilian Bond Builder Color Care Shampoo gently cleanses your hair while continuing to reinforce the bonds in hair fibers. The formula is free of sulfates, parabens, sodium chloride, and gluten.

Formulated for:

  • Color-treated hair
  • Heat damaged hair
  • Hair prone to breakage

Benefits:

  • Repairs color-damaged hair
  • Helps maintain color tone and vibrancy
  • Extends the life of your color between salon appointments
  • Helps reduce breakage
  • Returns dry, chemically damaged hair to soft, shiny, and healthy hair
  • Leaves hair feeling strong and smooth
Beautiful woman after washing hair with bond-reinforcing shampoo

4. Olaplex No.4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo

This luxurious, ultra-reparative shampoo is formulated using OLAPLEX Bond-Building technology. It repairs hair by re-linking broken bonds and leaving your locks healthier, shinier, and more supple with each use. It is formulated without sulfates, parabens, and phthalates.

Formulated for:

  • Color-treated hair
  • Heat damaged hair
  • Over-processed hair
  • Dry, brittle hair
  • Frizzy hair

Benefits:

  • Repairs and maintains broken hair bonds
  • Tames frizz and flyaway hair
  • Reduces breakage
  • Leaves hair smooth, shiny, and manageable
  • Restores moisture and boosts elasticity
beautiful young woman near window

5. CAVIAR Anti-Aging Restructuring Bond Repair Shampoo

This bond-building shampoo is a part of Alterna’s line of anti-aging hair care products. The formula uses caviar bond-enforcing technology to restore vitality, strength, and luster, giving the hair a more youthful look. The product has a creamy, silky texture and pleasant fragrance.

Formulated for:

  • Over-processed and damaged hair
  • Dry, dull, and lifeless hair
  • Hair that tends to get frizzy
  • Hair that breaks and falls out
  • Thinning hair due to natural aging

Key Ingredients:

Age-Control Complex includes real caviar extract, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, and a silicone blend to restore moisture, elasticity, and shine to your hair. This complex also restores the hair’s cuticle layer, making your locks look much younger and healthier. The shampoo is formulated without sulfates, parabens, and phthalates.

Benefits:

  • Restores damaged cuticle layer to lock in nutrition and boost shine
  • Rebuilds and strengthens damaged hair
  • Increases resistance to breakage by up to 99% vs. untreated hair
  • Helps repair damage from chemical processing and flat ironing
  • Leaves hair softer, silkier, and shinier
  • Makes the brush glide smoothly through the hair
  • Calms down frizz and restores softness
  • Keeps blonde hair bright

Downsides:

  • It can be hard to get the product out of the bottle.

More related products: amika the kure bond repair shampoo and Luseta Perfect Bonding Restoring Shampoo.

A beautiful young bride wearing earrings

5 Keratin Leave-In Conditioners That Will Make Your Hair Strong and Smooth

Keratin is a major component of human hair and protecting it is crucial to have strong and flexible strands. Keratin content decreases with age, resulting in weak, lifeless, and brittle hair. Other factors that may cause keratin damage are frequent heat styling, regular coloring, and harsh chemical treatments. When the keratin in your hair gets depleted, your hair becomes dry, frizzy, and prone to tangles.

If you want to strengthen, straighten, and revive your dry, lackluster hair, you should consider using hair products infused with keratin. Keratin-enriched hair products will improve the structure of hair fibers, keeping your locks in top condition.

Keratin particles in the form of hydrolyzed proteins and amino acids fill the gaps in the hair shaft, making your hair stronger, shinier, and easier to style.

What Keratin Leave-in Sprays Can Do for Your Hair?

a woman applying a leave-in conditioner to her damp hair

A Leave-in conditioner enriched with keratin is a hair product that you leave in the hair between shampoos to restore depleted keratin levels and lock in moisture. It offers multiple benefits to weak, porous, and frizzy hair:

Shields from damage: A keratin leave-in conditioner can greatly reduce the risk of hair damage when you use it before blow-drying and straightening. It also rebuilds hair’s cuticle and makes your locks stronger, thicker, and less prone to breakage.

Tames frizz: Curly/coarse hair types are naturally prone to frizz which can be a nightmare to deal with. Keratin leave-in products make dry curly hair smooth, frizz-free, and manageable. They make your curls beautifully smooth and shiny.

Prevents tangles: To keep your hair tangle-free and easy to comb, apply a fine mist of leave-in keratin spray over your damp hair. This will also help reduce porosity and split ends.

Keratin Leave-In Treatments Worth Your Attention

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1. Worth the Price: VIRTUE Smooth Conditioner

This conditioner is formulated with Alpha Keratin 60ku(R) – a protein that is almost identical to the hair’s natural keratin.

Keratin particles bind to areas of damage and fill the gaps in the hair shaft, leaving your hair stronger, shinier, and dramatically smoother.

VIRTUE Smooth Conditioner works as a daily smoothing treatment. It repairs and smoothes the cuticle to lock in moisture and reduce friction between hair strands. This results in tangle-free and frizz-free hair.

The company claim that its Smooth Conditioner reduces frizz by up to 95% after four applications. It takes five applications to repair the split ends up to 95%. A single strand becomes 22% thicker after just one application, creating added volume. Finally, color vibrance increases by up to 138% after five applications.

According to these claims, frizz-prone, dry, or curly hair will get the most benefits. It also may be worth considering if you frequently color and bleach your hair.

2. Nano Dryfix Micro Therapy Leave-In Conditioning Treatment by Research in Beauty

This innovative treatment uses patented keratin microcapsule technology that has been scientifically proven to replenish hair with vital moisture and repair damaged hair fibers. Using this product means delivering deep, continuous nourishment to your hair.

Hair types: Research In Beauty conditioner is formulated to provide the most benefits to dry, brittle, and frizz-prone hair.

Key ingredients: The micro therapy emulsion contains nano-sized keratin microcapsules, natural oils, and essential fatty acids that work to replenish hair with vital moisture and keratin. Keratin microcapsules help strengthen hair fibers and form a protective layer around the hair shaft that prevents future damage and dramatically improves the overall appearance of your hair.

Benefits: In addition to smoothing benefits, this conditioner also repairs damage and keeps your hair soft, frizz-free, and beautiful.

3. CHI Keratin Leave-In Conditioner

This reconstructing leave-in treatment is designed to infuse dry and damaged strands with keratin proteins and nourishing oils to seal the cuticle and create silky soft and shiny hair.

Hair types: CHI Keratin Leave-In Conditioner is made for dry, damaged, chemically treated, and frizz-prone hair.

Key ingredients: The formula uses keratin amino acids, hydrolyzed silk, argan oil, and jojoba oil to infuse hair with moisture and restore hair elasticity, softness, and shine.

Benefits: CHI Keratin Leave-In Conditioner claims to repair damaged cuticles, improve elasticity, and reduce breakage. This results in healthier, smoother, and frizz-free hair.

Suggested use: After shampooing, spray an even mist throughout the hair and leave it in. Don’t use too much product as it may leave residue in your hair. Avoid the scalp and root area to prevent your hair from looking greasy.

Woman's hair nourished with a keratin leave-in conditioner

4. Amika Vault Color-Lock Leave-in Conditioner

This lightweight leave-in spray is formulated with a blend of amino acids and enriched with UV filters to protect your hair color. It is ideal for color-treated hair and hair that is prone to tangling.

Key ingredients: This product uses an amino acid complex to improve strength and sea buckthorn oil to promote collagen production. UV absorbers also add additional protection against the sun. The formula is free of paraben, sulfate, gluten, sodium chloride, artificial color, mineral oil, and phthalates. The product is cruelty-free.

Benefits: Amika Vault Color-Lock Leave-in Conditioner works to smooth the cuticle and restore shine and softness. It protects hair from UV damage and enhances color vibrancy.

Suggested use: Spray throughout clean, towel-dried hair. Use a comb to distribute the product throughout your hair. This leave-in spray can also be used on dry hair.

5. Keratin Leave-In Conditioner by Damila

This liquid leave-in spray uses keratin proteins to fix the damage and strengthen hair that has been damaged by harsh chemical treatments and hot styling tools.

Hair types: Damila’s leave-in conditioner works best on damaged or chemically-treated hair.

Key ingredients: Hydrolyzed keratin, wheat amino acids, hydrolyzed wheat protein, and a blend of amino acids fill in damaged areas in the hair shaft, strengthen hair fibers, and restore elasticity and shine. 

Benefits: This leave-in conditioner protects the hair from styling damage, reduces breakage, and keeps hair smooth, silky, and shiny.

Suggested use: After shampooing, spray on your damp hair. Comb through to spread it throughout your hair. Use a blow dryer or let your hair air dry.

Hydrolyzed Keratin vs. Keratin

Keratin molecules have a high molecular weight and can’t penetrate the hair shaft. These keratin molecules just attach to the hair surface, and despite the benefits they provide, they can make your hair look heavy and greasy. Hydrolyzed keratin, however, has a very low molecular weight, which allows the protein particles to penetrate the hair shaft and rebuild the hair from the inside instead of just coating hair strands.

A beautiful woman with wavy blonde hair

Olaplex Bond Maintenance Shampoo and Conditioner – Do You Really Need Them?

Olaplex has revolutionized the process of coloring hair and enabled professional colorists to achieve higher levels of bleaching lift without compromising the integrity of the hair. They developed a line of innovative products to protect the hair during bleaching and coloring sessions, as well as to repair damage caused by previous chemical treatments. Olaplex’s repairing treatments restore structurally damaged hair by reconnecting broken disulfide bonds in over-processed hair.

Olaplex No.1 Bond Multiplier and Olaplex No.2 Bond Perfector are meant to be used in a salon by hair professionals. Olaplex No.3 is a take-home treatment, formulated for consumers who need to improve the condition of their hair and prevent further damage, regardless if they have received Olaplex salon treatment or not.

A gorgeous young woman with processed blonde hair

The company has recently extended its Bond Maintenance System by releasing – Olaplex No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo and Olaplex No. 5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner. Olaplex shampoo and conditioner are both formulated using patented OLAPLEX bond-building technology that has been proven to improve the integrity of damaged and chemically processed hair. The concentration of the active ingredient – Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate is significantly lower than in Olaplex No.3 Hair Perfector.

Should you Use Olaplex Shampoo and Conditioner?

If your hair is damaged, dry, and porous, it will benefit from using Olaplex shampoo and conditioner. The shampoo helps strengthen weakened strands by rebuilding broken bonds in the hair to increase elasticity and reduce breakage. Less breakage means less frizz and static and shinier, healthier hair. If you have dyed blonde hair, you might want to include this shampoo in your hair care regimen to keep your locks healthy and stunning.

However, if your hair is not damaged or overly porous you probably will not see any visible improvement by using this shampoo. People with virgin fine hair can even feel that their locks are weighted down and flattened after using Olaplex shampoo.

The same applies to the conditioner. Using conditioner is important to infuse hair with moisture and prevent tangling. For damaged and porous hair Olaplex No 5 will provide even more benefits. However, if you have healthy, low porosity, or oily hair, you don’t need this conditioner. You should use a lightweight conditioner in moderation and apply it only to the ends of your hair.

Attractive young woman with processed blonde hair

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No.4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo

Olaplex No.4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo is designed to repair and moisturize your hair during shampooing. It is formulated to relink broken bonds and leave your hair stronger and healthier with every wash.

The Olaplex shampoo has a thick consistency and great foaming capability. It creates a rich lather despite the lack of harsh sulfate cleansers. Moreover, you only need to use a pea-sized amount to get your hair clean and nourished.

It has a pleasant and refreshing citrus smell.

Key Ingredients

  • Mild, sulfate-free surfactants derived from coconuts leave your hair feeling clean without stripping its essential moisture.
  • Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate helps repair disulfide bonds that have been damaged or broken during chemical processing, such as bleaching, perming, and chemical straightening.
  • The formula is free of harsh sulfate cleansers, parabens, sodium chloride, and gluten.

Benefits:

  • Re-links broken bonds to repair and strengthen the hair
  • Repairs the ends prolonging the time between haircuts
  • Reduces tangles and tames frizzy and flyaway hair
  • Soften coarse hair and makes it easier to manage
  • Reduces the damaging impact of hair products and external stressors

How to use: Shampoo as you normally would. You only need a dime-sized amount of shampoo to create rich leather.

Beautiful young woman with blonde colored hair

No.5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner

Olaplex No. 5 Conditioner is a highly-moisturizing hair care product that uses Olaplex bond-building technology to repair damaged hair and prevent future damage.

The conditioner is hard to squeeze out of the bottle due to its super thick consistency. Make sure to store the bottle upside down to get the product out easier.

Much like the No. 4 shampoo, this conditioner has a light, citrusy fragrance.

Key Ingredients

  • Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate helps protect and restore damaged hair by repairing broken disulfide bonds.
  • A vegetable-derived bio-lipid complex called Phytenso provides long-lasting moisture and color protection.
  • Avocado oil has intense moisturizing properties that help detangle hair and reduce breakage.
  • Acai berry extract helps strengthen hair from the root and supports new hair growth.
Cute young woman with blonde colored hair wearing a red dress

Benefits:

  • Strengthens damaged hair by re-linking broken internal bonds
  • Hydrates hair to boost elasticity and combat brittleness
  • Makes detangling easier
  • Adds softness and volume to fine, processed hair
  • Eliminates frizz and adds a healthy shine
  • Leaves hair silky, bouncy, and easy to manage

How to use: Leave the conditioner on your hair for about three minutes. You only need a dime-sized amount since the product is pretty thick. Distribute it evenly throughout your hair. Rinse, dry, and style your hair as you normally would.

Cute young woman with blonde colored hair

How to Fix Split Ends: Prevention, Treatments, and Products

What are Split Ends?

Split ends occur when a hair splits into two parts. The tips are the part of the hair that is most prone to the appearance of split ends, however, the hair can split anywhere and one hair strand can split at multiple points.

The presence of split ends in the hair is inevitable and normal, but too many split ends can make hair look unhealthy, frizzy, and dull. Hair with split ends is also prone to tangles and breakage, making it hard to achieve your desired length.

7 types of split ends

What Causes Split Ends?

Split ends are a sign that your hair is weak and brittle. The most common causes of this condition are:

  1. Excessive heat: Frequent use of hot styling tools such as hair straighteners, curlers, and blow dryers can leave hair dry and damaged. The chance for damage is higher if you use these tools frequently and set them at high temperatures. The damage is also more likely and severe if you don’t use heat protection or use low-quality appliances.
  2. Physical manipulation: Harsh rubbing with a towel when towel-drying hair can create tangles and disrupt the cuticles, increasing the possibility of splitting. Rough combing, while the hair is wet and without using a detangler, can make locks vulnerable and prone to splitting and breakage. Vigorous brushing of dry hair can lift the cuticles and result in the appearance of frizz and split ends.
  3. Chemical treatments: Bleaching and frequent coloring dry out hair and disrupt the cuticles, leaving hair weakened and less resistant to damage due to physical manipulation. Chemical treatments such as hair straightening, and permanent waving harm hair health and elasticity. Since the ends of your locks have been exposed to chemicals longer than other parts, they are the most vulnerable part of your hair.
  4. Over shampooing: Washing your hair too often, especially if you use strong sulfate-based shampoos can strip your hair of its natural oils. Natural oils create a protective barrier that helps retain moisture inside the hair. Dry and overly porous hair loses its moisture easily and becomes inelastic and is prone to breakage and split ends.
a brunette woman checking hair ends

How to Prevent Hair Splitting

  1. Avoid washing your hair daily and use only sulfate-free shampoos.
  2. Give your hair a break from heat styling. When you do use hot styling tools, set the temperature on low settings, and make sure to use a heat protectant.
  3. Buy quality appliances and use the necessary attachments when blow-drying your hair.
  4. Stay away from harsh chemical treatments and use gentle alternatives when possible.
  5. Don’t over-use bleach and let a hair professional lighten your hair. Use semi-permanent dyes for experimenting with colors.
  6. Apply a deep conditioner once a week and use a leave-in conditioner to moisturize your thirsty ends.
  7. Do pre-shampoo treatments to prevent the drying effect of hair shampooing.
  8. Go to the salon every 8 – 12 weeks to get your ends trimmed.
  9. Be gentle when towel-drying, combing and brushing your hair.
  10. Use bond-building hair products to repair damage due to heat styling and coloring.

Regular Trimming

Hairdresser cutting split ends

Trimming off half an inch of your hair every eight to ten weeks is the best way to get rid of split ends. Your hair will still grow because the average hair growth rate is 1 to 1.5 cm per month.

After careful trimming, you need to use the right products to prevent split ends from occurring. You also must avoid hair care routines that lead to the appearance of split ends.

Split End Menders

A blonde woman fixes split ends with hair serum

Although split ends cannot be permanently repaired, some hair products such as hair serums, smoothing balms, and leave-in conditioners can be used to “glue” split ends together and fix them temporarily. This makes split ends less noticeable and prevents them from progressing.

Split end menders: Brazilian Blowout Split End Professional Repairing Solution Treatment, ORIBE Split End Seal Beautiful Color Treatment, Marrakesh Endz Lotion, Fanola Nutri Care Restructuring Fluid Crystals, and Redken Unisex Extreme Length Sealer Treatment.

A New Generation of Products for Damaged Hair

What Causes Hair Damage?

If you regularly use hot styling tools or expose your hair to harsh chemical treatments, you’ve probably noticed some undesirable signs of hair damage.

Hot styling tools can make your hair dry over time, resulting in split ends and breakage. There is no way to reverse serious heat damage, so if this happens getting a haircut may be your only option.

Chemical treatments are another major cause of hair damage. Bleaching, permanent waving, and chemical straightening can compromise the protective outer layer of the hair, called cuticles, leaving your strands porous and prone to further damage.

a young woman feels bad about her damaged hair

Unfortunately, structural damage also affects the appearance of your locks. Your hair may turn into a tangled, frizzy mess that is difficult to style.

Over the past decade, some innovative products have been developed to prevent damage and rebuild the structure of your hair after exposure to chemicals. Most of these products are meant for use at home, so you can easily incorporate them into your regular hair care routine.

Here is a short list of the most innovative products for damaged hair that are available on the market today.

damaged hair and normal healthy hair

1. Hair Bond Builders

Lightening and color processing can weaken or even break the disulfide bonds that are responsible for your hair’s strength and elasticity. The bond breakdown is the main risk associated with hair coloring, and it can happen even if you have your dying job done by an experienced colorist.

You will be happy to know that there are products on the market that will forever change the way you color your hair!

Pretty girl with long and strong hair

Hair bond builders were developed to reinforce the bonds in your hair to prevent the damage from happening and relink some of the broken bonds, leaving your hair in better condition than it was before coloring. These products make the coloring process much safer and allow you to experiment with different shades without the worry of ruining your hair. Bond multipliers also help to improve color vibrancy and prolong color retention.

Nowadays, bond multipliers are a very important part of every color service. Bond builders don’t work to mask hair damage like most so-called hair-repairing products. Instead, they restore the structure of damaged hair, bringing it to a healthier state.

Bond builders can be added to your bleach or color mixture to prevent and minimize damage or can be used for restorative treatments.

In addition to color processing, bond multipliers also protect from potential damage from other types of chemical treatments, such as perms, relaxing, and keratin straightening.

Certain bond-building products are meant for professional use. However, each product line typically includes some kind of at-home treatment designed to maintain the integrity of the hair between salon sessions.

2. Protein Fillers

attractive model with long wavy red hair

Coloring and other chemical treatments can damage the natural keratin in your hair. Damaged cuticles make your hair porous and leave weak spots on the hair shaft. Overly-porous hair doesn’t absorb color well and the color also may wash out fast.

To reinforce the internal structure of your hair, you need to rebuild lost and damaged keratin. That’s when protein fillers come in. These products are intended to add body and volume to bleached and overly-porous hair to ensure the perfect color results.

A protein filler fills the gaps and weak spots in the hair shaft, making hair look smoother and healthier. It replaces keratin that has been lost due to chemical processing and heat styling. This helps prevent breakage and protects the remaining keratin in your hair from further damage. When used with color, a protein filler helps seal the color within the cortex so it won’t fade as fast as usual.

You can use a protein filler before coloring to equalize the porosity in your hair and help the color to take more evenly. The protein filler will also prevent chemical damage and help your hair to stay in good condition.

A protein filler can be mixed into bleach, color solutions, straighteners, or relaxers to protect hair from chemical damage and used after chemical treatments to rebuild lost protein and strength.

When used as a reconstructor, this product needs to be diluted with water or added to your conditioner. Using it along with other protein-rich hair products can lead to protein-overloaded hair.

There are two main types of protein fillers; clear and tinted protein fillers. Clear protein fillers contain no color/pigment and have conditioning and protective properties while color protein fillers add warm tones back into the hair in addition to fixing the damage.

3. Hair Products with Hydrolyzed Keratin

Cute girl with healthy restored hair

Healthy hair consists of about 80% of keratin. The loss of keratin leaves hair weak, dull, and unmanageable. Using products infused with hydrolyzed keratin (amino acids) can temporarily repair hair structure and improve the appearance of damaged hair, making it smoother, shinier, and more manageable. Amino acids are small building blocks of keratin that can penetrate the hair shaft to rebuild damaged hair giving it a fuller and silkier look.

Amino acids also help maintain the moisture level of your hair, so you don’t have to worry about potential protein overload.

Hydrolyzed proteins can be an ingredient in hair shampoos, conditioners, leave-in treatments, hair masks, and other hair care and hair styling products to temporarily make your hair stronger and healthier.

The results are not permanent as the keratin particles wash away from your hair over time, so you need to use keratin replenishing products regularly to keep the damage under control.

a happy girl with fixed damaged hair

Related article

4. Placenta Hair Treatments

Placenta-based hair treatments contain animal-derived placenta extract. A placenta is a rich source of protein and bioactive components that can work wonders for chemically damaged hair. Placenta hair products come in two main forms: rinse-off and leave-in treatments.

Benefits of placenta for hair:

  1. Repairs damage and restores the life and luster of over-processed hair. The protein fills in the gaps in the hair shaft to keep the hair looking and feeling healthy.
  2. Increases the elasticity, preventing breakage and split ends.
  3. Smoothens hair cuticles, reducing frizz and increasing shine.
  4. Leaves hair conditioned, soft to the touch, silky, and more manageable.
  5. Gives more volume to fine hair.
  6. Boosts blood flow to the scalp and decreases hair shedding.

How to use rinse-off placenta treatment: Apply the treatment to freshly washed and towel-dried hair. Cover your hair with a cap and leave the product on for about 10 minutes. After the allotted time is over rinse the hair with water.

How to use leave-in placenta treatment: Once the hair has been washed and towel-dried apply the treatment evenly to damp hair. Don’t rinse. Style your hair as usual.

satisfied brunette woman with long shiny hair

5 Keratin Masks for Damaged Hair, Ingredients, and How to Apply

What is Keratin?

Keratin is a tough, fibrous protein naturally found in our hair, skin, and nails. It’s a vital structural component that makes our hair strong. The hair is up to 85% keratin which forms both the interior structure (cortex) and the outermost layer of the hair (cuticle).

The amount of keratin in hair diminishes with aging and can be also negatively affected by heat styling, chemical treatments, aggressive brushing, and environmental stressors.

When the cuticle layer is damaged, moisture escapes easily and your hair can become overly dry. The loss of keratin also makes your hair dull and prone to tangles and frizz. Without a healthy and compact cuticle layer, the middle layer of the hair shaft-cortex becomes exposed to damage, which leads to weak and inelastic hair.

healthy vs damaged hair

While that may sound grim, your damaged hair isn’t subject to a short (pun intended) life of being covered by hats and scarves. 🙂

With the reconstructing power of keratin masks, all the unwelcome changes in your hair due to keratin loss can be minimized. In just several minutes, these intensive treatments can replenish missing or damaged keratin and dramatically improve the condition of your hair.

How to Use Keratin Hair Mask to Fix Damaged Hair?

Hydrolyzed keratin proteins in hair masks will not permanently renew damaged hair. Protein particles that bind to the hair will rinse off over time, which is why keratin hair masks should be repeated once a week or bi-weekly to keep dry and over-processed hair strong, soft, and frizz-free.

a woman applying a keratin hair mask

Keratin Repair Mask Ingredients

Make sure to read the label and look for ingredients such as amino acids, hydrolyzed keratin, hydrolyzed soy protein, hydrolyzed wheat protein, and hydrolyzed silk. To be sure that your mask will provide you with the precious benefits of hydrolyzed proteins, these proteins should be listed high up in the ingredient list rather than at the very bottom of it. HASK KERATIN PROTEIN Deep Conditioner listed below is a good example.

Some hair masks use “keratin” in their name, but don’t contain keratin proteins at all. These so-called keratin masks have a high content of silicones, which will either wash out with the next shampoo or build up on your hair and you must use a clarifying shampoo to eliminate them.

You should also avoid keratin hair masks that contain sodium chloride, which may strip keratin from your hair.

Below is a list of several high-quality keratin reconstructive hair masks you might want to consider.

Related Article

5 Keratin Replenishing Hair Masks 

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1. HASK KERATIN PROTEIN Deep Conditioner Treatment is designed to restore and strengthen damaged hair.

Who should use it? This deep conditioner works exceptionally for women who have been dying their hair for years and struggle with dry, over-processed, and breakage-prone strands.

Key ingredients: Keratin amino acids are listed very high on the label, which means that this compound is present in large amounts. Keratin amino acids bind to the hair shaft, making overly porous hair look healthier and shinier. Coarse hair will be soft, frizz-free, and easy to detangle and style.

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2. Phyto Phytokeratine Extreme Exceptional Mask is a regenerative conditioning treatment for dry, damaged hair. The main ingredient is botanical keratin composed of 18 amino acids. While a majority of repairing hair masks contain silicones in their formula, this mask is free of bad silicones, parabens, and phthalates. This regenerative mask deeply repairs and nourishes dry and damaged hair while restoring its elasticity and strength.

Key ingredients:

Botanical Keratin fills in the gaps in the damaged hair shaft and seals the cuticle to reduce frizz and boost shine.

Sapota Seed Butter, rich in fatty acids nourishes the scalp and adds shine to the hair without leaving a greasy residue.

Baobab oil restores the protective hydrolipidic coating around the hair strands and increases hair strength and suppleness.

Buriti fruit oil is rich in essential fatty acids and has potent antioxidant properties. It revitalizes dry hair, boosts elasticity, and fights frizz.

How to use: After shampooing, apply a small amount of the mask to mid-lengths and ends. Use a wide-toothed comb to coat your hair completely. If your hair is fine or thinning, apply a smaller amount, focusing on mid-lengths and ends, and leave it on for 2 to 3 minutes. If your hair is thick, apply the product more generously to the length and the ends of your hair and leave it on for 5 to 10 minutes.

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3. Hair Rejuvenating Mask by Damila uses hydrolyzed keratins to provide remarkable restorative and conditioning benefits to damaged and over-processed hair. With the very first use, the mask transforms damaged strands into silkier, shinier hair. Regular use provides cumulative effects, making hair stronger and healthier.

Key ingredients:

Keratin proteins repair damaged spots along the cuticle, leaving hair stronger, silkier, and shinier. They leave behind a layer of protection to shield the hair from the effects of heat styling and minimize future damage.

Panthenol is a highly effective humectant that helps retain moisture, making hair more resistant to humidity.

Collagen helps improve hair’s thickness while boosting natural sheen.

How to use: Apply the mask to clean, damp hair. Massage into the hair to distribute it evenly. Cover with a plastic cap and let it sit for several minutes. Rinse out and style as normal. Use biweekly or more often if needed.

keratin mask applied to the client's hair in the salon
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4. Luseta Keratin Smooth Hair Mask is infused with keratin to provide nourishment for dry, damaged, and weakened hair. The mask is free of sulfates, paraben, gluten, and other harmful ingredients. It is also safe for color-treated hair. Hydrolyzed Keratin, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Hydrolyzed Corn Protein, and Hydrolyzed Soy Protein replenish lost keratin, restore elasticity, and add shine and softness.

How to use: Apply this mask weekly and leave it on your hair for five minutes while in the shower.

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5. AG Hair Keratin Repair Reconstruct Intense Anti-Breakage Mask is an intensive conditioning treatment formulated to reconstruct dry and damaged hair that has undergone chemical treatments such as bleaching or chemical straightening. This hair mask infuses hair with much-needed moisture and restores elasticity, leaving your hair softer, shinier, more manageable, and more resistant to breakage when you brush it. It doesn’t leave residue behind or weigh down fine hair.

Key ingredients: This hair mask is packed with keratin amino acids, silk proteins, and shea butter.

Thanks to their small molecular weight, keratin amino acids penetrate the hair shaft to repair the damage while adding moisture, strength, and elasticity. They also repair damaged cuticles, giving your hair smoothness and shine.

Silk amino acids help preserve moisture and provide additional strength, suppleness, and glow.

Shea butter is a great emollient that helps lock in moisture and condition hair.

Abyssinian oil keeps hair moisturized and improves its manageability and shine.

The blend of superfruits has antioxidant properties that promote hair and scalp health.

How to use: Massage into damp hair after shampooing. Leave it on for 2-5 minutes. To intensify the effects, wrap your hair and apply heat for 10-15 mins. Rinse.

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pretty girl with strong and healthy hair

What Is the Best Shampoo to Make Your Hair Soft and Silky?

Frequent chemical treatments and the use of chemical-based hair care products can disrupt the natural pH of the hair, causing your strands to feel rough, brittle, and overly porous. Moisture-deprived hair is prone to tangling, frizz, and breakage. To keep your hair feeling soft, you must avoid chemical-laden hair care products and instead choose those that help your hair retain moisture.

Using the right shampoo is crucial for enhancing the softness of your hair.

Hair shampoos that use harsh sulfate ingredients can strip your hair of its natural oils. Sulfate-based, commercial shampoos can also damage the outer layer of hair, leaving your hair dry, frizzy, and tangled.

Black, curly, or coarse hair is especially susceptible to dryness, as oils don’t travel as easily down the curly hair shaft. So, people with curly, coarse hair have an even better reason to stay away from sulfate-containing shampoos.

Brunette woman happy with hair softening shampoo

What Types of Shampoos Make Your Hair Softer?

Shampoos without sulfates: Sulfate-free shampoos offer gentle cleansing, protect your hair from overdrying, and provide better color protection. 

Alcohol-free shampoos: To protect hair from losing its natural oils, you should avoid shampoos with drying alcohols such as Isopropyl alcohol.

Moisturizing shampoos: Hair softening shampoos prevent hair from drying out by infusing your strands with moisture. In addition to moisturizers, those shampoos also contain natural oils to help seal water inside your hair to keep hair hydrated for a longer period.

PH-balanced formulas: Moisturizing shampoos with low pH levels help smooth the cuticle and maintain the softness of your hair. Select a shampoo with a pH of 4.5 – 5.5. that will maintain the natural pH in your hair, keep the cuticle sealed, and maintain your hair’s natural luster.

Silk protein-enriched shampoos: Hair shampoos that contain hydrolyzed silk in their formulas can add a silky feel to your hair. You can also purchase hydrolyzed silk protein in a beauty store and add it to your regular shampoo at a concentration level between 0,5 and 5%.

Top 4 Hair Softening Shampoos

1. Aveda Cherry Almond Softening Shampoo

Although this shampoo has sulfates in its formula, babassu and coconut-derived ingredients are also included to provide gentle cleansing and protect natural lipids and oils.

This Aveda shampoo is formulated to hydrate your hair and leave it feeling touchably soft and tangle-free. It can be used on any type of hair but it will be especially beneficial if you have curly and frizzy hair that feels dry and rough.

Aveda Cherry Almond Softening Shampoo doesn’t contain silicones, which helps give your hair a lift and weightless bounce instead of weighing it down as most moisturizing shampoos would do.

Naturally-derived cherry blossom extract and sweet almond oil restore softness, making your hair look healthier and easy to style. When used with Cherry Almond Softening Conditioner, it leaves your hair very moisturized and soft.

The Cherry Almond shampoo has a naturally derived sweet floral scent which lingers in your hair.

2. R+Co Television Perfect Hair Shampoo

TELEVISION Perfect Hair Shampoo promises to give your hair strength, softness, and shine. It leaves thick, dry, and curly hair feeling beautiful, silky soft, and manageable.

Television Perfect Hair Shampoo is formulated with natural ingredients that keep the scalp and hair nourished and moisturized.

Juniper Berry Extract adds weightless moisture to the hair and balances natural scalp oils. Its antiseptic and healing properties help to unclog and nourish hair follicles while absorbing impurities from the scalp and hair.

Babassu Seed Oil has anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties that keep the scalp dandruff-free. This lightweight oil increases hair elasticity to reduce breakage and adds glossy shine.

Glycerin and Panthenol are humectants that prevent hair from getting dehydrated.  

The formula is free of sulfates, parabens, and gluten. The product is not tested on animals. It is safe for color-treated hair.

Attractive African-American girl with healthy curly hair

3. Texture My Way Hydrate Intensive Moisture Softening Shampoo

This shampoo uses mild cleansing agents to remove impurities from your hair and leave it silky and soft.

The ingredient list includes Shea butter, olive oil, and coconut oil.

Shea butter has detangling and moisture-sealing properties. It tames frizzy hair, leaving it silky and manageable.

Olive oil helps keep moisture inside the hair and prevents dryness. This oil helps to soften the rough texture and reduces frizz, making your hair smooth and pliable.

Coconut oil helps reduce frizz and tame flyaways.

This shampoo is especially beneficial to natural hair. It can make transitioning from relaxed to natural hair much easier.

4. Design Essentials Natural Super Moisturizing & Detangling Sulfate-Free Shampoo

This shampoo is designed to strengthen weak, curly hair and add touchable softness to your curls. It is also suitable for relaxed or colored hair, as well as hair extensions.

This Design Essentials shampoo gently removes impurities and excess sebum, leaving your strands soft, well-moisturized, and free of tangles.

Almond and avocado oils from this shampoo help seal moisture while protecting your hair from environmental factors. These oils also clean clogged and blocked hair follicles and help promote hair growth.

Nourishing botanicals hydrate and soften hair, creating enough slip to make detangling effortless.

Wheat proteins repair damaged hair and boost strength, elasticity, and shine.

beautiful woman with silky luxurious hair

Shampoo Ingredients that Improve Hair Softness

To get soft and beautiful hair you need to read the shampoo label and look for ingredients that your hair needs:

Humectants such as Aloe Vera, Panthenol, glycerol, sorbitol, hyaluronic acid, and fatty alcohols act as moisturizing agents, providing your dry strands with water.

Emollients such as grapeseed, almond, jojoba, argan, avocado, and apricot kernel oils seal the moisture into the hair and help your hair to retain moisture for longer. Shea and mango butter also increase water retention, leaving your locks hydrated, smooth, and shiny.

Silk proteins have moisture-binding and conditioning properties and provide your hair with exceptional silkiness and shine.

Amino acids help lock in moisture and prevent frizzy hair.

Sodium citrate (or citric acid) helps adjust the acidity of hair shampoos to flatten the cuticle layer and maintain a smooth and shiny surface of the hair.

Tips for Getting Softer Hair

  1. Don’t shampoo your hair daily. Shampooing too frequently can remove the protective coating of natural oils and cause your hair to become dry and brittle.
  2. Don’t use hot water for washing your hair. Use lukewarm or cool water when rinsing your hair after using shampoo or conditioner. Cool water seals the cuticle which makes your hair look smooth and shiny.
  3. Use a regular conditioner that ensures easy detangling while keeping your locks moisturized and silky smooth.
  4. Regularly apply a deep conditioner that is made to fortify dry and frizzy hair and make it soft and manageable.
  5. Purchase a silk pillowcase to cut down on friction and prevent your pillow from stripping moisture from your skin and hair.
beautiful woman with long soft hair

Keratin Conditioners: What Type and Brand Should You Use

Natural keratin production in the body slows down as we age, leaving our hair dull, weak, and vulnerable to damage. Exposure to chemicals, frequent heat styling, and harsh environmental conditions can also lead to keratin loss and weakened hair structure.

Since keratin is a major component of human hair, it sounds logical that adding keratin protein to hair products can provide multiple benefits. Over time, using hair products enriched with keratin can help replenish the lost keratin and temporarily fix damaged hair fibers.

If your hair is weak or damaged, there is a good reason why you should include keratin-enriched daily conditioners, deep conditioners, and leave-in treatments in your hair care regimen.

Keratin-rich hair conditioners help retain moisture and preserve the integrity of the hair. Your hair will be stronger, softer, and more resilient to future damage.

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1. Regular Hair Conditioners Infused with Keratin

Keratin-infused daily conditioner is a lifesaver for coarse, damaged, and tangle-prone hair. Small keratin particles seal the cuticles and reduce friction, which helps detangle knots and make brushing easier. Keratin conditioners also help to boost hair strength and leave the cuticle layer smooth for improved manageability and shine.

Brands:

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1. Moroccanoil Moisture Repair Conditioner uses the natural reconstructing power of keratin and moisturizing properties of argan oil to restore optimal moisture levels and leave hair stronger and more resistant to breakage.

Should you use it? If your hair is damaged due to years of dyeing, chemical processing, or heat styling, this conditioner will repair damaged strands and increase elasticity, moisture, and shine.

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2. L’ANZA Healing Volume Thickening Conditioner is a daily, lightweight conditioner, made to boost hair volume and thickness. This daily conditioner is formulated with keratin amino acids. These keratin particles are small enough to penetrate the hair shaft to moisturize the hair from within and repair damage. The bamboo bodifying complex increases the diameter of hair fibers to give you thicker, more voluminous hair.

Should you use it? This conditioner is suitable for fine and fragile hair that needs more body and bounce. If your hair is fine, thin, or flat, this conditioner will add fullness and a healthy shine.

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Deep Conditioners with Keratin

Keratin-enriched deep conditioner is an intensely moisturizing and repairing treatment for dry, chemically processed, and heat-damaged hair. The keratin component in hair masks helps increase hair elasticity, restores strength, and makes hair thicker and more alive. Such hair is easy to style and is less prone to frizz and flyaways.

Keratin conditioning masks seal the cuticle, leaving your hair smooth and glossy. Keratin deep conditioner can penetrate into your dry ends to reduce splitting.

If you have long hair prone to tangling, this treatment will soften roughness and reduce tangles.

If you have recently received a keratin treatment, a keratin-infused deep conditioner helps protect your treatment from wearing off too soon.

This kind of conditioner also makes your hair easier to straighten. If you want to keep your hair curly, this deep conditioning treatment will make your curls softer.

Brands:

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Wella SP Luxe Oil Keratin Restore Mask is an intensive treatment developed to protect and restore keratin in your hair. It revitalizes damaged and dry strands, leaving them looking lustrous and soft to the touch. Almond, argan, and jojoba oils provide antioxidant protection and improve the health of dry, processed hair.

To maintain the results, you need to apply this mask weekly to towel-dried hair. It is easy to use, and you don’t have to apply heat to make it effective.

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Keratin Leave-in Conditioners

Leave-in conditioners infused with keratin are designed to moisturize, strengthen, and protect hair from damage. Keratin leave-In conditioner also makes your hair softer and easier to brush and style.

Keratin fills in the gaps in the cuticle layer, making hair less porous and more resistant to humidity.

If you have thin or flat hair, certain keratin-infused leave-in products can make it look thicker and bouncier. The effects are cumulative with continuous use.

If your hair is very curly, this leave-in treatment helps take away the frizz, keeping your curls soft, shiny, and bouncy.

Brands

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1. BIOLAGE Advanced Keratindose Pro-Keratin Renewal Spray is formulated with hydrolyzed proteins, amino acids, and silk powder to hydrate and strengthen weakened, processed strands. It tames frizz and provides silkiness, shine, and manageability.

Should you use it? If your hair is unruly, dry, coarse, frizzy, over-processed, and prone to breakage, this conditioner will help you with detangling and leave your hair smooth and frizz-free. However, it may be too heavy for fine hair.

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More and more keratin-infused hair products are making their way to store shelves and our bathroom cabinets for a good reason. The hair that is exposed to the stresses of aging and styling needs products that are designed to replenish depleted keratin.

a woman applying leave in conditioner to damp hair

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